Bern: Latest 2025 Travel Guide
🏰 Bern Travel Guide
🌟 Recommended must-see attractions
1. Bern's Old Town (Altstadt)
- The old town, surrounded by the Aare River, retains its medieval arcade streets and stone buildings.
- This is the heart of Bern and a world cultural heritage site.
2. Bell Tower (Zytglogge)
- Bern's most famous landmark, built in the 13th century.
- Every hour, the astronomical clock and mechanical puppets on the clock tower will perform a small "time show".
3. Federal Palace (Bundeshaus)
- The seat of the Swiss Parliament and government.
- You can take a guided tour to visit the Parliament Hall, and there are often events or markets in the outer square.
4. Bear Park (Bärengraben)
- The name of Bern comes from "bear", and the symbol of the city is raised here.
- The Bear Park is right next to the old town. It is free to visit and is very popular with tourists.
5. Bern Cathedral (Berner Münster)
- The tallest church tower in Switzerland (100 meters high).
- After reaching the top, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Aare River and the old city. The scenery is super stunning.
6. Einsteinhaus
- Einstein lived in Bern and proposed his theory of relativity.
- The museum displays information about his life and research.
7. Rose Garden
- The best angle to overlook the old city, especially at sunset.
- There are more than 200 varieties of roses in the garden, which is full of romance in spring and summer.
8. Zentrum Paul Klee
- It houses a large collection of works by Swiss painter Paul Klee, and its architectural design is also quite unique.
🍽️ Must-try food in Bern
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Berner Platte
Traditional large dish of smoked meat, sausage, sauerkraut and potatoes. -
Rösti (Swiss potato pancakes)
The Bernese version of Rösti is particularly famous and is often served as a main course or with meat. -
Zibelechueche (Onion Pie)
A quiche baked with onions and custard filling is a specialty snack in Bourne. -
Meringues with Doppelrahm (Meringue with Buttercream)
A dessert from the area around Bern, with crispy meringue paired with thick cream, sweet but not greasy. -
Toblerone Chocolate <br>That’s right! This world-famous chocolate originated in Bern, remember to buy a few as souvenirs.
🚆 Bern transportation guide
City transportation
- The center of Bern is not large, and most of the old town attractions can be reached on foot.
- There are also trams and buses in the city, which make it convenient to go to the suburbs or the mountains.
- Tip: If you stay in a hotel in Bern, you will usually be provided with a Bern Ticket , which allows you to ride the city's public transportation for free.
Airport Transportation
- The nearest international airport is Zurich Airport (ZRH) , which is about an hour away from Bern by train.
- You can also travel from Geneva Airport (GVA), with a train time of approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.
intercity transportation
- Bern Central Station (Bern Hauptbahnhof) is an important hub:
- Zurich: approximately 1 hour
- Geneva: approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Lucerne: approximately 1 hour
- Interlaken: approximately 1 hour
📝 A friendly reminder from the editor
- Best travel season : Spring and summer (May–September) are suitable for walking and flower viewing; in November, there is the traditional onion market (Zibelemärit) , which is lively and authentic.
- Shopping recommendation : The Old Town's arcade street (Lauben) is 6 kilometers long and is the longest covered shopping street in Europe.
- Travel tip : If you want to take panoramic photos of the old town, we recommend going to the Rosengarten or Gertruden Bridge (Kirchenfeldbrücke) .
💡Editor 's Summary <br>Bern is a small yet charming capital: during the day, stroll the medieval alleys of the old town and admire the clock tower chimes; in the afternoon, visit the Bear Park and the cathedral; and in the evening, savor rosti or onion pie. It's free from the hustle and bustle of big cities, yet brims with unique charm. It's definitely worth a spot on your Swiss itinerary!