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

  • 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!

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