With so many beautiful places vying for your time when visiting Switzerland, it’s easy to skip the main cities for that spectacular mountain scenery. Surprisingly, we found Switzerland’s capital city, Bern, to be an amazing place to spend a few days. Read our reasons why you should visit Bern, Switzerland’s charming capital.
A little bit about Bern
Bern was founded in 1191 and joined the Swiss Confederation in 1353. The city became Switzerland’s capital city in 1848.
The city is built on a bend of the Aare River, and its old town is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bern’s uniqueness is the conscious decision that was made to preserve the old town’s urban planning when building the new city around it.
In 1405, a fire destroyed most of the Old Town. What you see walking around the Altstadt today are the beautiful sandstone buildings, which replaced the wooden structures when the city was rebuilt.
Arriving in Bern
We drove into the city on a hot summer afternoon, passing scenes of city folk on floating devices or paddling in the Aare River. Our slow drive from Interlaken was punctuated by stops in the atmospheric towns and villages around Lake Thun, with an extended stay in the picturesque town of Thun.
By the time we had settled in, it was close to cocktail hour. A walk into town to find our bearings before a relaxed evening, complete with people-watching and finding a nice spot to sit and enjoy a cold beverage, was the plan. It would be a way to get an insight into the city. We would be out in earnest early the next day to really see Bern!
Our favourite things to do in Bern
We were disappointed to learn, a couple of hours before it was to start, that our walking tour of Bern had been cancelled. Luckily, we always research our destinations before we travel and have a good idea of what we would like to see. So, off we set on our own self-guided walk. Below are our favourite parts of the city to visit.
Bern Altstadt (Old Town)
The highlight of visiting Bern is spending time in its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. Cobblestoned streets are lined with beautifully arcaded buildings with shops, cafes and bars occupying the ground floors.
Bern’s iconic fountains
One of Bern Altstadt’s features is its distinctive 16th-century fountains. Look out for them as you wander through the streets. There are 11 fountains dating back to the 16th century, as well as four that were built later. The renowned Swiss Renaissance sculptor, Hans Geing, made the older fountains. Each fountain features a statue of a real Bern personality or a piece of folklore from the city’s past.
Zytgogge
The tower of the Old Town’s western 12th-century city gate is one of Bern’s iconic structures. It houses the clock, which was added in 1530. The clock is one of the oldest in Switzerland, and the astronomical clock below has mechanical figures that appear on the hour, providing a little show for onlookers.
Bern Cathedral
Bern Minster (Cathedral) is Switzerland’s tallest cathedral.
The Minster was built gradually, with construction starting in 1421 and completed in 1893. This extended building process resulted in a combination of French and German Gothic styles being incorporated into the final building that you see today.
The 100 metre spire can be climbed over 344 steps for rewarding views of the Old Town and the Swiss Alps in the distance.
Inside the Minster, you’ll find 16th-century carved choir stalls, beautiful stained glass windows, sculptures and frescoes.
Rathausplatz
Bern Rathaus
Tucked away from Altstadt’s busy pedestrian zone is Rathausplatz. And, just a few steps away is the 600-year-old Town Hall building.
The building is still used for Bern’s parliament and government meetings.
St Peter and Paul Church
Standing next to the Town Hall is the Church of St Peter and Paul. The church is the first Catholic Church to be built in Bern after the Reformation. Built in 1858, the church’s unique architecture combines Gothic and Romanesque styles.
Bundesplatz
Bundesplatz (Parliament Square) is the lively heart of Bern. Until 2003, the square was a large parking lot before it was transformed into an elegant square. Today, the square is a popular gathering place in the city, where major festivals are often held. If you happen to be there on a Tuesday or Saturday, you’ll find the square filled with market stalls.
We were fortunate to visit when Switzerland was celebrating its National Day. Marquees and food trucks were setting up when we went through the square on our morning walk.
When in the square, look out for the fountain. It has 26 jets, each one symbolising one of Switzerland’s Cantons.
Bundeshaus
The central feature of Bundesplatz is the Bundeshaus (Parliament Building) with its impressive architecture, including the central dome.
Unfortunately, we were unable to secure a guided tour inside because of the National Day Holiday. On the holiday, the public can visit without a booking, but the queues to enter were so long that we decided to make better use of our time. The interior is said to be more spectacular than the exterior facade. Free 60-minute guided tours are offered inside the building on non-session days. Tours are very popular and limited to 30 people on each tour. You will need to make a reservation in advance.
Bundesterrasse
Tucked behind the Bundeshaus is a little treasure that’s often missed by visitors to Bern.
Bundesterrasse is a long promenade with stunning views over the River Aare and another local gathering point. You’ll find locals catching up over an aperitif, reading or simply strolling along the promenade. It’s also a great spot to watch swimmers floating down the river on a hot summer afternoon.
A few more things
Rosengarten
A walk up the hill from Bern’s Altstadt will find you in the Rosengarten. It’s a tranquil spot to escape the city below.
You’ll find people enjoying a break on the park benches or wandering about, enjoying the rose gardens. The best in the park, though, is the terrace. It’s a wonderful place to sit on the stone wall and take in the panoramic view of the old town and beyond.
Capture the views from Kirchenfeldbrücke
If you’re crossing the Kirchnfeldbrücke to the museum district, stop halfway to look back at the Altstadt from another perspective.
City Bear Park
Bears have been part of Bern town since the 16th century. These days, bears are housed in a large park across the river from the Altstadt close to the River Aare. The park is open to the public and free.
Where we stayed
We were fortunate to stay in a lovely apartment in the leafy embassy district of the city. The apartment was an easy 1km walk to the Altstadt; however, Bern has a wonderful free tram system. With the tram stop just a few metres away, we had the choice of walking or taking the tram to the centre of town when it was too hot.
We were able to explore a part of the city we would not have considered otherwise.
Our delightful host, Maxine and her husband lived on the ground floor of the apartment building, greeting us on arrival and waving us away on departure. They provided free on-site parking and upgraded us to a spacious, beautifully decorated four-bedroom apartment (there are only two of us).
Where we dined
Being an international destination, Switzerland offers travellers a variety of dining options. We enjoyed a delicious Thai meal at Three Kitchen and Bar on Rathausgasse, which we can highly recommend if you’re looking for an alternative to traditional Swiss cuisine when in Bern.
What we thought
Bern is not just Switzerland’s capital city; it’s one of Switzerland’s hidden gems. A beautiful city full of charm, history, and character, with plenty to see and do, we highly recommend including a stay in your Switzerland itinerary. You won’t be disappointed.
In case you’re interested
Our travels have taken us to other towns and cities in Switzerland, which we believe are worth visiting. Take a look at our recommendations by clicking on the links below.
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