Bern boasts one of Europe’s most beautiful medieval city centers, where history and modern life blend harmoniously.
Switzerland’s de facto capital is the fourth most populous city after Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. The UNESCO World Heritage city is situated in a bend of the Aare River and still preserves its medieval character today. Its name is connected to the bear, which has also become Bern’s heraldic animal, and this symbolic connection can still be found in many places today.
Table of Contents
Bern attractions
Old Town (Altstadt)
Bern’s historic old town is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval city centers and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1983.
The heart of the old town consists of long, cobblestone streets lined on both sides by arched arcades. Under the 6-kilometer-long arcade system, numerous boutiques, cafés, and restaurants create a pleasant atmosphere for visitors.
Most of the colorful-fronted buildings date from the 15th-18th centuries and are carefully restored to preserve their original beauty. The ornately carved fountains found on the streets further enhance the medieval atmosphere. Due to the old town’s meticulously crafted details and harmonious architectural unity, Bern rightfully considers itself one of Europe’s most romantic capitals.
Clock Tower (Zytglogge)
One of Bern’s most iconic symbols and the medieval clock tower standing in the heart of the city, which has been keeping time for more than 800 years.
The tower, originally built between 1218-1220, served as the city’s western gate, then later functioned as a prison and clock tower. Its current stunning astronomical clock was made in 1530 and still operates with its original mechanism. The clock not only shows the time but also indicates the months, days, moon phases, and zodiac signs, making it a true technical masterpiece.
A few minutes before each hour, a special performance begins: a rooster crows, then a jester strikes the bell while bears march around the tower. This magical spectacle always attracts crowds and has become one of Bern’s most beloved attractions.
During guided tours inside the tower, visitors can learn about the complex mechanism of the clockwork and ascend to the viewing terrace, from where a beautiful panorama of the old town unfolds.
Bern Cathedral
Switzerland’s most imposing Gothic cathedral and the city’s tallest building, recognizable from afar with its 100-meter-high tower.
Construction of the cathedral began in 1421 and took more than half a century to complete. The church’s most outstanding feature is the richly decorated main portal, adorned with more than 200 carved figures depicting scenes of the Last Judgment. Among the detailed stone carvings, angels, saints, and biblical figures found their place, representing masterpieces of medieval stone carving.
The interior of the church is equally impressive: stained glass windows, Gothic vaults, and an organ built in 1726 with 5,404 pipes await visitors. After climbing the 344 steps leading to the tower, a breathtaking view opens up over Bern, the Aare river bend, and on clear days, even the distant Alps. The cathedral is not only a religious center but also hosts cultural events, with organ concerts being particularly popular among visitors.
Federal Palace (Bundeshaus)
The impressive home of the Swiss federal parliament and one of Bern’s most significant political buildings.
The Bundeshaus was completed in 1902 in neo-Renaissance style and stands on a hill from which there is a stunning view of the Alps. The central part of the building is dominated by a 64-meter-high dome crowned by a statue of the goddess Helvetia. The parliament’s two chambers, the National Assembly and the Council of States, hold their sessions here, and the building functions as the center of Swiss democracy.
Visitors can view the ornately furnished council chambers and learn about Switzerland’s political system through guided tours.
Käfigturm (Cage Tower)
The „Cage Tower” is one of Bern’s most interesting historical buildings, a witness to the city’s medieval past and now serves as a cultural center.
Built in the 13th century, the tower originally formed part of the city’s second defensive ring, then later operated as a prison, hence its „cage” designation. Over the centuries, it was rebuilt several times and served various functions: besides those mentioned, it was also a city office.
The tower’s specialty is that it has an arched passage in its lower part that connects the two parts of the city, allowing both pedestrians and vehicles to pass underneath. Plaques placed on the tower walls present important events in Bern’s history.
Rose Garden (Rosengarten)
One of Bern’s most romantic locations, where more than 200 rose varieties bloom and from which the city’s most beautiful panorama opens up.
The Rosengarten spreads on the higher bank of the Aare River and originally served as a cemetery before being transformed into a rose garden in 1913. The carefully maintained garden is now famous not only for its roses but also for its view, which opens up over the entire old town and river bend. Besides the various rose varieties, irises and other ornamental plants enrich the garden’s flora.
The Rose Garden is a popular meeting place for both locals and tourists. The landscape becomes particularly magical at sunset.
Marzili Bath
One of Bern’s most popular outdoor baths and community spaces located on the banks of the Aare River.
Marzilibad is a special outdoor bath complex that has been operating since 1782 and is one of Europe’s oldest riverside baths. The facility is located on one of the Aare River’s calmer sections, where the water becomes pleasantly warm. The bath is not only suitable for swimming but is a real community center.
The complex offers various pools for all age groups, including a separate children’s pool and a 50-meter competition lane. In summer, Marzilibad becomes a vibrant cultural center: concerts, film screenings, and various community events are regularly held here.
Nydegg Bridge
One of Bern’s oldest and most beautiful bridges arches over the Aare River and connects the two parts of the old town.
The original wooden bridge was built in the 13th century to connect the old town with the other side of the river. The current stone bridge was built around 1844 and has been one of Bern’s most important transportation routes ever since. The bridge not only serves a practical function but is also architecturally outstanding: built in classicist style, it harmoniously fits into the historical cityscape with its elegant arch.
From the Nydegg Bridge, there is a beautiful view in both directions of the Aare River, as well as of the old town’s towers and rooftops. Below the bridge, the Aare’s crystal-clear water meanders slowly, and especially in summer, it’s a popular spot for sunbathing and relaxing on the riverbank.
Bear Park
Home to Bern’s heraldic animal and one of the city’s most popular natural attractions, where brown bears can live freely.
Bears have been symbols of Bern for centuries, and the city’s name is also connected to the bear. The Bear Park opened in 2009 on the banks of the Aare River and provides a modern, nature-friendly environment for the bears. The park covers more than 5,000 square meters with wooded areas, ponds, and caves where the bears can follow their natural behavior.
Visitors can observe the animals from a two-story walkway while learning about the bears’ lifestyle and the importance of nature conservation through information boards.
Near the Bear Park, there is also the old bear pit, which has historical significance and where Bern’s bears were kept for centuries. Today, this area is also part of the modern park and reminds us of the long historical connection between the city and the bears.
All information can be found here!
Gurten Hill
Bern’s local mountain and popular excursion destination, from which the city’s most beautiful panorama opens up.
The 858-meter-high Gurten Hill can be reached by a comfortable rack railway that has been operating since 1899 and is itself a tourist attraction. At the hilltop, there is an observation tower from which a breathtaking 360-degree panorama unfolds: we can see Bern, the Aare River bends, and on clear days, we can see all the way to the Alps.
Gurten is popular not only for its view but also for its year-round program offerings. In summer, outdoor concerts, festivals, and children’s programs are held here, while in winter it provides skiing and sledding opportunities. The hill has numerous hiking trails that offer opportunities for nature lovers at various difficulty levels.
Gurten is particularly popular among family visitors, as there is also an adventure park and playground here where children can have fun in a safe environment.
Kirchenfeld District
One of Bern’s most elegant and greenest districts, home to numerous museums and cultural institutions.
The district, developed at the end of the 19th century, became Bern’s cultural center, where the city’s most important museums are located. The district’s characteristic feature is the wide, tree-lined promenades and imposing bourgeois villas.
The district includes Helvetiaplatz, around which several significant museums are located, including the Bern Historical Museum and the Swiss Alpine Museum. The area is an excellent example of 19th-century urban planning, where they successfully created a balance that combines cultural functions with residential needs.
Bern Historical Museum
Switzerland’s second-largest historical museum presents Bern and Switzerland’s rich past through impressive collections.
The museum is housed in an imposing, castle-like building built in 1894. The collection contains more than 500,000 objects spanning Swiss history from prehistoric times to the present. The museum is particularly famous for its Burgundian treasury, which is one of Europe’s most valuable medieval collections. These gold and silver objects, weapons, and textiles date from the 15th-century Burgundian Wars.
The museum’s modernized exhibition spaces also offer interactive experiences where visitors can learn about history in a playful way. The museum also organizes regular temporary exhibitions that illuminate different historical periods or cultural phenomena in Switzerland.
All information can be found here!
Einstein House
The former home of world-famous physicist Albert Einstein now operates as a museum as part of the Bern Historical Museum.
Einstein lived in this modest apartment at Kramgasse 49 from 1903 to 1905, on the second floor with his wife, Mileva Marić, and their first child. Here he developed the revolutionary theory that forever changed the world of physics. The house has since been converted into a museum where visitors can gain insight into the scientist’s daily life and scientific work.
The three-room apartment is furnished with original furniture and personal items that evoke Einstein’s Bern period. The museum’s exhibition presents the story of the theory of relativity’s creation, as well as important milestones in Einstein’s private life and scientific career.
Visitors can view the documents and photographs that testify to the time when Einstein was still an unknown patent clerk and worked in his spare time on those theories that would later bring him the Nobel Prize.
All information can be found here!
Paul Klee Center
The museum dedicated to the art of world-famous Swiss-German painter Paul Klee is one of Bern’s most significant institutions.
The building designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano opened in 2005 and is itself a work of art. The three wave-like structures evoking „hills” harmoniously blend with the surrounding landscape and have gained worldwide recognition for their unique architectural solutions.
The museum boasts the world’s largest Paul Klee collection, preserving more than 4,000 works by the master. In the exhibition spaces, we can follow Klee’s artistic development, from his early watercolors to the abstract works of his mature period. The museum’s specialty is that it presents not only the paintings but also Klee’s theoretical writings and pedagogical work.
All information can be found here!
Swiss Alpine Museum
A unique museum dedicated to the world of Swiss mountains, presenting the natural and cultural heritage of the Alps.
It opened in 1905 and has been Europe’s leading alpine museum ever since. The collection presents every aspect of mountain life: from geological formation through flora and fauna to human activity and cultures. Visitors can learn about the natural history of the Alps, the history of mountaineering, and traditional alpine lifestyles.
One of the museum’s most outstanding parts is the map collection, which presents Switzerland’s different regions through three-dimensional models. These detailed scale models allow visitors to see the country’s geographical conditions from a bird’s-eye view. Through the museum’s interactive exhibitions, they provide insight into alpine ecosystems and the secrets of mountain hiking.
The museum pays special attention to the effects of climate change in the Alps and uses modern multimedia tools to show how glaciers and the mountain environment are changing. The collection also includes numerous historical mountaineering equipment and documents that tell the story of the conquest of the Alps.
All information can be found here!
Bern weather: when is the best time to visit?
Bern has a moderate continental climate that provides four well-distinguished seasons, each with its own special charm and program opportunities.
Spring (March-May):
Spring in Bern is a pleasant and gradually warming period when the average temperature ranges between 8-18°C. The city’s blooming parks and gardens are particularly beautiful during this period, and the days become increasingly longer. Precipitation is moderate, although spring showers may occasionally occur. This season is ideal for sightseeing and outdoor programs.
Summer (June-August):
During the summer months, Bern basks in pleasant warmth, with average temperatures ranging between 15-25°C. The days are long and generally sunny, although brief showers may occasionally occur. This is the most ideal period for outdoor bathing, hiking, and city festivals. We can spend particularly enjoyable time on Gurten Hill and along the Aare riverbank.
Autumn (September-November):
Autumn in Bern is a season splendid in beautiful colors when the average temperature gradually decreases from 12°C to 5°C. The days shorten, but this period is often still characterized by pleasant and sunny weather. The autumn foliage colors are particularly beautiful in the city’s parks and surrounding forests. Precipitation increases, but it’s still a suitable period for sightseeing.
Winter (December-February):
Winter in Bern is cold, with average temperatures ranging between -2°C and 4°C. Snowfall is frequent, and the city is particularly romantic in its winter atmosphere. Christmas markets and winter sports make this season attractive. Winter sports opportunities await visitors on Gurten Hill.
Best time to travel:
For visiting Bern, late spring (April-May) and early autumn (September-October) can be considered the most ideal periods, when the weather is pleasant, nature is beautiful, and tourist traffic is also more moderate.