Bern Old Town and the Arcades
The medieval heart of the Swiss capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site of sandstone houses, about six kilometres of covered arcades and sixteenth-century fountains on a hairpin bend of the Aare.
Half dayDetails →
Switzerland
Bern
Bern is the Swiss capital and one of the most relaxed and best preserved cities in Europe.
Its UNESCO-listed Old Town sits on a narrow peninsula inside a loop of the Aare, with sandstone streets, about six kilometres of covered arcades, sixteenth-century fountains and the Zytglogge clock tower. Twickly plots the 22 things worth your time: the clock show, the Minster tower, the Bear Park, the Rosengarten view, the Einstein House and museum, Zentrum Paul Klee, the Federal Palace, a summer dip in the Aare and the Gurten hill. Guided walks, a chocolate tasting and a fondue cellar add flavour, and day trips by train reach Gruyeres, the Emmental, Thun, Fribourg and Biel. 8 hotels cover the Old Town, the station and Bundesplatz, the Kursaal heights and the green north, and six guides cover first visits, where to stay, a three-day plan, food, day trips and the seasons.
Don't miss
Zytglogge Clock Tower
Bern's medieval clock tower and its astronomical clock, whose figures put on a short show four minutes before each hour.
Bear Park (BärenPark)
A riverside enclosure on the slope beside the Nydegg Bridge where Bern keeps its bears, free to visit and just below the Old Town.
Zentrum Paul Klee
A wave-shaped museum designed by Renzo Piano on the eastern edge of Bern, holding the world's largest collection of works by Paul Klee.
Bern Chocolate Tasting Tour
A guided walk between Bern's chocolate shops with tastings and the story of Swiss chocolate.
Things to do in Bern
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeZytglogge Clock Tower
Bern's medieval clock tower and its astronomical clock, whose figures put on a short show four minutes before each hour.
30 minutes to 1 hourDetails →
Bern Minster and Tower
The late Gothic cathedral of Bern, with the tallest church tower in Switzerland and a climb of about 344 steps to a view over the Old Town and the Alps.
FreeBear Park (BärenPark)
A riverside enclosure on the slope beside the Nydegg Bridge where Bern keeps its bears, free to visit and just below the Old Town.
30 minutes to 1 hourDetails →
Einstein House
The small apartment on Kramgasse where Albert Einstein lived in 1903 to 1905, the years in which he developed special relativity.
Albert Einstein Museum at the Bern Historical Museum
A large exhibition on Einstein's life and ideas, housed inside the Bern Historical Museum in the museum quarter.
Zentrum Paul Klee
A wave-shaped museum designed by Renzo Piano on the eastern edge of Bern, holding the world's largest collection of works by Paul Klee.
Kunstmuseum Bern
Switzerland's oldest art museum with a collection from the Middle Ages to the present, strong on Klee, Hodler and the Swiss modernists.
Rosengarten Viewpoint
A hillside rose garden above the bear park with the best classic view of Bern Old Town, the Minster and the bend of the Aare. Free to enter.
1 hourDetails →
Gurten Park and Funicular
Bern's local mountain, reached by a funicular from the south of the city, with a panoramic tower, family trails and a view toward the Alps.
FreeFederal Palace (Bundeshaus) and Bundesplatz
The Swiss parliament building with a domed hall and free guided visits, facing Bundesplatz and its fountain jets.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Swimming in the Aare and the Marzili
Locals float down the clear green Aare in summer, and the free Marzili riverside baths make it an easy city dip below the Federal Palace.
1 to 3 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Bellevue Palace Bern
Kochergasse, beside the Federal Palace
Bern's grand historic hotel, beside the Federal Palace on the edge of the Old Town, with views over the Aare valley and a long tradition of hosting politicians and guests.
Check rates →
$$$Schweizerhof Bern and the Spa
Bahnhofplatz, opposite the station
A long-established upscale hotel facing the railway station, with a spa, restaurants and an easy walk into the Old Town.
Check rates →Swissôtel Kursaal Bern
Kornhausstrasse, near the Kursaal
A large modern hotel beside the Kursaal on the north bank of the Aare, with city views, a restaurant and quick access to the Old Town across the Kornhaus Bridge.
Check rates →Hotel Restaurant Goldener Schluessel
Rathausgasse, Old Town
A traditional Old Town hotel and restaurant on the Rathausgasse, a few minutes from the Zytglogge, with a Swiss kitchen downstairs.
Check rates →Hotel Bären am Bundesplatz
Schauplatzgasse, near Bundesplatz
A mid-range central hotel a step from Bundesplatz and the Federal Palace, close to the station and the Old Town.
Check rates →Boutique Hotel Belle Epoque
Gerechtigkeitsgasse, Old Town
A small Art Nouveau boutique hotel on the Gerechtigkeitsgasse in the Old Town, known for period decoration and a quiet, personal atmosphere.
Check rates →Hotel Innere Enge
Engeried, north of the Old Town
A green-edged boutique hotel in the Engeried quarter above the Aare, known for its jazz club and a quiet setting a tram ride from the centre.
Check rates →
$Hotel National Bern
Hirschengraben, near the station
A straightforward value hotel on Hirschengraben near the station, within walking distance of the Old Town.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Zytglogge Clock TowerStay
Hotel Restaurant Goldener SchluesselRathausgasse, Old Town
Do
Bear Park (BärenPark)Stay
Bellevue Palace BernKochergasse, beside the Federal Palace
Do
Zentrum Paul KleeStay
Schweizerhof Bern and the SpaBahnhofplatz, opposite the station
Bern guides
First-Timer's Guide to Bern: What to See, How to Get Around and How Long to Stay
A practical first visit plan for Bern: the sights worth your time, how the Old Town works, what to book, how to get around and how many days to stay.
Where to Stay in Bern: Old Town, Station Area, Kursaal Heights and the Quiet North
Choose the right base in Bern: the Old Town, the station and Bundesplatz area, the Kursaal heights and the green Engeried district, with hotels matched to each.
Bern in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary for the Old Town, Museums and a Day Trip
A three-day plan for Bern that links the Old Town, the bears, Einstein, Paul Klee, the river and a day trip by train, with timing tips.
Eating and Drinking in Bern: Rosti, Fondue, Chocolate and Local Specialities
What to eat and drink in Bern: the Bernese platter, rosti, fondue, onion tart, meringues with cream, chocolate and where to find them.
Day Trips from Bern: Gruyères, the Emmental, Thun, Fribourg and Biel
The best day trips from Bern by train or small-group tour: Gruyères, the Emmental, Thun, Fribourg and Biel, with timing and planning tips.
Best Time to Visit Bern: Seasons, Markets, River Swimming and What Changes
When to visit Bern: what each season offers, from river swimming and terraces in summer to Christmas markets and quiet streets in winter, with packing tips.
