This guide of places to see in Bern, will help you prepare a walking route through the most charming city of Switzerland, making the most of the time.
With a medieval old town declared a World Heritage Site and surrounded by the meander that forms the Aar River, Bern is one of those cities that falls in love at first sight in which to stroll through its streets and squares enjoying its medieval buildings of reddish roofs and arcades that have survived almost intact the passage of time, is a real pleasure for the senses.
The most common way to get to Bern, if you don't have a car, is by train from Basel or Zurich, located less than an hour away.
Based on the experience of the two times we have visited this beautiful city, the first on a trip to Switzerland in 5 days and the last on a route through Switzerland by train, we have made this list of the ones we believe are 10 places to visit in Bern essential. We start!
1. Garden of the Roses
The Rose Garden or Rosengarten, is the best viewpoint and one of the essential places to see in Bern.
This park with a magnificent garden where more than 200 varieties of roses and other flowers are found, is perfect to relax and enjoy a magnificent sunset overlooking the red roofs of the medieval old town.
The garden is in an elevated position on a hill, which allows you to see a part of the meander that forms the Aare River as it passes through the city and the entire natural environment.
In addition to a pavilion and a pond, in the park you will find the Rosengarten restaurant, one of the most recommended in the city with views of the city.
To get to the garden you can take the number 10 bus that leaves from the train station or walk, being near the historic center.
Garden of the Roses
2. Kramgasse Street
Walking along Kramgasse Street, the heart of the old town, is one of the Top things to do in Bern.
This street that forms one of the longest sections of the 6 kilometers of arcades that Bern has, has in its beautiful medieval buildings of reddish roofs its great tourist attraction in addition to several colorful fountains with Renaissance figures in the middle of the street and shops of Crafts under the arcades.
One of the curiosities are the wooden doors that you will see in most places, through which you access stores located in the basements and that were formerly stores and that today are bars or shops with a special charm.
An interesting way to explore the city knowing the history of each place and at your own pace is to book this tour with audioguide in Spanish.
Kramgrasse Street
3. Clock Tower
The Clock Tower or Zytgloggeturm, located at the beginning of Kramgasse Street, is another of the essential places to visit in Bern.
This medieval tower, built between 1191 and 1256, was the first western gate of the city and was used as a women's prison until it was burned in 1405 to incorporate the astronomical calendar clock and a set of figures in 1540, forming a carillon that They start moving three minutes before each hour.
You can enter inside at 2:30 p.m. with a guided tour to see the precise mechanism that makes watches and figures work. You can book the guided tour in English here.
clock tower
4. Bern Cathedral
The Cathedral is the tallest church in Switzerland, with a tower over 100 meters high is another of the places to see in Bern.
This building of late Gothic style, began to be built in 1421 and was not finished until 1893 where before entering the interior, we recommend you observe for a few minutes the fantastic portal with a representation of the Last Judgment.
From the inside you can climb the 312 steps that will take you to the top of the tower, from where you will enjoy incredible views of the historic center and even the snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps.
Views from the Bern Cathedral
5. City Hall, one of the places to see in Bern
The Town Hall, located in the Postgasse and built between 1406 and 1416, is another of the more beautiful medieval buildings to see in Bern.
Inside the late Gothic building, the Grand Council of the Canton of Bern meets five times a year and is the place from where the city is managed and the exterior stands out for a facade with a canopy supported by several columns and two side stairs input
Our recommended hotel in Bern
The accommodation in Bern as in all Switzerland, has a fairly high price, so one of the hotels with the best quality / price ratio and in which we stay is the Ibis budget Bern Expo, located 20 minutes walk from the historic center and with a tram stop ahead. The hotel also has a 24-hour reception, parking and comfortable rooms.
Do not forget that when you check in any hotel or apartment in the city, they will provide you with the Bern Ticket, with which you will have free public transport, among other advantages.
6. Federal Palace of Switzerland
The Federal Palace of Switzerland, in which the country's parliament is located, is the most important building to visit in Bern.
It must be borne in mind that Bern was named capital of Switzerland in 1848 and until 4 years later this enormous building was not built, which was completed in 1902 and which impresses its exterior, with its huge copper dome and by the Turquoise green color of its walls.
Remember that if you want to visit it, you can only access its interior every Saturday at 2pm, with a guided tour.
From the back terrace you can see a bronze model of the palace and enjoy the views of the Swiss Alps and the Marzili neighborhood.
Swiss Federal Palace
7. Grosser Muristalden
One of the Top things to do in Bern It is to cross the Nydeggbrücke bridge to go up Grosser Muristalden street, from where you get fantastic views of the old town and the Aar river.
Before arriving at this viewpoint, you will pass by the Bärenpark park where several bears are living, symbol of the city and that as far as we have been able to know, they are currently in better state, due to the update and expansion of the facilities.
In this area there is also the local restaurant Altes Tramdepot, where you can enjoy a great atmosphere and a magnificent meal accompanied by a large jug of craft beer.
Grosser Muristalden
8. Kunstmuseum
The Kunstmuseum, with more than 3,000 paintings and sculptures, is the most essential museum to see in Bern and one of the most important in Switzerland.
In this art museum are works ranging from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era, by great masters such as Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Van Gogh, Salvador Dalí or Pollock, among many others.
Visiting hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, Tuesdays close at 9pm and Mondays closed.
Recommended travel cardsRemember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
9. Marzili neighborhood
The Marzili neighborhood, located below the Parliament on the banks of the Aar River, is one of the areas to see in Bern more fashionable.
The rear facades of the beautiful houses that overlook the Aar, the cafeterias and design stores and, above all, the famous Marzili pool, make more and more tourists include this neighborhood in their itinerary.
The Marzili pool is formed by a large green space with several swimming pools, trampolines, lawn for sunbathing, eating areas, showers and all services.
In addition to having fun in the pools, you can let yourself be dragged along the river current and taste a delicious ice cream at the Gelateria di Berna.
From this neighborhood you can go up to the old town in one minute with the Marzilibahn, a small funicular that leaves every two minutes.
Marzili, one of the neighborhoods to see in Bern
10. Einstein House Museum
In the Einstein or Einsteinhausl House Museum, located at 49 Kramgasse Street, the most famous scientist in history, Albert Einstein, lived for more than seven years.
During the Einstein stage in Bern, from 1902 to 1909, he developed some of his most important theories that would revolutionize physics as the theory of relativity and its famous formula E = mc².
On the second floor you can see how Einstein lived with his wife and son, while preserving the furniture of the time, while on the third floor is his biography and several original documents.
Visiting hours: every day from 10am to 5pm.
If you feel like helping us complete the list of the 10 places to see in Bern essential, add yours in the comments.
