Bern travel guide

Bern, the capital city of Switzerland, experiences a temperate oceanic climate. This means that the city enjoys warm, moderately hot summers and cold, snowy winters. Summer temperatures in Bern, from June to August, typically range from 20°C to 25°C. This is the wettest season, with frequent rain showers and thunderstorms. The winters, from December to February, are usually cold with temperatures often dropping below freezing, and heavy snowfall is common.

The transitional seasons, spring and autumn, are generally mild and relatively dry. Spring, from March to May, sees temperatures gradually rising from 10°C to 20°C. Autumn, from September to November, experiences gradually cooling temperatures with averages between 10°C and 20°C. It's worth noting that the weather in Bern can be quite changeable, so it's recommended to pack clothing for all conditions. Also, the city's altitude of over 500 meters can make the climate cooler than other regions at the same latitude. This can make the winter feel particularly chilly, so warm clothing is essential if you're visiting during this season.

Home to plenty of top attractions, Bern is more than just a wonderful city in Switzerland. Bern is a travel hotspot and a great place to experience a mix of the traditional and modern culture of Switzerland.

One fascinating sight in Bern is the unforgettable The Cathedral of Bern. Considered one of the most well-known attractions in the city, a visit to this spectacular travel destination is something you shouldn’t miss on your trip to Bern.

For more information about what you can expect during a vacation in Switzerland, check out our list of top attractions in Bern below. Discover the best places to visit in Bern, including the fascinating The Cathedral of Bern, UNESCO - Bern Old Town, Bern Rose Garden, Zytglogge, and Bundesplatz.

Use this map to find the location of all top attractions in Bern.

Traveling is all about gaining new experiences. You can have that and more in the city of Bern.

Bern offers numerous tours and activities for travelers to choose from. Historical Tours, Walking Tours, and Guided Day Trips are only a few of the many experiences you can book for your holiday in Switzerland.

Explore the most popular experiences you can join in Bern by clicking on one of the top-rated tour categories below.

Travelers in Bern can choose from 13 categories of top-rated tours and tickets. If you're curious about what the most frequently recommended experiences in the city are, Cultural Tours is the answer.

The most popular tour in Bern is the fantastic Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour. By joining this highly recommended tour, travelers get to learn more about what makes Bern one of the best travel destinations in Switzerland.

Bern also offers plenty of budget-friendly tours and activities that promise travelers a unique experience in the city. The affordable Bern Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour is the cheapest tour in the city. This experience costs around 4 EUR and allows travelers a great time in Bern.

Secure an unforgettable experience for your upcoming trip to Bern and book a top-rated tour in the city. Discover the best tours, activities, and tickets in Bern below.

Discover the best things to do in Bern. Choose from 43 fantastic tours and activities available in the city.

Select your dates and number of travelers in the search bar below to receive the best recommendations for your vacation in Bern. Click the green button to view your options.

Bern, the captivating capital of Switzerland, is a food lover's paradise. The city is teeming with culinary treasures waiting to be discovered, from bustling street markets to upscale dining establishments. The Old Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best places to eat in Bern with a plethora of eateries offering local and international cuisines. Don't miss out on tasting the traditional Bernese Platter, a hearty dish of various meats and potatoes, or the Berner Rösti, a potato dish often paired with meat or eggs. For more upscale dining, the Gerechtigkeitsgasse is known for its high-end restaurants serving exquisite Swiss and European dishes. Street food lovers should visit the Waisenhausplatz market, where vendors serve everything from Swiss cheese to locally produced wines. For a sweet finish, indulge in the famous Swiss chocolate or the Bernese Leckerli, a hard spice biscuit. Remember to pair your meals with a local wine or beer for the complete Bernese culinary experience.

Bern, home to a delightful blend of old charm and contemporary chic, is a haven for shoppers. The city's distinct fashion scene and local craftsmanship make it the best place to go shopping in Bern. Start your shopping journey at the iconic Kramgasse, where you'll find an array of boutiques that showcase local designers and high-quality Swiss watches. The Bernese arcades, one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe, offer an elegant and comfortable shopping experience, rain or shine. For a more modern shopping experience, head to Westside Shopping Mall, an architectural marvel housing over 70 stores.

Don't miss out on visiting the traditional markets like Waisenhausplatz and Münstergasse, brimming with fresh produce, antique books, and unique trinkets. When looking for souvenirs, be sure to pick up the Bernese honey, Swiss cheese or a cuckoo clock, symbols of Swiss craftsmanship. Remember, shopping hours in Bern typically run from 9 am to 7 pm on weekdays, with shorter hours on Saturdays, and most shops are closed on Sundays. Happy shopping!

Discover the best free things to do in Bern, a city steeped in history and Swiss charm. Start at the Bundesplatz, where the Parliament building stands majestically. Don't miss the captivating light and sound show projected onto the building's facade each evening. Stroll through the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with well-preserved medieval architecture, fountains, and the iconic Zytglogge clock tower. Witness the intricate astronomical clock mechanism in action on the hour. Visit the Bear Park, home to Bern's symbolic animals, where you can watch them frolic in a natural habitat. Explore the Rosengarten, a beautiful rose garden offering panoramic views of the city skyline. If you're an art lover, visit the Zentrum Paul Klee, which offers free admission on select days, housing the world's largest collection of works by Swiss painter Paul Klee. Lastly, immerse yourself in the local culture by visiting the open-air markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays, where you can sample Swiss cheeses, breads, and other local delicacies. These activities are a testament to the city's rich cultural tapestry and are sure to create lasting memories of your visit to Bern.

The most popular way to experience Bern is by visiting the city as part of a road trip across multiple destinations in Switzerland. However, it is also common for travelers to go to Bern on both shorter and longer getaways, to get a break from everyday life, relax, and experience something new.

With Guide to Europe you can find road trips, city breaks, and weekend getaways in Switzerland, ranging from budget to luxury. Whether you’re planning a multi-day road trip across Switzerland, or you just want to enjoy a few days exploring Bern, there is a vacation package for you.

Discover the most popular vacation packages in Bern below.

Travelers have a great selection of vacation packages to choose from in Switzerland. In fact, you can choose from as many as 238 different top-rated vacation packages to take you to Bern, and even more if you expand your search to include a bigger area of Switzerland.

To help narrow your choices down, here are some of the best vacation packages for exploring the city of Bern.

For an epic vacation, discover Bern and other top destinations in Switzerland on a top-rated holiday like the 10-Day Switzerland Road Trip from Bern traveling west to Zurich, Lucerne, Geneva, and Lausanne. This vacation package provides travelers with tons of opportunities to experience not only the most popular attractions in Bern, but also in other top places to visit in Switzerland. If Münsterplattform, Zytglogge, The Cathedral of Bern, Bear Pit, and Bundesplatz are on your bucket list, this is the perfect vacation package for you.

If you would like to go on a budget vacation in Bern, book the popular Cheap 3-Day Switzerland City Break in Bern and spend as little as 446 EUR. This vacation will take you on a journey to experience some of the most incredible attractions and sights in Bern, including the fantastic UNESCO - Bern Old Town, Zytglogge, The Cathedral of Bern, Rosengarten Bern, and Bear Pit.

Get more Bern vacation ideas on this site and discover the greatest selection of vacation packages in Europe. Scroll down to find the best vacation packages in Switzerland that match your needs and budget.

Discover and compare 238 vacation packages that take you to the wonderful city of Bern.

The best flights, hotels, and activities in Bern get fully booked quickly. Use the search tool below to find the best vacation packages in Switzerland. Your customized holiday package to Bern is only a few clicks away!

Over the years, more airlines have started offering flexible and direct flights to Bern, making it one of the most accessible travel destinations in Switzerland. However, it is usually cheaper to fly to Bern, Switzerland, in June.

The cheapest one-way flight to Bern costs around 75 EUR and is offered by the airline Vueling.

The cheapest round-trip flights to Bern cost approximately 168 EUR in total. The departure flight leaves on July 1 and the return flight is scheduled on July 13. The flight time is around 16 hours per way.

The return flight is operated by Bern.

Use the search tool below to find the cheapest flights to Switzerland and the city of Bern from your city of departure.

Travelers visiting Bern in Switzerland can fly to Bern airport directly from 483 destinations worldwide.

The airline that operates most flights to Switzerland is Egyptair. Egyptair offers 13 scheduled flight routes to Switzerland.

Discover the most popular flights to Bern below. Click to view flights to Bern, Switzerland from destinations all across the globe.

While each type offers varying amenities and rates, there is no denying that Bern provides a great selection of lodging options ready to cater to every kind of guest.

Budget accommodations are also incredibly popular among travelers in Bern. Cheaper alternatives allow travelers to save on accommodation costs and have more to spend on other experiences.

Select the type you prefer to compare options under each category and find the best accommodation.

Hotels are travelers' go-to accommodations in Bern for the unique experience they provide.

Besides offering basic amenities, many hotels in Bern provide meals and extras, such as shuttle services, spa facilities, tour desks, and other services. But because not all hotels in Bern are created equal, finding the best in the city often requires careful research. For your convenience, we've done all the research to make it easier for you to check out all the top hotels in Bern.

Below is our hand-picked list of the best hotels in the Bern. Travelers are encouraged to book early as these hotels quickly reach capacity.

Click the arrows or swipe the list to see each hotel's ratings, reviews, locations, rates, and more. You can read detailed descriptions of each hotel by clicking the cards.

Use the Accommodation Search tool below to find available stays in the city of Bern on specific dates. This handy feature also allows you to compare prices and amenities.

Enter the preferred check-in and check-out dates. Then, select the number of guests and rooms. Click the Search button to find all the available hotels and places to stay in the city of Bern that match the information provided.

Discover and choose from our broad range of popular car rental options in the city of Bern to find the best car for your travel plans. Travelers in Bern can choose from small cars, medium cars, large cars, estate cars, mini vans, SUVs, convertibles, premium cars, camper vans, mini campers, vans, cars. All car rentals come with CDW insurance for added protection throughout your trip.

Renting a car is a popular choice among travelers who want to explore Switzerland at their own pace. The most popular type of car rental among small groups of travelers in Bern is a TopLevel.

Another very popular type of car to rent in Bern is a TopLevel. This car is particularly popular among couples and solo travelers touring the city of Bern.

Check out all options available in Bern and book the car rental for your upcoming adventures in Switzerland below.

Get ready to hit the road and explore the beautiful city of Bern. Find the best deals on a variety of popular car rentals in Bern, Switzerland, or any other destination in Europe by using the search tool below.

Enter your pick-up and drop-off location, driver's age, and dates. Click the green button to view your options.

When unsure of where to go next, use the map below. This map shows the locations of all the best destinations in Switzerland. Use the map to plan your trip and find the best routes.

Travelers in Switzerland can catch flights to domestic airports in Basel, Geneva, and Zürich. Domestic flights in Switzerland are operated by 1 airline: Helvetic Airways. There are around 4 scheduled flight routes operating to Bern on a weekly basis.

From Bern, travelers can book scheduled flights to 3 domestic destinations.

Traveling to another city or region in Switzerland? Use the flight search tool below to quickly find the cheapest one-way or round-trip flights from Bern to different local destinations.

Enter all the necessary information and click or tap on the Search button to see a list of the available domestic flights in Switzerland on the selected dates.