An idyllic historical city with cobblestone streets, fascinating museums, and high clock towers reaching towards the sky, Berne in Switzerland is most of all a charming historical town. This lovely Central European city with a World Heritage -awarded Old Town is also a modern Swiss capital filled with vibrant city life and high quality touristic services.
Historical attractions. The most famous of the historical sights in Berne is its UNESCO World Heritage -nominated Old Town, which was founded in the 12th century. This charming hilltop part of Berne is covered by cobblestone streets bordered by high clock towers and charming historical buildings, lovely arcades and refreshing fountains. Talking of Berne and history, there are also fascinating museums in Berne to visit. You can find museums showing the history of Switzerland, as well as the masterpieces of Swiss arts in Bern. You can also enjoy the shows of fascinating places like the Swiss Alpine museum or the Albert Einstein house. Other interesting places to see in Berne include the Berne Zoo, the Federal Palace of Switzerland, and Bärengraben, the traditional Bear Pits of Berne.
Panoramic landscapes. In addition to all its fascinating sights, Berne is also a city of panoramic views. This city is a home of famous parks like lovely Rosengarten with a view over the Old Town. If you want to enjoy a little bit bigger portion of the fresh Swiss air, go to Gurten, a hill located just outside the city that offers excellent possibilities for not only hiking and biking, but also for admiring panoramic views over the city. If you are looking for a more adventurous outdoor destination near Berne, try Interlaken, a small town located in the Swiss Alps approximately hundred kilometers away, at the foot of majestic Jungfrau Mountain.
Berne, idyllic capital city with diverse attractions
The capital of Switzerland, Berne (also known as Bern) is an idyllic riverside city with numerous historical sights, and excellent services. It is also a city of cultural pleasures and good shopping facilities.Historical attractions. The most famous of the historical sights in Berne is its UNESCO World Heritage -nominated Old Town, which was founded in the 12th century. This charming hilltop part of Berne is covered by cobblestone streets bordered by high clock towers and charming historical buildings, lovely arcades and refreshing fountains. Talking of Berne and history, there are also fascinating museums in Berne to visit. You can find museums showing the history of Switzerland, as well as the masterpieces of Swiss arts in Bern. You can also enjoy the shows of fascinating places like the Swiss Alpine museum or the Albert Einstein house. Other interesting places to see in Berne include the Berne Zoo, the Federal Palace of Switzerland, and Bärengraben, the traditional Bear Pits of Berne.
Panoramic landscapes. In addition to all its fascinating sights, Berne is also a city of panoramic views. This city is a home of famous parks like lovely Rosengarten with a view over the Old Town. If you want to enjoy a little bit bigger portion of the fresh Swiss air, go to Gurten, a hill located just outside the city that offers excellent possibilities for not only hiking and biking, but also for admiring panoramic views over the city. If you are looking for a more adventurous outdoor destination near Berne, try Interlaken, a small town located in the Swiss Alps approximately hundred kilometers away, at the foot of majestic Jungfrau Mountain.
Practical information for staying in Berne
Weather in Berne is changeable with warm summers and cold winters. Summertime (June-August) temperatures in Berne are pleasantly warm, but during the coldest months of the winter (December-February) mercury usually drops to near zero degrees Celsius. The best time to visit Berne is during the summer months, but if you are prepared with warm clothing, you can come to the Swiss capital anytime of the year.
Photo: Lomyx, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
How to get there. Flights to Berne are available from most major European airports. You can also travel to Berne easily by road or rail from most neighboring countries. There is an efficient public transport system in Berne, consisting of buses, trolleybuses, trams, and local trains (S-bahn), which are used for traveling between different city parts or even to nearby cities. If you want to be more independent or to go outside the city, there are also plenty of rental cars in Berne available.
Tourist services in Berne are convenient and abundant. There are tourist offices in the city to help you with your bookings and provide you with basic information concerning the sights of Berne. Hotels in Berne suit many budgets and tastes, as well as restaurants in Berne, which also offer good possibilities for enjoying the nightlife in Berne. Making your stay more enjoyable, the Swiss capital is a quite safe destination where the biggest threat is probably running out of money. However, if you are not afraid of this, there are also many fascinating places available for shopping in Berne. After your shopping day is through, you could try the regular concerts in Berne or relax in the lovely spas in Berne.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Interlaken, Basel, Lucerne, Lausanne, Zurich, Zermatt, Chamonix, Aosta Valley, Geneva, Black Forest (Schwarzwald)
