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    Bern

    Switzerland

    Bern

    City

    Bern is the federal city of Switzerland and lies on a peninsula in a loop of the Aare. Its Old Town, with sandstone buildings, fountains, and around six kilometres of arcades, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983.

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    9. Bern
    Bern is the federal city of Switzerland and lies on a peninsula in a loop of the Aare. Its Old Town, with sandstone buildings, fountains, and around six kilometres of arcades, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983.Shops, cafés, and cellar theatres line the arcades. The Zytglogge is a landmark, its astronomical clock with animated figures striking the hours since 1530. Other highlights include the Bern Minster, the Federal Palace, and the Einstein House, where the physicist lived from 1903 to 1905. In summer, many locals float in the Aare, and from the Rose Garden, you can overlook the Old Town.
    Bern is Switzerland's federal city, yet it feels manageable: The Old Town lies compactly on a peninsula, which the Aare river encircles in a loop. From the station, it's a ten-minute walk to the Bundeshaus; buses go to the Zytglogge stop. Along the Lauben in Spitalgasse, Marktgasse, and Kramgasse, shops, fountains, and cellar venues line up all the way to Nydeggbrücke, with the BärenPark on the other side of the Aare. Below the Münster, the old Mattequartier is by the river; in summer, many swim directly in the Aare, such as at Marzili below the Bundeshaus.
    Matte
    JoachimKohler-HB / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    District 1 of 2

    Matte

    The Matte Quarter is by the Aare, directly below the Münsterplattform. Formerly, craftsmen, raftsmen, and boatmen lived here; today, small restaurants and homes define this quiet riverside quarter.

    The Matte is located right on the Aare, below the Münsterplattform. In the past, artisans, raftsmen, and boatmen lived here; water power drove mills and saws.

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    Old Town Bern
    JoachimKohler-HB / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    District 2 of 2

    Old Town Bern

    Bern's Old Town is situated on a peninsula, encircled by the Aare river in a tight loop, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983.

    Bern's Old Town, situated on a peninsula in a tight loop of the Aare river, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983. Around six kilometers of arcaded walkways line the main streets, allowing you to stroll dry even in the rain.

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    Sights in Bern

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Parliament
    Attraction

    1Parliament

    The National Council and Council of States convene in the domed building on Federal Square. The Parliament Building can be visited on guided tours; during sessions, the visitor galleries are open.
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    Bear Park
    Attraction

    2Bear Park

    The enclosure on the Aarehang below the Nydeggbrücke is home to the Bern bears, the city's heraldic animal. The park is free to enter and only a few minutes' walk from the Zytglogge.
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    Rose Garden
    Park

    3Rose Garden

    The park on the slope above the BärenPark offers a classic view of the Old Town in the Aare loop with the Minster Tower. From spring to autumn, over 200 rose varieties bloom here, along with iris and rhododendron gardens and a restaurant.
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    Einsteinhaus
    Museum

    4Einsteinhaus

    Albert Einstein lived in the apartment at Kramgasse 49 from 1903 to 1905 and developed special relativity here. The living rooms on the second floor are furnished in period style; an exhibition recounts his life.
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    Bern Minster
    Church

    5Bern Minster

    With its approx. 100-meter-high tower, the Late Gothic church dominates the Old Town. Known are the stained glass and sculpture portal; from the Minster platform, you look onto the Aare.
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    Zytglogge
    Historic Landmark

    6Zytglogge

    The medieval gate tower is the landmark of Bern Old Town. Its astronomical clock with animated figures has struck the hours since 1530; you can visit the tower itself on guided tours.
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    Restaurants in Bern

    1

    Restaurant Rose Garden

    Modern restaurant with Mediterranean cuisine and a terrace on the edge of the Rose Garden, overlooking the Old Town.
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    2

    Ristorante Luce

    Spacious Italian restaurant with dishes from Emilia-Romagna and outdoor seating, near the station.
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    3

    Pizzeria da Nino

    Pizzeria on Belpstrasse, west of the center, also offers takeaway pizza.
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    Food & Drink in Bern

    Bernese Plate

    Bernese Plate

    A sumptuous platter with various meats and sausages, served with sauerkraut, green beans and potatoes.
    Bernese Hazelnut Gingerbread

    Bernese Hazelnut Gingerbread

    A spicy gingerbread with hazelnuts, often decorated with an icing bear.
    Onion quiche

    Onion quiche

    Around the Zibelemärit in November, onion tart and onion soup feature on many Old Town menus.

    Culture in Bern

    The Federal City cherishes ancient customs while also housing one of Switzerland's most significant art collections.ZibelemäritIn November, the Zibelemärit transforms the Old Town into a giant onion market. Stalls open as early as 5 AM, selling artfully braided onion plaits, along with mulled wine and confetti battles.Zentrum Paul KleeOn the city's eastern outskirts stands the Zentrum Paul Klee, opened in 2005. Renzo Piano's wave-shaped building houses some 4000 works by the painter, representing about 40 percent of his complete oeuvre and thus the world's largest Klee collection. In addition, concerts, theatre performances, and readings take place.Einstein and the Old TownIn 1905, Albert Einstein developed the special theory of relativity in his apartment on Kramgasse. The Old Town itself has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983.

    Nightlife

    1

    Marian's Jazzroom

    Opened in 1992, the music club with around 130 seats hosts live jazz, gospel, and blues musicians.
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    2

    Tuesday Jam

    Jazz bar in the Old Town, known for its weekly open jam sessions with risotto, entry is free.
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    Traveling in Bern

    Bern's Old Town is compact enough to explore on foot: From the train station to the Bundeshaus, it's about ten minutes, and to the Einstein House on Kramgasse, about twelve. Under the arcades, you stay dry even in the rain.Bus lines 7, 8, and 9 run from the train station to the Zytglogge stop. Bus 12 travels across the Nydeggbrücke to the BearPark and on to the Paul Klee Center. City transport is included with the Swiss Travel Pass.

    Accommodations in Bern

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    Old Town Bern

    Old Town Bern

    Bern's Old Town is situated on a peninsula, encircled by the Aare river in a tight loop, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983. Around six kilometers of arcades stretch through the alleys between the station and Nydegg Bridge, complemented by ornate fountains, cellar bars, the Zytglogge (Clock Tower) and the Minster (Cathedral).
    Matte

    Matte

    The Matte Quarter is by the Aare, directly below the Münsterplattform. Formerly, craftsmen, raftsmen, and boatmen lived here; today, small restaurants and homes define this quiet riverside quarter. The Mattelift connects the quarter to the Münsterplattform in the Upper Town.
    Bern Region

    Bern Region

    The Bern region stretches from the federal city on the Aare to the high mountains of the Bernese Oberland. To the north lies Bern with its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, while to the south stand Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.Between them lie Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, along with Interlaken, the starting point for Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and the Jungfraujoch.
    Jungfrau Region

    Jungfrau Region

    The Jungfrau Region in the Bernese Oberland lies at the foot of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, south of Interlaken. Here, the Jungfraubahn has been traveling since 1912 through Eiger and Mönch to the Jungfraujoch, which, at 3,454 meters, is Europe's highest-altitude railway station.From Grindelwald Terminal, the Eiger Express takes you to Eigergletscher station in 15 minutes, from there you continue by cogwheel train; from Interlaken Ost, the journey takes about an hour and a half. At the top, you look out onto the Aletsch Glacier, at 23 kilometers the longest glacier in the Alps and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch. In the Lauterbrunnen Valley, also known as the Valley of 72 Waterfalls, and in Grindelwald and Wengen, many hiking trails begin. The Swiss Travel Pass only grants a discount on the journey to the Jungfraujoch.
    Old Town Lucerne

    Old Town Lucerne

    The car-free Old Town lies on the right bank of the Reuss, between Kapellbrücke and Museggmauer. Around Weinmarkt, Kornmarkt and Hirschenplatz stand burgher houses with painted façades, with cafés and shops in between. Via the Kapellbrücke and the Spreuerbrücke, you reach the other side of the river.