Things to do in Bern

Bern joined the Swiss Confederation in 1353 and hosts the government, though the constitution names no capital. The old town fills a bend of the Aare. Founded in 1191, it has been a UNESCO site since 1983.

The old town on foot

You can cross it in twenty minutes, but the sights reward a slower pass.

• Zytglogge. A clock tower with an astronomical clock of 1530. The figures move four minutes before each hour.
• Arcades. About six kilometres of covered walkways line the old town's streets.
• Münster. A late Gothic cathedral with a tower of about 100 m.
• Federal Palace. The parliament, built between 1894 and 1902. Free tours run with photo ID.
• Einstein House. Where he lived in 1903 to 1905, on Kramgasse.
• Rose Garden. A hillside park above the river, with the classic view of the old town.
• Bear Park. Bears on the river slope, opened in 2009.
• Bundesplatz. The square in front of the Federal Palace, with 26 water jets set into the paving, one for each canton.
• Zentrum Paul Klee. A wave-roofed museum designed by Renzo Piano, on the eastern edge of the city and opened in 2005.

Trips from Bern

Private car days leave from Bern for Fribourg and Gruyères, for Thun and Interlaken, and for Lausanne and Neuchâtel. Trains reach Fribourg and Thun in about twenty minutes.

Practical

• Weather. Afternoons average about 25C in July and about 3C in January. Fog can sit on the city for days in winter.
• Prices. Switzerland is expensive, and cafés and restaurants cost more than in neighbouring countries.
• Swimming. In summer locals float down the Aare. It runs fast and cold, so use the marked exits.
• Mondays. Several museums are closed.
• Tipping. Service is included, so round up.