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Things to do in Bern

With its medieval old town, oriental hammam, and proximity to the Alps, the Swiss capital caters to all.

Our most recommended things to do in Bern

Bern: 90-Minute Stroll Through the Old Town

1. Bern: 90-Minute Stroll Through the Old Town

On this 90-minute stroll through Bern’s Old Town, your local guide will tell you about the city‘s 8 centuries of history. On rainy days, you can still enjoy this atmospheric area, as the arcades provide shelter. Admire the late Gothic Cathedral (Münster) with its stunning portal and rendering of the Last Judgment. See the 13th-century Clock Tower (Zytglogge), where you can watch the fascinating show that happens on the hour. Who knows, you might even meet up with a member of the Federal Council in front of the Parliament building! Come along and discover the charms of the Swiss capital and this UNESCO World Heritage Site on a pleasant and leisurely walk.

Bern: Hammam and Spa Admission

2. Bern: Hammam and Spa Admission

The Bernese Hammam has been installed in a former building which was home of one of the first Gas boiler in Switzerland, an octagonal building. The oriental spa represents the latest magnificent manifestation of a tradition spanning two millennia. Enjoy a unique bathing experience across four floors.  The bathing ritual is based on the gradual warming up and cleansing of the body and follows a fixed course. Begin with the so-called "pestemal", a cotton cloth that binds to the body. In the first herbal steam room , Sogukluk, feel your body being warmed to 38 degrees Celcius.  In the second room, Kese, your body is scrubbed with a rough glove to remove dead skin cells.  "Sicaklik" is the central room in the middle of the octagon with the warm relaxation bath.  After the bath, the next step is the steam room. In the "Bingül" your pores open to the hot herbal steam at 48° Celcius. In the fifth room, "Lif", the second exfoliation with soap takes place. On a big warmed umbilical stone let your body relax and dive into the comfort of the hammam.

Bern: Zytglogge - Tour through the Clock Tower

3. Bern: Zytglogge - Tour through the Clock Tower

Conceived in the 1300s, the clock tower is one of the remainders of Bern's first city walls. For over 600 years, the clock has struck on the hour. Inside, time seems to stand still and cool solitude awaits. The reliable ticks of the Middle Age technology impart a steadiness to visitors. Approximately 130 steps to the top of the spiral staircase lead you to a lookout platform. From here, see the roofs of the old city and maybe even the Alps. Visit the clockwork with your guide and follow the puppet show step by step until the famous rooster crows.

Swiss Travel Pass: Unlimited Travel on Train, Bus & Boat

4. Swiss Travel Pass: Unlimited Travel on Train, Bus & Boat

The Swiss Travel Pass is a must-have for any traveler to Switzerland. You can enjoy unlimited access by public train, bus, and boat to over 90 cities and towns and benefit from free entrance to 500+ museums, discounted city tours, and access to private and scenic trains with a pre-requisite seat reservation. There are two broad types of Swiss Travel Pass: Continuous and Flexi, with an option to choose from 3, 4, 8, and 15 days. Apart from it being an ‘all-in-one’ pass which allows a traveler to access all modes of public transportation within the country, it also offers numerous other benefits on the mountain excursions. So be it the adventurous, the avid or the leisure traveler, you will have the chance to make the most of your Switzerland Travel Pass.

Bern: Gruyères Cheese Factory & Maison Cailler Tasting Tour

5. Bern: Gruyères Cheese Factory & Maison Cailler Tasting Tour

Admire breathtaking landscapes of Gruyères. At the top of the hill, take a deep breath of pure mountain air and listen to the cowbells in the pasturelands. Taste typical Swiss cheese while watching the cheesemakeing process. Smell chocolate and taste one of the most famous swiss delicacies in the chocolate factory Cailler. A memorable day full of tasting and nice feelings.

From Zürich: Glacier Express Train Round-Trip Private Tour

6. From Zürich: Glacier Express Train Round-Trip Private Tour

Travel on the worldwide known Glacier-Express-Train with a private guide. Enjoy a round trip by train and spend four hours on the panoramic coach from Chur to Brig, crossing 291 bridges, passing 91 tunnels, and climbing up to approximately 7000 feet (2033m) above sea level by train. Experience travel on the Glacier-Express while passing spectacular valleys and mountains. According to your preferences, a short walk around in Chur or Brig can take place (while transfer times to/from Glacier Express). Your guide will show you the changing landscape, answer your questions about the country and its people, and show you a few places away from the tourist flow.

Zurich: 6-Day Guided Tour of Switzerland with Accommodation

7. Zurich: 6-Day Guided Tour of Switzerland with Accommodation

Day 1: Arrival at Zurich Airport. Your local driver will greet you at the arrival hall of Zurich Airport, lead you to your comfortable seat in a business-type car or a minivan, and enjoy a smooth ride to the hotel. After having some rest and leisure time, you may consider enjoying one of the many things to do in Zurich supplied to you through a guided brochure. Day 2: Zurich - Lucerne - Interlaken. Explore Zurich city during a 2-hour walking tour while listening to historical facts and admiring the main sights of the Old Town, Grossmunster church, Bahnhofstrasse, Paradeplatz, Fraumuenster church, and the Limmatquai. Explore the beauty of Lucerne reflected through the Chapel Bridge, the Old Town, Lion Monument, Jesuit Church, among other beautiful jewels like the Fresco-painted buildings. Overnight at Interlaken. Day 3: Interlaken - Bern - Gruyères - Interlaken. Ride to Bern city, where the guide will be waiting for you with a 2-hour walking tour, will the main sights as the Holy Ghost Church, a stroll through Spitalgasse street and Barenplatz, and witness the Government Palace and the central masterpiece of Bern - the Clock Tower. Gruyeres - a medieval and picturesque town. The homeland for Swiss cheese and chocolate welcomes you during visits to La Maison du Gruyère & Maison Cailler. Admire the charming town of Gruyères while strolling and visiting its castle, dating back to the 13th century. Day 4: Interlaken - Grindelwald - Lauterbrunnen - Interlaken Following your breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Grindelwald. Grindelwald is among the famous Swiss ski destinations, a charming town at the foot of the Eiger and Wetterhorn mountains. Stroll in this beautiful village while inhaling its fresh air in a very relaxing atmosphere. Get your shuttle to reach Lauterbrunnen - a small Swiss village with the finest scenery one can expect to see. The town offers mountain peaks with 72 breathtaking waterfalls and fresh Alpine meadows. After Lauterbrunnen's exploration, you will get the shuttle back for half an hour to return to your hotel in Interlaken and rest for the next adventurous day. Day 5: Interlaken - Zurich Topping the list is the funicular to the top of Interlaken - Harder Kulm, which transfers you in 8-10 minutes to a quiet Alpine landscape( optional). It is a perspective at 1,321 meters in the Berner Oberland region of Switzerland. In addition, you may consider taking a paddleboat on Lake Thun or Brienz (optional). Another nostalgic funicular experience available in the spring and summer seasons is the Heimwehfluh Interlaken which transfers you to the romantic lookout tower while enjoying the exclusive views of Interlaken, Thun, and Brienz lakes as well as the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks (optional) Day 6: Zurich - Zurich Airport At the indicated time, transfer to the airport to catch your return flight.

Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Audio Tour

8. Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Audio Tour

Get to know Bern at your own pace on this interactive scavenger hunt walking tour played on your phone. Decipher riddles, interact with the most important attractions of the city, and unlock interesting facts and legends. An ideal outdoor activity for first time visitors, couples, groups, families, and children. Can be used as a great team-building activity. After downloading the app onto your phone (instructions received via email after booking), set out on an adventure that will take you to 10 attractions in Bern by using integrated maps. At each stop, learn about the attraction and solve a location-based riddle that can only be solved if you reach the specific location. Use logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to unlock the correct code and reveal the next destination of the city sightseeing game. As you explore, solve a location-based riddle at each attraction and unlock the next location you need to visit. The app includes facts and information about each location you stop at, so you'll gain local know-how about the city. Put your skills to the text and work as a team and use logic, imagination, observation, and problem solving to make your way around the city. Along the way, you can stop for a coffee, lunch, or a break at any time. Start your tour at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Switzerland's largest Protestant church! Visit the Swiss Parliament House, the home of the Republic in Bern. Photograph the Käfigturm while learning about its history and admire the Stadttheater Bern with its excellent acoustics. Then the Old City of Berne looks like something out of a fairy tale, don't forget to take pictures. The Zähringerbrunnen will leave you speechless with its beauty. Admire the City Hall with its heavy symbolism! The Nydeggkirche is worth your time and phone memory for its beautiful architecture, while the Cathedral of Bern, the impressive Gothic church will be another addition to your indelible memory. The icing on the cake of this unique tour will be the Bernisches Historisches Museum / Einstein Museum with its endless exhibits.

Express Walk of Bern with a Local

9. Express Walk of Bern with a Local

Discover Bern in a nutshell and learn about the history, local lifestyle and modern transformation of the city of Bern during this 1-hour walking experience. This experience is offered by a private local guide. During your walk through Switzerland’s capital, you will learn all about the local lifestyle and politics. You will be able to attain insider tips about cafes, restaurants and bars to visit, plus how to make the most of the city’s nightlife. Walking through the wide, well-organised cobblestone streets, you will discover the city’s many well-known fountains. Discover the famous clock tower and parliament house and stroll on the beautiful paths next to Aare River. Learn about the history and culture of the city from a local who loves the city and wants you to love it too!

From Bern: Day Trip to Jungfraujoch & Bernese Alps by Train

10. From Bern: Day Trip to Jungfraujoch & Bernese Alps by Train

A must for a visit in Switzerland is Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe in the Bernese Alps, connecting the two four-thousander peaks Jungfrau and Mönch, at an elevation of 3,466 metres (11,371 ft) above sea level. It’s part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch area, belonging to the Unesco world heritage site. A aerial cableway and a coghwheel train connects the Jungfraujoch with Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. Since 1912, this fantastic glacier world is accessible by coghwheel train. The tour begins with the travel from your starting point by train to Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland, where the Jungfrau railway line starts. It is a varied tour with a constantly changing landscape up to Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe with the highest train station in Europe. At the Top of Europe, your guide will take you on a tour through the attractions like the Sphinx terrace, the viewing platform, the Alpine sensation exhibition and the Ice cave. The building include several panoramic restaurants and shops.

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Frequently asked questions about Bern

What top attractions are a must-see in Bern?

What are the best day trips and excursions from Bern?

The best day trips and excursions from Bern are:

Interlaken

Other Sightseeing Options in Bern

Want to discover all there is to do in Bern? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Bern

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 499 reviews

A very thorough tour of the tour and astronomical clock. You climb the tower and then lock and observe the mechanism (15th century) operate at 3 o’clock. Lots of detail provided. This is a different experience to the astronomical clock in Prague which is more of a tower climb.

We managed to use the Swiss Pass to the places we went to. It seems to be cheaper in Get your Guide and if you download the app, another 10% discount. Great savings to explore the incomparable beauty of this country.

Very enjoyable trail lots of information about the sites and made more fun with the challenges/quizzes at each place. A great way to see the city at your own pace.

The tour was chilly but extremely interesting. Sabina our guide was really friendly and gave lots of details.

Just remember to validate each day before you travel