In co-operation with Switzerland Tourism
Did you think the capital of Switzerland is called Zurich? Or maybe Geneva? If so, you're not alone! Many tourists coming to Bern are surprised to hear that this lovely little town is the capital of Switzerland, but that's exactly what it is. Here we took a refreshing swim in the river Aare, which surrounds almost the entire city.
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Bern is the capital of Switzerland!
Bern is the fourth largest city in Switzerland, after Zurich, Geneva and Basel. Perhaps it's not surprising that many people think one of the larger cities is the capital of Switzerland, but that's not the case. The country's government building is located in Bern.
Where is Bern in Switzerland?
Bern is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and most people living here speak Swiss German. There is also a French-speaking part of the city, which explains why the police here are called 'Police' (French) instead of 'Polizei' (German). It's simply a concession to the French-speaking part of the city's population!
It was raining when we arrived in Bern, so the city was not really showing its best side. Nevertheless, we experienced this city as extremely green. If the government cuts down a tree, they have to plant a new one to replace it. Good, isn't it? We also saw many houses with grass-covered roofs. This should be the case in more cities!
1. Experience 100 fountains
Bern in Switzerland is truly the city of fountains! Throughout the city there are around 100 fountains, 11 of which are decorated in different ways. The water is drinkable in all fountains, so you don't need to buy water when you visit Bern. Bring a bottle instead and fill it up!
2. look into Bern's clock tower - Zytglogge
One of the most fascinating buildings in Bern is the city's clock tower, the Zytglogge. Every hour on the hour, the clock strikes, while the carillon figures move according to predetermined rules. The best time to watch the spectacle is at 12 o'clock, when there is a bit more going on than at the other times.
The machinery behind it was built in 1530, by a local man called Kasper. The amazing thing is that this machine still works! Every day the machinery has to be cranked up manually, requiring about 15 minutes of heavy physical cranking to get a 200kg weight to the top.
In fact, it's the world's oldest still functioning, manually operated carillon. Isn't that fascinating? Imagine if machines produced today had a 500-year shelf life! If you visit Bern, there are guided tours to visit the clock tower.
3. Review Bern from the bell tower
As well as being interesting to see the machinery in the bell tower, the top offers great views of the city. The tall church tower you see rising is the Basilica of Bern Minster. This is Switzerland's tallest church and if you walk the 312 steps to the top you may get an even more magnificent view. We were on this day too tired, so we settled for the view from the bell tower ...
4. visit the Albert Einstein house
Another attraction in Bern is Albert Einstein's housewhere Albert lived with his wife Mileva between 1903 and 1905. In fact, it was here that he developed the theory of relativity! You can see the rooms where the couple lived, and there is also a film about Einstein.
5. Take part in The Rose Garden
Another place to visit in Bern is The Rose Garden, located on a hill in the city. We weren't insanely impressed by the roses, but this is a quiet part of town, with a restaurant and a nice view of the houses and river below.
At Rosenparken there is also a park bench with a statue of Albert Einstein. We did like many other tourists and took the classic sit-next-to-Einstein photo!
6. Swimming in the River Aare
The city of Bern is surrounded on three sides by the River Aare, which in the past provided excellent protection from enemies. Today the river is not as important in this respect, but the people of Bern love their river. Swimming in the river is very popular with the locals and you can also go rafting, taking the train a few stations to Uttigen and then rafting back to Bern.
We met a guide who took us for a swim in the river Aare. This was a refreshing and interesting experience! The river is fast-moving, so you have to know where to swim and where to get out of the river again.
You jump in at one point and then float with the currents of the river, without actually having to swim, until you reach a ladder where you can get out. You then walk back to where you left your clothes. This is something Bern residents do all the time, both on their days off and perhaps on their lunch break.
7. stay at Camping TCS Bern-Eymatt
When we visited Bern we stayed at camping TCS Bern-Eymatt. This is a large and well-run campsite with excellent pitches, fresh service buildings, good WiFi and a restaurant. The campsite is located right next to the river, and there is, among other things, the possibility of renting stand up paddle boards. Getting to Bern by bus is super easy!
Videos from Bern, Switzerland
Peter put together two films from our visit to Bern. Feel free to check them out!
See more in Switzerland
Are you able to travel around and see more in Switzerland? Here are three great places not too far from Bern:
- Interlaken is less than an hour's drive from Bern and offers lakes and beautiful scenery.
- Lucerne is a beautiful city, where you can also experience the dramatic Mount Pilatus. Less than two hours from Bern.
- Gruyere is just over an hour away and here you'll find both a charming town and great cheese.
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Facts about Bern
- Country: Switzerland
- Language: The official language of Berne is German, but Bernese, the local variant of Swiss German, is the actual local language.
- Currency: Schweizerfranc
- Price mode: More expensive than Sweden
- Residents: Bern ca 133 000 (2017)
- Getting around: Walk, cycle or tram
- Time difference: None
- Emergency number: 112
- Religion: Christianity
- El: Like Sweden
- Water: Drinking beard
- Tourist OfficeAmthausgasse 4
Travelling to Bern
- Flight: SAS from Arlanda Airport to Zurich direct takes about 2 h 30 min. Swiss air from Landvetter in Gothenburg to Zurich takes about 2 hours.
- Car: Rent a car at Zurich Airport and drive via the A1, it takes 1 hour 21 minutes and is 128 km.
- Local trains: From Zurich airport to Bern takes 1h 13 min.
Restaurants
- Gmüesgarte on Marktgasse for fast food when you're in a hurry but still want something tasty.
- We haven't visited the Kornhauskeller at Kornhausplatz 18, but our guide says it's good.
- Restaurant VUE at Kochergasse 3-5 comes highly recommended.
Accommodation
- Booking.com has many options in different price ranges.
- Kreuz Bern city hotel at Zeughausgasse 41
- Hotel baren am Bundesplatz at Schauplatzgasse 4 is a mid-range hotel.
Camping
- Camping TCS Bern-Eymatt at Wohlenstrasse 62c. The bus stop is 200 metres from the campsite and it takes 12 minutes to reach the city centre.
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Ama de casa says:
We visited Bern and Einstein on our camping trip in 1989. Outside was that clock tower (if I remember correctly) and when it was getting close to the hour, I ran (I was faster in those days 😉 ) and picked up Anders. Then we stood together with a bunch of other people and stared up at that tower. When the long hand jumped to "12", it happened... absolutely nothing! Haha! What an anticlimax. Probably someone had forgotten to wind it up then... 😀.
16 August 2018 - 8:50
Helena says:
Oh, nothing happened!? Haha, then it was probably someone who hadn't managed to turn the game up that day ...! 😉
16 August 2018 - 16:41
Marias Memoarer says:
Now I became for the first time a little interested in Bern, seems to be a really cosy capital! 🙂
16 August 2018 - 12:58
Helena says:
Fun! Bern is a cosy and nice little capital! 🙂
16 August 2018 - 16:41
Lena - gott för själen says:
Almost sounds like it's Prague you've visited, given the old carillon and the rose garden overlooking the city 🙂 ).
Hug Lena
16 August 2018 - 18:46
Helena says:
The clock tower reminds us of Prague! We must have missed the rose garden in Prague.
16 August 2018 - 22:43
Elisabeth says:
Bern is nice. I hope they don't keep the bears in their little den. It was sad to see, but it has been many years since I was there, so a lot has surely changed.
16 August 2018 - 20:06
Helena says:
The bears are still there. Admittedly, they could move around in an area outside the den, but we don't like the idea either as we chose not to take photos ...
16 August 2018 - 22:45
Marianne - Glimt av verden says:
I have "always" known that Bern is the capital, but I have to admit that I didn't know much more about the city. You rarely hear about it, I wonder how many tourists come there compared to Zurich and Geneva (two cities I have visited)?
16 August 2018 - 20:38
Helena says:
I also didn't know much about Bern before. Agree that it is a city you do not hear so much about. But a nice city we thought!
16 August 2018 - 22:47
BP says:
So much interesting info again:-) Thank you! The watch is absolutely fantastic, and the fact that it is still in use is commendable!
The river rafting and the totally non-exercise swim are great. Love it!
Bern certainly offers a lot and quite unexpected adventures.
16 August 2018 - 21:27
Helena says:
I love that things built so long ago still work and are used! And the swim was a bit special 🙂 .
17 August 2018 - 19:45
Ditte says:
Bern is indeed a charming city! Glad you liked it too. And refreshing with a dip in the river. Nice to get some repetition of the city's history. Had probably forgotten most of it. But my favourite city is still Lausanne which shares first place with Lugano. At least in summertime. Have a nice continued journey.
16 August 2018 - 23:59
Helena says:
We haven't seen Lausanne and Lugano this time. It will be at another time! 🙂
18 August 2018 - 6:42
Steve says:
Wow, Bern has so much to offer.
That's a good point about trees being replanted.
The Rose Garden made me start humming a song of the same name from the early 70s .
That swim was awesome.
How did it feel to sit next to Einstein?
17 August 2018 - 6:16
Helena says:
Haha, of course I know which song you are thinking of! 🙂 The swim was an experience! Sitting next to Einstein was a short experience, because you quickly wanted to beware of the next tourist who wanted to take a photo right there 😉.
18 August 2018 - 6:45
ReiseLinda says:
I've heard about swimming on my lunch break before! Very funny thing! Have flown into Bern once and it is very nice from above. Definitely think we need to add Switzerland to our next European trip after seeing your posts!
17 August 2018 - 19:50
Helena says:
Switzerland is really well worth visiting, a country that has a lot to offer! 🙂
18 August 2018 - 6:45
Anonymous says:
Accidentally got into your report on Bern, sounds fun, visited various cities in Switzerland in my youth. However, want to point out one thing, Switzerland is not part of the EU and therefore does not have the Euro as a currency but CHF (Swiss franc).
07 August 2019 - 17:10
Helena says:
Thank you very much! Of course you are right! We have made mistakes. I corrected it here and will check if we've done the wrong thing in the wrong places. Thank you very much for seeing and telling me!
07 August 2019 - 17:30