The federal capital of Switzerland and capital of the canton of Berne, this wonderful city is a real gem. The Aare River flows through it, and its houses with their curious red roofs, Bern is surrounded by greenery and nature and boasts numerous attractions, all to be seen and discovered: from its medieval historical centre, awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, to the towers of the 1200s; from the many fountains that adorn it like jewels to the Gothic and Baroque architecture of its palaces, and the many parks and botanical gardens. Definitely one of the most beautiful and unmissable destinations in Europe. To get an idea of where you might want to stay during your trip, you can look more at tophotels.com.
Let's discover together the itinerary of Bern and its surroundings in 7 days!
If you prefer a more homely and intimate accommodation experience during your visit, you might want to consider a charming Bed And Breakfast in Wildrose Bern. It can provide a unique and local perspective on the city and its surroundings.
Day 1: The must-sees of Innnere Stadt
We dedicate the first day to the Innere Stadt. We start at Budensplazt, the beating heart of the city, overlooked by the Parliament Building. We then begin our walk among the city's towers, visiting the Kafigturm, the Prison Tower (Mon 2-6pm, Tue-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm). We continue with the Zytglogge, the Clock Tower, which at the stroke of every hour enchants tourists with the dance of its mechanical figurines.
After lunch atHarmonie (CHF 55.00, €50.00), we head to theEinsteinhaus, the small flat where Einstein lived for about two years and which has now become a museum dedicated to his life (1-5pm). When the visit is over, we decide to enjoy the sunset from the tower of Bern Cathedral(Munster Kirche), which we visit: 344 steps for an unforgettable view.
We spend our evening among the beautiful fountains of Berne, illuminated by the evening lights. There are eleven of them, all the work of sculptor Hans Gieng. We stop for dinner at the Casanovo Restaurante & Vinoteca (average price: CHF43.59/€40.00)
At a glance:
Distance travelled: 1.5 km
Places visited: Budensplazt, Budenshaus (free), Kafigturm(free), Zytglogge (free), Einsteinhaus (CHF6.00/€5.30), Bern Cathedral (free)
Daily expense: €120.00
Where to eat: Lunch at Harmonie(Get directions), Dinner at Casa Novo Restaurante & Vinoteca(Get directions)
Day 2: Tierpark and Rosengarten
We spend the entire morning and a few hours of the early afternoon at the zoo, Tierpark Bern: over two hundred species of animals, including owls, wolves, monkeys, snakes, crocodiles and many more. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
We have lunch at the Tierpark-Restaurant Dahlholzli (CHF 45.00, €40.00).
After finishing our visit to the Tierpark, we spend a pleasant and relaxing afternoon in the Rosengarten (bus routes 19 and 10), amidst fragrant roses of all kinds, rhododendrons, azaleas and a wonderful iris garden. The park is open daily and admission is free. Here we can stroll along the paths, enjoy some relaxation, and if you are travelling with children, they can have fun in the play areas. We can also take a break in the park's wonderful restaurant.
We spend the evening at Waisenhausplatz (bus line 10): a square where we are spoilt for choice when it comes to places or restaurants to dine. We choose Barenofli: a typical Swiss restaurant (CHF 35.00, €30.00).
At a glance:
Distance travelled: 4.2 km
Places visited: Tierpark Dahlholzli (CHF10.00/€9.18), Rosengarten (free), Waisenhausplatz (free)
Daily expense: €80.00
Where to eat: Lunch at Tierpark-Restaurant Dahlholzli(get directions), Dinner at Barenofli(get directions)
Day 3: Museum visit + riverside walk
Photos by Krol:k. The third day will be entirely dedicated to art and beauty. We start by heading to the Paul Klee Center (bus line 12): a very interesting museum dedicated to the eccentric and very famous artist, exponent of abstractionism (Tue-Sun 10am-5pm).
After the visit, we have lunch at the Restaurants Schoengruen, which is right nearby (CHF 28.00,€25.00).
After lunch, we head to the Kunstmuseum: one of the most important art museums in the city and the oldest in Switzerland (bus line 12). Here we can admire many works: from painting to photography, including sculpture (Wed-Sun 10am-5pm, Tue 10am-9pm, closed on Mondays).
We end our day of beauty with a long walk along the banks of the river Aare and dine at the Schwellenmaetteli restaurant (tram line 7), which, thanks to a wooden scaffolding, stands right on the water of the river, offering us a truly impressive night-time view worthy of the works of art we have admired throughout the day (CHF 25.00, €20.00).
In summary:
Distance travelled: 4.7 km
Places visited: Paul Klee Center (CHF20.00/€18.00), Kunstmuseum (CHF10.00/€9.18), Aare riverfront (free)
Daily expense: €85.00
Where to eat: Lunch at Restaurants Schoengruen (Get directions), Dinner at Schwellenmatteli(Get directions)
Day 4: Excursion to Lake Brienz
Fourth day all about nature. Wake up early in the morning and set off for the beautiful Lake Brienz, which can be reached most conveniently by car (67 km, 1 h), or with route 417 from Bern to Interlaken West (€6.00/8.00) and route 103 from Interlaken West to Iseltwald Dorfplatz, (€2.00/4.00).
In the late afternoon, we return to Berne (by bus 2h) and have dinner at the Qin Restaurant (CHF 25.00, €21.50).
In summary:
Distance travelled: 135 km / 1 h 50 min by car including drive from
Places visited: Lake Brienz (free), funicular (10.00 CHF/9.18), Giessbach Falls (free)
Daily expense: €140.00
Where to eat: Lunch at Les Cascades(Get directions), Dinner at Qin Restaurant(Get directions)
Day 5: Excursion to Fribourg
Backpack once again and off to Fribourg (Swiss Railways train; 31 km from Bern, 20 min, between €15.00 and €28.00).
Fribourg is a wonderful 12th century town nestled between the lakes of Neuchatel and Marat. We spend the morning with a tour of the city, among the twisted alleys called Gässle, the small waterways along the streets called Bächle, the Rheinkiesel mosaics and the bizarre gargoyles. We visit the Gothic St. Nicholas Cathedral, dating back to 1490 and built in about three hundred years (daily 7am-7pm).
Lunch at Restaurant Du Cygne (average price: CHF 54.49/€50.00)
Afterwards, we head to the Puppet Museum, with around three thousand pieces, including masks, costumes, puppets and props, not only from Switzerland, but also from India, Myanmar, Sicily and France (Wed-Sun 11am-5pm). We then enjoy a walk along the riverside to the main station, where we take the train back to Bern.
For dinner, we try Lebanese cuisine at the Pittaria Bern. We opt for the special, with falafel, houmous, kebabs and other goodies (CHF 30.00, €28.00).
At a glance:
Distance travelled: 70 km / 1 h by car incl. journey from
Places visited: Freiburg city centre (free), St. Nicholas Cathedral (free), Puppet Museum (5.00 CHF/€4.75)
Daily expense: €110.00
Where to eat: Lunch at Restaurant du Cygne(Get directions), Dinner at Pittaria Bern(Get directions)
Day 6: Hiking in Thun
Today we are heading to Thun, a beautiful village overlooking the lake of the same name. You can get there by direct train from Bern station to Thun station (20 min, between €15.00 and €28.00).
Immersed in a green picture-postcard landscape, we head towards the fairy-tale Thun Castle, a wonderful castle of medieval origin, inside which is the Knights' Hall, one of the few medieval halls of representation that have survived to the present day (daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.). Once the visit is over, enjoy the wonderful view of Lake Thun!
We have lunch at Restaurant Schloss Schadau (average price CHF54.49/€50.00)
We spend the afternoon in the wonderful Schadau Park, amidst paths, labyrinths and groves, enjoying a wonderful view of the lake, a coffee or an excellent schnapps. The park is open every day!
We then return to Thun central station and take the train back to Bern (20 min). We end the day in the centre and dine at theArlequin (CHF 30.00, €25.00).
In summary:
Distance travelled: 58 km / 58 min by car including drive from
Places visited: Thun Castle (10.00 CHF/€9.18), Schadau Park (free)
Daily expense: €100.00
Where to eat: Lunch at Schloss Schadau(get directions), Dinner at Arlequin(get directions)
Day 7: Funicular and Lido Freibad Marzili
Photos of Baikonur. Last day of relaxation. We start by heading to the Marzili district (bus line 30), which is located right next to the Federal Palace, and there we get involved in one of the most curious experiences offered by this city: one of the shortest funiculars in Europe (just over 100 m). We enjoy a short stroll through the neighbourhood and then reach the seaside resort on the river Aare: Freibad Marzili lido. This is a swimming pool complex with a beach on the river and green meadows in which to relax. Here we spend the whole day, admiring the beautiful panorama, bathing and sunbathing.
We have lunch outdoors and enjoy Rosti, one of the city's typical dishes: a kind of omelette made with potatoes, onion and bacon (11.00 CHF, €10.00). It can be found on street food stalls and is a great option for a'pret a porter' lunch.
We spend our last evening in Bern dining at the Terrasse restaurant, enjoying some excellent fish & chips (20.00 CHF, €18.00) and once again admiring the view over the river, leaving it etched in our minds forever.
In summary:
Distance covered: 900 m
Places visited: funicular railway and Lido Freibad Marzili (free of charge)
Daily expense: €50.00
Where to eat: Lunch at Freibad Marzili(get directions), Dinner at Terrasse(get directions)
Bern is a versatile city and lends itself well to different types of holidays and pockets. It is also a very expensive destination, like the whole of Switzerland!
In order to try to amortise costs, the advice is always more or less the same: organise your itinerary in the best possible way and in advance, opt for open-air meals (where possible): the markets always represent authentic and mouth-watering slices of the host culture. On the other hand, try to avoid places that are too touristy.
Finally, in the case of Berne, which really has a lot to offer, try to organise your itinerary along a thematic route (one day to dedicate to art in the museums, another to nature in the surrounding area or parks), choosing in advance and according to your tastes the most important or favourite attractions, thus avoiding wasting time (which becomes even more precious during a trip) or visits that are very similar and therefore redundant. For the rest, the choice is yours!
When to visit: in spring, between April and May. Summer is also good for outdoor activities. Winter for winter sports such as skiing - find out more
Getting there: the airport is 10 km from the centre and can be reached by Airport Bus Bern 334 (CHF 14.00/€11.00). Bern can also be reached by car (from Milan 350 km, 4 h 20 min) or by train (Eurocity direct from Milan, from €40.00, 3 h)
Where to stay: in the old city district, close to the main attractions and where it is easy to get around on foot
Gettingaround: city served by a good public transport network, buses and trams (daily ticket CHF12.40/€11.00). Overnight stays in the city, even for just one night, entitle you to the Bern Ticket (free use of transport zones 100 and 101) - find out more
Recommended cards and passes: Museum Card, with free admission to all Bern museums. From 24 h to 28.00 CHF (€26.00), from 48 h to 35.00 CHF (€32.50)