Taxi Berne

Things to do in Bern

Bern is the capital of Switzerland, the capital of the homonymous canton, and the fifth-largest city in Switzerland. Since 1848, Bern has been the “federal city”, the permanent seat of the Swiss federal government and Federal Assembly.
It is a German-speaking city including, like the canton, a French-speaking minority. It is crossed by the river Aare and is located about 30 km north of the Alps. It is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, thanks to its medieval urban heritage which has been preserved over the centuries.
Bern is a member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities and other global organizations.
Bern is located on the Swiss plateau, in the canton of Bern, a little west of central Switzerland and 20 km north of the Bernese Alps. The landscape around Bern was formed by glaciers during the last ice age. The two closest mountains to Bern are the Gurten with a height of 858 meters and the Bantiger with a height of 947 meters
The city was originally built on a peninsula formed by a meander of the Aare but only exceeded these natural borders during the 19th century, a number of bridges having been built to allow the city to cross expand beyond the river.
Bern is built on very uneven ground. There is a difference of several tens of meters in height between the districts near the Aare (Matte, Marzili) and the higher ones (Kirchenfeld, Länggasse).

1. THE FEDERAL PALACE (BUNDESHAUS)
Easily recognizable by its large dome, the Federal Palace is both the seat of the government (the Federal Council) and of the Swiss Federal Assembly. We would tend to forget it but Bern is the capital of the country! Sound and light shows are sometimes projected onto the facade of the building. The Palace can be visited but you must book in advance. It dominates the Federal Square of Bern where you can see 26 fountains representing the 26 Swiss cantons.

2. THE CLOCK TOWER
Walking along the main street bordered by the arcades (the Kramgasse) you come across the Astronomical Clock Tower (or Zytglogge in Bernese patois). By coming there before the exact hours, you can enjoy a show of small automatons. A visit to the interior of the tower allows you to realize the complexity of the mechanism (book at the tourist office).
Just in front of the tower, do not miss the fountain of the ogre devouring a child, quite nightmarish. To see along Kramgasse: Einstein’s apartment (Einstein Haus) where the physicist lived with his wife and son between 1903 and 1909. Furniture, photos, and documents have been left as they were then. It was there that he discovered the famous formula E=mc².

3. ST VINCENT CATHEDRAL
An essential monument of the city of Bern, the cathedral (Berner Münster) symbolizes the religious history of the city. Erected in 1421, it is easily identifiable by its spire, the highest in Switzerland. After climbing 344 steps, you can see a superb 360° panorama of the old town as well as the biggest bell in the country (nearly 10 tons!). Its visitors have the chance to discover the beauty of an interpretation of the Last Judgment located above its portal. This one includes more than 200 figurines and the macabre, but no less fascinating, the dance of death. Admission is free (access to the bell tower is payable).

4. THE OLD TOWN OF BERN
Located on a hill surrounded by the Aare, Bern has a medieval historic center listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its very well-preserved architecture, despite modern urban development. You can see small cobbled streets passing between historic limestone buildings, walk under arcades dating from the 15th century, and admire superb fountains, in particular, that of justice (Bern has around a hundred fountains).
Do not miss going for a cocktail in the evening or reserving a table at the impressive Grain Hall (Kornhaus Keller), a former grain warehouse transformed into a restaurant. To eat or have a drink, you can also sit on Bärenplatz. You can see the Holländerturm (or Dutch tower) there.
Just a word of advice before visiting Bern on foot: pay close attention to the trams!