Bern, Switzerland

Bern's UNESCO-listed medieval old town sits on a peninsula looped by the Aare River, with arcaded sandstone streets that have changed remarkably little in centuries. As the seat of the Swiss government, it's quieter and less international than Zurich or Basel, and its own small airport carries limited scheduled service — most travelers instead connect through Zurich or Geneva and reach Bern by train.

Top attractions

• •The Zytglogge astronomical clock tower
• •The Bear Park (Bärengraben) along the Aare
• •Bern Cathedral (Münster) and its viewing platform, the highest in Switzerland
• •The old town's arcaded shopping streets (Lauben), among the longest covered walkways in Europe
• •A summer float down the Aare River, a genuine local tradition

Practical tips

• •Bern Airport has no direct rail link and limited scheduled flights — an airport bus connects to Belp station, with onward S-Bahn trains reaching Bern's main station in around 30–40 minutes total.
• •Switzerland runs on the Swiss franc, not the euro, and prices for food and lodging run noticeably higher than most of Europe.
• •If floating the Aare in summer, stick to well-used entry and exit points — the current is stronger than it looks.

Frequently asked questions