Why go
- Federal city of Switzerland.
- Served by Bern Airport (BRN).
History
Bern, or Berne, is the de facto capital of Switzerland, referred to as the "federal city". With a population of about 146,000, Bern is the fifth-most populous city in Switzerland, behind Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Lausanne. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 36 municipalities, had a population of 406,900 in 2014. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000.
Where to stay
Neuengasse 26, 3011 Bern, Switzerland · hotelsavoybern.ch
Grosser Muristalden 2, 3006 Bern, Switzerland · zollhausbern.ch
Trüsselstrasse 4, 3014 Bern, Switzerland · marriott.com
Schauplatzgasse 10, 3011 Bern, Switzerland · nh-hotels.com
Wyttenbachstrasse 22a, 3013 Bern, Switzerland · marthahaus.ch
Bahnhofpl. 11, 3001 Bern, Switzerland · schweizerhofbern.com
Am, Guisanpl. 2, 3014 Bern, Switzerland · all.accor.com
Zeughausgasse 41, 3011 Bern, Switzerland · kreuzbern.ch
Alleeweg 15, 3006 Bern, Switzerland · maxav.immobilien
Thunstrasse 80, 3074 Muri bei Bern, Switzerland · sternenmuri.ch
Aarbergergasse 55, 3011 Bern, Switzerland · akomo-bern.ch
Rathausgasse 75, 3011 Bern, Switzerland · bernbackpackers.ch
Zeughausgasse 9, 3011 Bern, Switzerland · hotelbern.ch
Gerechtigkeitsgasse 1, 3011 Bern, Switzerland · hotelnydeck.ch
Seftigenstrasse 99, 3007 Bern, Switzerland · fassbindhotels.ch
Belpstrasse 43, 3007 Bern, Switzerland · hotel-lapergola.ch
Hirschengraben 24, 3011 Bern, Switzerland · nationalbern.ch
Laupenstrasse 15, 3001 Bern, Switzerland · sorellhotels.com
Mittelstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland · sorellhotels.com
Pavillonweg 1A, 3012 Bern, Switzerland · ampavillon.ch
Kochergasse 3/5, 3011 Bern, Switzerland · bellevue-palace.ch
Bubenbergpl. 7, 3011 Bern, Switzerland · fassbindhotels.ch
Viktoriastrasse 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland · radissonhotels.com
Stauffacherstrasse 60, 3014 Bern, Switzerland · evis-home.ch
Bernstrasse 25, 3072 Ostermundigen, Switzerland · harrys-home.com
Restaurants & places to go
Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 10:00-24:00 Features: vegetarian options · 5 Helvetiaplatz, Bern, 3000 · steinhalle.ch
Regional, Restaurant · Allowed to bring your own food Opening hours: Mo-Th,Su 10:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 15:00-01:00 · 19 Aarbergergasse, Bern, 3011 · casa-marcello.wix.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Knusprige Pizza in pala, Pizza a portafoglio, Sauerteigbrot und Biscotti alle mandorle Opening hours: Tu 11:30-13:30; We-Fr 11:30-13:30,… · sicula.org
Italian, Restaurant · Kegelbahn Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-23:30; Sa-Su 10:00-23:30 · restaurant-warteck.ch
Local, Restaurant · Nur auf Voranmeldung und ab 12 Personen offen Opening hours: "on request only" Features: reservation required · burren-mengestorf.ch
Cafe · de:Begehbare Kaffeerösterei mit Kaffeebar und Verkaufsladen Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su off Features: outdoor seating,… · roesterei.be
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-19:00; Sa 07:00-17:00; Su 10:00-17:00 · glatz-bern.ch
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 09:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-00:30; Su 10:00-24:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · de.burger-king.ch
Thai, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · chachathai.ch
Ice Cream, Ice Cream · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegan options · 1 Pestalozzistrasse, 3007 · gelateriadiberna.ch
International, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su,PH off Features: step-free access · 15 Giacomettistrasse, Bern, 3006 · filialen.migros.ch
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:30-22:00 Features: step-free access · 2 Bärenplatz, Bern, 3011 · mishio.ch
Sandwich, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa 09:00-17:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · 73 Papiermühlestrasse, 3014 · subway.com
Sushi, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-23:30; Sa 10:00-23:30 Features: takeaway, delivery · 4 Gilberte-de-Courgenay-Platz, Bern, 3027 · yoojis.com
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo off; Tu-Su 17:00-23:30; Tu-Fr 11:30-14:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegetarian options · kesar.ch
Tapas, International, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Fr 11:30-14:00,17:00-23:00; Sa 17:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegan options · grosswabern.ch
American, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Tu 11:30-14:00; We-Fr 11:30-14:00, 17:00-00:30; Sa 17:00-00:30 · bayou-bar.ch
Bagel, Breakfast, Coffee Shop, Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: We-Mo 09:00-15:00 Features: vegan options · 10 Herrengasse, 3011 · beansandnuts.ch
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-14:00, 17:30-22:00; Sa 14:00-23:00; Su off · bigoteverde.com
Pasta, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-14:00; Su, Su off · 18 Zeughausgasse, Bern, 3011 · casadimamma.ch
Greek, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th,Su 11:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00 Features: takeaway, vegetarian options · greekspot.ch
Crepe, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-We 11:30-22:00; Th 11:30-23:00; Fr 11:30-24:00; Sa 17:00-24:00 Features: vegan options · la-chouette-bern.ch
Chinese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-13:30,18:00-21:00; Sa 18:00-21:00 Features: takeaway · little-panda.ch
Grill, Steak House, Burger, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-14:30, 17:00-23:30; Sa-Su closed Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegetarian options,… · noa-restaurant.ch
Nepali, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Fr 11:30-14:00,18:00-22:00; Sa 18:00-22:00 · 93 Thunstrasse, Bern, 3006 · pokharakitchen.ch
Fine Dining, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Sa 16:00-24:00; Th-Fr 12:00-14:00, 16:00-24:00 · 5A Bubenbergplatz, Bern, 3011 · myle-bern.com
Spanish, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo 17:00-22:00; Tu-We 08:00-23:30; Th-Sa 08:00-00:30; Su off Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · barvolver.ch
Oriental, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-15:30 Features: takeaway, vegan options · alibaba-bern.ch
Lebanese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-22:00; Sa-Su off · 20 Effingerstrasse, Bern, 3008 · allresto.ch
Italian Pizza, Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-22:30 Features: vegetarian options, step-free access · 5 Bühlstrasse, 3012 · ambiente-bern.ch
Dessert, Cafe · Opening hours: Th-Su 08:00-18:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegan options · 2 Bonstettenstrasse, Bern, 3012 · apfelgold.ch
Barbecue, Burger, Coffee Shop, Grill, Hotdog, Ice Cream, Local, Sandwich, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-18:00 Features: outdoor seating · 3084 · gurtenpark.ch
Bistro, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-19:00;Sa 07:30-15:00 · bistro-bolligen.ch
Ramen, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo,We,Th,Fr 11:30-14:00,16:00-24:00; Sa 10:00-24:00; Su 12:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegetarian options… · bivo-bern.ch
French, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-23:30; Sa 18:00-23:30; Su off Features: outdoor seating, vegetarian options · brasserie-obstberg.ch
Turkish, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00; Sa 11:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00; Su off Features: outdoor seating · instagram.com
Kebab, Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa,PH 10:00-23:00 Features: vegan options · 187 Bümplizstrasse, Bern, 3018 · buemplizexpress.ch
Vietnamese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:00, 18:00-21:00 · 57 Rathausgasse · eatcantin.ch
Korean, Barbecue, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo,Th-Su 11:30-14:30,17:30-23:00; We 17:30-23:00 · chugarden.com
Bakery, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-18:30; Sa-Su 07:30-17:00 Features: outdoor seating · 1 Sägemattstrasse, Köniz, 3098 · confiserie-beeler.ch
Portuguese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Fr 11:00-14:00,17:30-22:30; Sa 17:30-22:30; Su 17:30-21:00 Features: outdoor seating · familiaportuguesa.ch
Persian, Afghan, Oriental, Palestinian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th 11:30-13:30 Features: vegan options · 70 Viktoriastrasse, Bern, 3013 · gastwerk-bern.ch
Ticinese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Tu off; We-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-20:00 · xn--grottino-by-metzgerstbli-gtc.ch
Balkan, Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-20:00; Sa 11:00-17:00; Su,PH off · caferestaurant-hady.ch
Ethiopian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-14:00, 18:00-23:00; Sa 17:00-23:30 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery, vegan options · injera-restaurant.ch
355 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Bern Airport (BRN) 5.4 km to the centre
Bern, BE, CH — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (SkyWork Airlines) · direct flights to 12 destinations incl. Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves Zürich (92 km) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 12 direct destinations
- SkyWork Airlines SX (D38) · 12 routes: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Ibiza, London, Marina Di Campo, Munich, Olbia, Palma de Mallorca, Vienna
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Grenchen Airfield 26 km to the centre
Grenchen, SO, CH — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Biel-Kappelen Airfield 20 km to the centre
Kappelen, BE, CH
Bellechasse Airfield 25 km to the centre
Sugiez, FR, CH
Langenthal Airfield 34 km to the centre
Bleienbach, BE, CH
Getting there by ferry
Ferry terminal
Ferry terminal · 3.1 km from the centre
Ferry terminal
Ferry terminal · 3.4 km from the centre
Ferry terminal
Ferry terminal · 4.3 km from the centre
Bodenackerfähre
Ferry route
Fähre Zehendermätteli
Ferry route
Fähre Reichenbach
Ferry route
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Bern Airport (BRN); 4 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: BRN has direct flights to 12 destinations on 1 airline (incl. Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg…). By water: 3 ferry terminals within 20 km; routes include Bodenackerfähre, Fähre Zehendermätteli, Fähre Reichenbach.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Bern (Berne), Switzerland. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Bus · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Trains & rail
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
National rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Tours & experiences
Walking Tour