UNESCO Medieval & Einstein's City

Bern: Switzerland's Medieval Capital

Walk six kilometers of arcades, watch a 700-year-old clock tower, and stand in Einstein's apartment.

Hi, I'm Hans. I've lived in Bern for nine years and have walked every arcade from the Nydegg to the Bärengraben more times than I can count. This guide was last updated in September 2026.

7 Days / 6 Nights
Bern, Switzerland
All Travelers
City Walking
$$$ - High
May-September / December
Bern Old Town Einstein House Zytglogge Clock Paul Klee Center Bear Pit

Tipping Note: In Switzerland, service is included in every bill by law. You don't need to tip, but rounding up or adding 5 to 10 percent for good service is common. Pay in Swiss francs. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, but carry some cash for small shops.

Why This Journey is Extraordinary

UNESCO Arcades

Walk 6km of covered shopping arcades, the longest weather-protected promenade in Europe

Einstein's City

Stand in the apartment where Einstein developed the Special Theory of Relativity in 1905

Clock Tower Show

Watch the Zytglogge's 12-minute mechanical spectacle that's run since 1530

Alpine Gateway

Use Bern as your base for Jungfraujoch at 3,454 meters, the highest railway station in Europe

Daily Journey Inspiration

1

UNESCO Old Town & Arcades

Six kilometers of covered arcades and the Swiss Parliament

Morning
Bern Old Town Arcades
Start in the Bern Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983. Six kilometers of arcades, called "Lauben" in Swiss German, make up the longest weather-protected shopping promenade in Europe. Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen founded Bern in 1191, and the 15th-century sandstone buildings still stand. Walk the arcades from the Nydegg Bridge to the train station and you'll see why Bern feels like a medieval time capsule.
Pro tip: The arcades mean you can shop and walk the Old Town in any weather. Bern residents don't carry umbrellas.
Afternoon
Bundeshaus (Federal Palace)
Visit the Bundeshaus, the Federal Palace built between 1857 and 1902 by architect Friedrich Wilhelm Studer. It houses the Swiss Parliament and covers 7,000 square meters. Free guided tours run when Parliament is not in session. The dome above the central hall is stunning, and you can see both chambers. The terrace view over the Aare River is one of the best in the city.
Evening
Dinner at Kornhauskeller
Eat at Kornhauskeller, a restaurant in an 18th-century granary basement. The vaulted ceiling and murals make it one of the most atmospheric dining rooms in Switzerland. Expect 30 to 50 Swiss francs per person. The Bernese Rösti and Bärner Platte are excellent here.
2

Zytglogge & Einstein House

A 700-year-old clock show and Einstein's apartment

Morning
Zytglogge Clock Tower
Watch the Zytglogge, the clock tower first mentioned in 1218 with its current astronomical clock from 1530. Four minutes before every hour, a jester rings the bells and bears parade past. A knight strikes the hour and a cock crows. Arrive by 10:56 for the 11am show. It's mechanical theater that's run for nearly 500 years.
Pro tip: Book the guided tower tour to see the clock mechanism up close and the astronomical calendar that tracks zodiac signs and lunar phases.
Afternoon
Einstein House
Visit the Einstein House at Kramgasse 49, where Einstein lived from 1903 to 1905. This is where he developed the Annus Mirabilis papers, including the Special Theory of Relativity in 1905. Entry is 8 Swiss francs. The apartment is small but the significance is enormous. This is where modern physics was born.
Evening
Dinner at Della Casa
Eat at Della Casa, serving Swiss-Italian food since 1862. You'll spend 25 to 40 Swiss francs per person. It's a Bern institution where the waiter has worked there for 30 years. The Geschnetzeltes with Rösti is the order to make.
3

Bear Pit & Rose Garden

Bern's living symbol and 15,000 roses

Morning
Bear Pit Bärengraben
Visit the Bear Pit Bärengraben, open since 1857. Bears have been on Bern's coat of arms since the 12th century, and the city takes its name from Bär. In 2009, a new 6,000-square-meter bear park opened along the Aare River. Three bears currently live there. Entry is free and you can watch them from multiple viewing levels.
Afternoon
Rose Garden Rosengarten
Walk up to the Rose Garden Rosengarten, with 15,000 rose bushes across 200 varieties, 600 iris, and 280 peonies. The restaurant terrace has the best view of the Old Town and Alps beyond. The garden was a cemetery from 1513 to 1955, and some tombstones remain. Come for the flowers, stay for the panorama.
Why we love it: The Rosengarten view at golden hour is the postcard shot of Bern, with the Old Town's sandstone glowing.
Evening
Dinner at Schwellenmätteli
Eat at Schwellenmätteli, right on the Aare River. You'll spend 25 to 40 Swiss francs per person. The summer terrace is unbeatable, with the river rushing past and the Old Town above. The fish from Lake Thun is the order here.
4

Paul Klee Center & Museums Quarter

Renzo Piano's masterpiece and Switzerland's oldest art museum

Morning
Zentrum Paul Klee
Visit the Zentrum Paul Klee, opened in 2005 and designed by Renzo Piano. It holds 4,000 works by Paul Klee (1879 to 1940), the largest single-artist collection in the world, about 40 percent of his entire output. The collection rotates, so repeat visitors always see something new.
Afternoon
Kunstmuseum Bern
Head to the Kunstmuseum Bern, opened in 1879 and the oldest art museum in Switzerland. It holds 51,000 paintings including works dating to the 8th century. The expressionist and modern Swiss art is outstanding. The brutalist building from the 1980s is a stark contrast to the medieval Old Town.
Evening
Dinner at Beffi Bern
Eat at Beffi Bern or Della Casa for 20 to 35 Swiss francs per person. Beffi has a great selection of Swiss wines and small plates. The fondue is excellent and the atmosphere is cozy.
5

Gurten & Aare River

Panoramic mountain views and summer river swimming

Morning
Gurten Mountain
Ride the funicular up Gurten mountain, 864 meters tall, running since 1899. The four-minute ride takes you to a panorama of Bern and the Alps from the Eiger to Mont Blanc. There's a park, an 18-hole disc golf course, and a restaurant. On a clear day you can see the Jungfrau massif gleaming above the green hills.
Afternoon
Aare River Swimming
In summer, swim in the Aare River. The water reaches 23 degrees Celsius in July and August. The Marzili outdoor pools are free and draw 5,000 swimmers a day. Rent a tube for 10 Swiss francs and float from Thun. Locals do this every summer day, and it's the most Swiss experience you can have.
Pro tip: Only swim in the Aare if you're a confident swimmer. The current is real. Start at the Marzili pools and stay in the designated swimming areas.
Evening
Dinner at Casino Bern
Eat at Casino Bern for 30 to 50 Swiss francs per person. Despite the name, it's a restaurant and cultural venue, not a gambling hall. The terrace overlooks the Aare and Kirchenfeld Bridge. Seasonal Swiss cooking with excellent vegetarian options.
6

Day Trip to Jungfraujoch

Europe's highest railway station and Lauterbrunnen's waterfalls

Morning
Train to Jungfraujoch
Take the three-hour train from Bern to Jungfraujoch, at 3,454 meters the highest railway station in Europe. The railway was completed in 1912 and tunnels through the Eiger and Mönch mountains. At the top, visit the Ice Palace carved into the glacier, the Glacier Plateau with year-round snow, and the Sphinx Observatory for 360-degree views of the Aletsch Glacier, the longest in the Alps.
Book ahead: Check the weather the night before. If it's cloudy at the top, you'll see nothing. Reschedule if possible.
Afternoon
Lauterbrunnen Valley
On the way back, stop in the Lauterbrunnen Valley with its 72 waterfalls. The Staubbach Falls drop 297 meters, one of the highest free-falling falls in Europe. The cliff walls rise nearly a kilometer on both sides. Tolkien visited here and it inspired Rivendell. You'll see why.
Evening
Return to Bern
Take the train back to Bern and have dinner at Tierzimmer for 20 to 35 Swiss francs per person. It's a casual spot with good Swiss comfort food after a long mountain day. The Rösti with spinach and egg is the post-hike meal you need.
7

Emmental & Farewell

Cheese factory and an 11th-century castle

Morning
Emmental Show Dairy
Drive 45 minutes from Bern to the Emmental Show Dairy, where they make six varieties of the famous Emmental cheese with holes. You'll see the 1,200-liter vats and learn why the holes form. Entry is 12 Swiss francs including a tasting. The Emmental valley is the green rolling hill Switzerland you picture.
Afternoon
Trachselwald Castle
Visit Trachselwald Castle, an 11th-century fortress 35 minutes from Bern and a heritage site of the Canton of Bern. Take a guided tour of the Emmental museum inside, covering Anabaptist history, the religious movement that started here and spread to America. The tower views over the valley are gorgeous.
Evening
Farewell Dinner
For your farewell, eat at Kornhauskeller (30 to 50 Swiss francs per person) for the full vaulted-cellar experience or Rathaus (20 to 35 per person) for a lighter sendoff. Order the Bernerplatte one last time, the mixed meat platter that's Bern on a plate. Toast with Swiss wine from the Lavaux vineyards.

Practical Tips

Getting There

Fly into Bern Airport Belp (BRN) and take bus 334 to the city center in 15 minutes for 5 CHF. Or fly into Zurich (ZRH) and take a 1.5-hour train.

Transportation

The Bern Card gives 24 hours of transport for 26 CHF. Better yet, the Bern Ticket is free with your hotel stay and covers all public transport.

Visa Requirements

Switzerland is in the Schengen Area. Most nationalities get 90 days visa-free. EU citizens need no visa.

Budget Tips

Bern is expensive, no way around it. Lunch specials run 20 to 25 CHF. Shop at Migros budget supermarket for snacks and basics.

What to Pack

Layers, a rain jacket, hiking shoes for mountain trips, and a swimsuit for the Aare River in summer.

Best Time to Visit

May through September for warm weather and river swimming. December brings a charming Old Town Christmas market.

Bern Gallery

Bern Old Town medieval arcades and sandstone buildings Zytglogge clock tower astronomical clock Bern bear pit park along Aare River Paul Klee Center Renzo Piano architecture Jungfraujoch snow and glacier panorama Aare River flowing through Bern with swimmers

Traveler Reviews

Kurt S.

Kurt S.

Bend, OR | August 2026

★★★★★

The Old Town arcades are brilliant. We walked six kilometers of covered shopping in the rain. The Bundeshaus tour was free and seeing both Parliament chambers was a highlight. Kornhauskeller for dinner was incredible, that vaulted ceiling with murals is unreal. The Bernese Rösti was perfect.

Monica D.

Monica D.

Burlington, VT | September 2025

★★★★★

The Zytglogge clock show is magical. We got there at 10:56 for the 11am show and watched the jester, bears, knight, and cock do their thing. It's run since 1530 and still works perfectly. The Einstein House after was humbling, standing where he developed the Theory of Relativity.

Phil G.

Phil G.

Boise, ID | July 2026

★★★★★

The bear pit is great. The three bears looked active in the new park. The Rose Garden above was the surprise, 15,000 rose bushes with the best Old Town view. Dinner at Schwellenmätteli right on the river was perfect.

Janet L.

Janet L.

Hartford, CT | June 2026

★★★★★

The Paul Klee Center is a masterpiece. Renzo Piano's building is worth the visit alone, and the 4,000-work collection is staggering. Kunstmuseum Bern was also incredible, with paintings going back to the 8th century.

Dale W.

Dale W.

Asheville, NC | August 2025

★★★★★

Floating down the Aare River was the most Swiss thing I've ever done. Rented a tube for 10 francs and drifted past the Old Town with medieval buildings above. The Gurten funicular gave us the panorama from the Eiger to Mont Blanc.

Tracy H.

Tracy H.

Sacramento, CA | July 2026

★★★★★

Jungfraujoch was the highlight of our Switzerland trip. Three hours by train from Bern, then you're at 3,454 meters looking at the Aletsch Glacier. The Ice Palace carved into the glacier was magical. On the way down, Lauterbrunnen and the Staubbach Falls dropping 297 meters. Tolkien based Rivendell on it.

Alan T.

Alan T.

Portsmouth, NH | September 2025

★★★★★

The Emmental day trip was a perfect change of pace. The valley is the green rolling hill Switzerland you dream about. Trachselwald Castle was a quiet gem with Anabaptist history I knew nothing about.

Karen M.

Karen M.

Denver, CO | May 2026

★★★★★

Bern is expensive but worth every franc. The Bern Ticket being free with our hotel saved us a fortune. Della Casa's Geschnetzeltes with Rösti was the best meal of our trip.

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