Bern City Guide
This attractive medieval city surrounding the river Aare has a wealth of cultural sights to explore and is Switzerland’s 4th most populated city. Explore the cobbled streets of the Old Town, relax in the Botanical Gardens or engage your brain at Albert Einstein’s former house.
What to do and see in and around Bern
Old Town
Bern’s city centre dates back to medieval times and is a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its cobbled streets, attractive facades and covered arcades this historical centre is a charming place to stroll around.
Bear Pits & Park
According to legend Bern was named when its founder Berchtold V von Zähringen killed a bear. In present day Bern bears are still a feature of every day life, featuring on the city’s coat of arms and in the flesh in the Bear Pit. You can see the city’s two Pyrenean brown bears all year round in the Bern Bear Pit which has been in the same location since 1857 and underwent renovation in 1995 to provide a more natural habitat.
Botanical Gardens
An oasis in the heart of the city, the Botanical Gardens cover an area of 2 hectares and boast 6,000 species of plant life. The gardens also contain 7 greenhouses, so come along and enjoy the Swiss flora, the more exotic exhibits of the Palm House and the tropical mountain feel of the fern house.
City of Fountains
Bern is a city of fountains, with over 100 dotted around the city. Some of the statues date as far back as the 16th century, all of them give an insight into the character of Bern past and present.
Clock Tower - Zeitglockenturm
Dating back to 1191, the Clock tower, once part of the city boundaries is now a key tourist attraction. The clock itself dates back to 1530, and is the main clock for the city. This majestic tower comes complete with moving puppets.
Dählhölzli Zoological Gardens
Open all year round, a trip to Dählhölzli Zoological Gardens will reveal 200 different species of animal. Due to its location between the River Aare and Dählhölzli Forest, the Zoological Gardens allow animals to live in their natural habitat. So come along to the Dählhölzli Zoological Gardens and see the variety of animals, from lynx to wolves to name but a few.
French Church
With its attractive green and cream exterior the French Church is difficult to miss. The church is over 730 years old, and remains the oldest church in Bern. It has had a varied history. Starting off as part of the Dominican Monastery, it then became church for French-speaking Protestants in 1623, and shortly after became a centre for Huguenot refugees from 1685.
House of Parliament
Seat of the Swiss government, parts of the House of Parliament date back to 1852 with the entire building being completed in 1902. This grand structure was decorated by 38 artists from all over Switzerland. The attached square with its splendid fountain display is a beautiful sight.
Kornhaus
This pretty Baroque building used to serve a very functional purpose. As the name suggests, it was once a storage space for grain as well as barrels of wine. The Kornhaus became redundant in the early 19th Century and soon resumed business as a pub. Nowadays it is used as a cultural forum, housing a theatre, library and eateries as well as acting as a general meeting place.
Einstein House
Restored to its original form by the Albert Einstein Society, this former residence of the great physicist serves as a legacy to his scientific findings, with samples of his work on display. Einstein lived in this pretty town house from 1903 to 1905 and it was during this time that developed his special theory of relativity.
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