Bern is the capital city of Switzerland. With a population of just under 134,000, it ranks as the county’s fourth most populated city. The geography of Bern is rather curious because it was formed by glaciers in the prehistoric era known as the Ice Age. Today, the ground in Bern is very uneven and is comprised of various plateaus and hilly peninsulas, due to the influence of the glaciers. Today, Bern covers an area of about twenty square miles, with about a quarter of that being used for farming and other agricultural ventures. Bern enjoys mild to moderate temperatures year round, ranging from the 30s in the winter months to the mid 60s in the summer time. It’s a fairly wet climate, too – with most areas averaging about three inches of precipitation per month.
The tourism industry in Bern is thriving, with the hotel sector reporting a staggering 37 million overnight stays booked in the year 2010 alone. One of the main tourism draws for Bern is its close proximity to The Alps, which are a world renowned skiing destination. Bern is also home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as lots of medieval architecture. In this article, we’re going to outline some of the best places to visit while in Bern and find out what brings tourists back to this Alpine locale year after year.
Clock Tower (Zytglogge)
Clock Tower - Zytglogge
Source – mcdemoura
The Clock Tower, or Zytglogge as it’s known locally, is one of the best known and most visited attractions in Bern. It’s a massive clock a town square that has marked each passing hour in the city since its completion in 1530 and it features a variety of animated characters that come to life on the chimes. Different measures of time and distance are etched in the stone surrounding the clock, which locals and travelers used to refer to on their day to day travels.
Bear Park (BärenPark)
Bear Park BärenPark
Source – twicepix
Bear Park is a great place for families and tourists looking to while away a leisurely afternoon. It’s a sprawling complex, dug from the hillside in a multi-level landscape fashion and there is a lake in the center surrounded by walking trails. A number of named Brown Bears call this park home and freely roam the grounds at all times.
Botanic Garden
Botanic Garden
Source – amydianna
The botanic garden in Bern is very different that typical botanic gardens in that it doesn’t only showcase plant life native the Bern region. Along with those, there is also a continental display that groups plants by their native continents and showcases them as they would appear in their natural environments – like Asia, North America and Europe.
Bipperamt Fable Trail – For hiking and outdoor enthusiasts, the Bipperamt Fable Trail is a fantastic way to learn about Bern in an off the beaten path sort of way. The Bipperamt Fable Trail features three different routes that are accessible year round and features over 40 trail markers and plaques pointing out locations of historic significance as they apply to local legends and folklore.
The French Church – This massive, sprawling religious relic was built in the mid 1270s as part of a Dominican monastery. In the 1600s, the church became the worship place for French speaking Protestants as well as a safe haven for refugees.
Paul Klee Museum
Paul Klee Museum
Source – vabellon
This architectural wonder is home to over 4,000 works of art and personal items created or used by artist Paul Klee. The items have been donated over the years by relatives and his estate. The museum is fairly new, dating back to 2005, but is very popular with art enthusiasts.
Historical Museum
Museum of Natural History in Bern, Switzerland
Source – curiousexpeditions
The Historical Museum in Bern houses a fantastic collection of artifacts from a number of different areas of Bern civilization. Some of the most intriguing pieces are the ornate military costumes dating back to the 1200s. The museum is the largest and most visited in the city and includes a food venue and a gift shop on the premises. Further, the museum is completely handicapped accessible.
Marktgasse
Marktgasse
source – twicepix
The Marktgasse is an area of the city located just beyond the Clock Tower that’s completely devoted to pedestrian traffic. It’s a courtyard, of sorts – a very old portion of the city lined with historic homes, quaint little shops and two gorgeous fountains dating back to the 1500s.
Rose Garden
Rose Garden
Source – hzeller
Although it’s called The Rose Garden, you’ll find much more than roses here. This sprawling, hilly park with a playground, walking trails and lush scenery is situated on a lake and features over 220 kinds of roses, 200 kinds of irises and nearly 30 varieties of rhododendrons. A surprising fact about this park is that for a century between the mid 1700s and 1800s, it used to be a cemetery.
Einstein House
Einstein House
Source - kelvin_luffs
Come visit the place where the father of modern physics once called home. This unassuming little flat was rented by Einstein and his families for a few years near the turn of the centuries and it has since been turned into a museum depicting Einstein’s life and his contribution to modern sciences.
Munster Cathedral
Munster Cathedral
Source – grzegorz_rogala
Munster Cathedral is the tallest church in all of Switzerland and one that took some 400 years to build. Its filigree spire stands 100m in the air and can be seen from all around the city. The view from the top of the spire is second to none – but you’ll have to climb nearly 350 winding stairs to get up to it!
The Gurten
The Gurten
Source – lazytom
The Gurten is Bern’s only mountain and a trip to its summit guarantees a fun time for all. After taking a short train ride to the top, visitors to The Gurten can visit the quaint shops, have lunch at one of the charming restaurants or partake in a variety of activities with the kids – like the playground, miniature railroad and other fun stuff. Alternately, you can do as the locals do and pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in the lush scenery of The Gurten.
Hot Air Balloon Rides – Hot air balloons rides offer a majestic way of sightseeing that no other method of transportation can provide. You’ll soar to breathtaking heights over some of the most beautiful landscape in the country. Once you get a bird’s eye view of Bern, you may never want to return to street level again.
Travel Tips:
- If you go to Bern between July and August you might find many local shops closed. This is because these are vacation months in Bern and lots of shop owners close down for a week or more to travel themselves.
- The winter months can be wet and miserable in Bern. Be advised when planning your trip that this might not be the best time to go.
- Switzerland has some of the best healthcare systems in the world, but they are also some of the most expensive. If possible, you should definitely purchase a travel insurance policy should you decide to visit.
Tags: Bern, capital city, medieval architecture, Switzerland, UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Bern looks beautiful and great fun for a family trip. I might hesitate to visit the bear park if they do roam freely and are not in zoo enclosures, though. Definitely a good heads-up there.