Bern is the unofficial capital of Switzerland and, wrapped almost entirely by the Aare River, one of my favorite Swiss cities. I’ve only been to four so far, but that still feels like enough authority to have an opinion. The old town is compact, beautifully preserved, and very easy to explore in under six hours without feeling rushed.
Most trains from Basel or Zürich to Interlaken (aka the gateway to the Swiss Alps) pass straight through Bern, so it’s the perfect excuse to hop off, stretch your legs, and see a side of Switzerland that isn’t all mountain gondolas and postcard villages but equally as charming.
This Bern guide is part of my 15-day Interrail trip through Amsterdam, Switzerland, Slovenia & Vienna, so make sure to check it out if you’re interested!
All prices, schedules, and reservation requirements in this itinerary are accurate as of 2025 (please please please double-check official websites before your trip). This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog!
Index
🗺️ Overview Map
The map with all key spots!
✨ Need to know
⏱️ How many days to see Bern
Half a day is ideal. Bern’s old town is small, distances are short, and you can comfortably see everything worth seeing in under one day. Under six hours, even.
That said, don’t confuse “small” with “skippable”. Bern feels like the prototype of a Swiss city to me: impossibly blue river, medieval streets, and mountains quietly sitting in the background. Personally, I find it much prettier and more worth visiting than Zürich.
📅 Best time to go
Anytime works. I visited in summer and it never felt too hot. Even though most sights are outdoors, Bern is a quick-stop city, so you’re not exposed to the elements for long.
If you want a higher chance of seeing the bears in Bear Park (more on that later), the best time is late spring through summer (May-August)!
🚌 Getting around
Walk. Everything is walkable, distances are short, and public transport is completely unnecessary for this itinerary.
📌 One-Day Itinerary
- Parliament Building - Make sure to step onto the terrace on the river side. The view over the Aare with the mountains behind it is exactly how I imagined Switzerland before ever coming here.
-
Zytglogge - An iconic clock tower with a mechanical show
on the hour.
Honest take: absolutely not worth planning your day around the show. The clock itself is cool and worth seeing, so if you’re there on the hour, great. If not, you’re not missing anything.
I stood there with my phone ready and my immediate reaction was “wait… that was it?” - Kramgasse - The main street of the old town. I also took one of my favorite photos in Bern here.
-
Cathedral of Bern (Berner Münster) - The sculptures on
the main portal are incredibly detailed and worth taking your time with.
Entry to the interior is free, but visiting hours are limited:
⏰ Mon-Fri 12:00-16:00 | Sat 10:00-17:00 | Sun 11:30-16:00
- Münsterplattform - Right behind the cathedral, this terrace is a lively square with another beautiful view over the Aare.
- Nydeggbrücke - Cross here to reach the other side of the river and continue toward BearPark.
-
BearPark - Yes, Bern really does have bears. A
tree-filled stretch of the riverbank that’s home to several brown bears,
and it’s completely free to visit.
I went in summer and saw one bear lounging around. It’s not guaranteed, so don’t go with high expectations. If you see one it’s a bonus. Also, you won’t accidentally miss it. Other visitors will make sure you know where they are.
-
Rosengarten - A viewpoint overlooking the old town,
reached via a fairly steep uphill walk.
I was expecting the garden itself to be more impressive, but it’s a nice place to sit in the grass, catch your breath, and enjoy the view if you have time.
‼️Before You Go (Tips)
Bern was an intermediate stop for me on the train from Base to Interlaken. With an Interrail pass, you can take unlimited trains in a day, so it made sense to concentrate the travel and not spend the night in Bern.
Since I was only there for the day, I needed somewhere to leave my luggage. I used the station lockers. They can be pricey depending on luggage size and group size, but they’re open 24/7 and very convenient if you’re arriving by train. Prices depend on how long you store your bags, with increases every six hours, which is another reason this itinerary is under six hours 🫡. You can see the detailed prices on the official SBB website.
If you’re staying longer or traveling solo and don’t want to pay full locker prices, a good alternative is the “Near Bern Old Town Storage Spot” available through Bounce. It was the only option I found that stays open relatively late, usually from around 9:00 or 10:00 until 20:00. Prices are about 3.5CHF for a small bag or 5 CHF per standard suitcase for the entire day.
One last thing to keep in mind: I visited on a Sunday and almost all shops were closed. Grocery stores were only open inside the train station. I didn’t specifically check restaurants, but you should still be able to find places to eat. Just don’t plan a shopping spree.
🎯 TL;DR (Trip At a Glance)
🏛️ Parliament Building
🕰️ Zytglogge
🇨🇭 Kramgasse
⛪ Cathedral of Bern
💧 Münsterplattform
🌉 Nydeggbrücke
🐻 BearPark
🌹 Rosengarten
Click on the map image for the Google Maps list with all locations.
Happy planning and happiest travels 💕
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