What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Bern, Switzerland.
Photo: Paranoid / Wikimedia Commons
Bern is Switzerland's capital, a small city built around a loop of the Aare river with a compact, well-preserved Old Town. It suits travellers who like walking between sandstone streets, arcades and the Federal Palace without needing public transport much. Bears, a clock tower and Einstein's old home add some low-key sightseeing on top of the historic core. September and August are the best months to visit, with warm days good for river walks and time outdoors.
Two days cover the Old Town, Zytglogge, Bern Minster, Bear Park and a museum or two, such as Zentrum Paul Klee or the Einstein Museum, with time left for the Gurten viewpoint.
Altstadt
Bern's medieval centre sits on a bend of the Aare river and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk under the long covered arcades, look at the painted fountains and visit the cellar shops along the main streets.
Altstadt
This medieval tower was once a city gate and is now Bern's best-known landmark. Crowds gather before the hour to watch its mechanical figures move. Guided tours take you inside to see the clockwork.
Altstadt
Bern Minster is a large Gothic church with a richly carved Last Judgement over its main door. You can climb the tower for wide views over the red roofs and, on clear days, the Alps. The terrace beside the church is a quiet spot above the river.
Altstadt
The Swiss parliament and government meet in this domed building. Free guided tours run when parliament is not in session, and the terrace behind it looks out over the Aare towards the mountains. The square in front hosts a market and water fountains that children play in during summer.
Altstadt (east bank, by Nydegg Bridge)
The bear is the symbol of Bern, and the city keeps live bears in a riverside park. The animals have space to roam down to the water, and you can watch them from paths along the slope.
Altstadt (east bank)
A short uphill walk from the Bear Park leads to this public park full of roses, irises and rhododendrons. It is known for the classic view over the Old Town and the river loop. There is a café with outdoor seating.
Schöngrün
This museum holds a large collection of works by painter Paul Klee, who grew up in Bern. The wave-shaped building was designed by architect Renzo Piano. There is also a creative workshop space for children.
Kirchenfeld
One of Switzerland's main history museums, housed in a castle-like building south of the river. The Einstein Museum inside explains the life and work of Albert Einstein, who developed key ideas while living in Bern.
Altstadt
Albert Einstein lived in this flat on Kramgasse while working on his theory of special relativity. The small museum shows the rooms as they were and tells the story of his years in Bern.
Wabern
Gurten is Bern's local hill, reached by a funicular from the southern edge of the city. At the top there are walking paths, play areas and views across Bern to the Bernese Alps.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C / -3°C | 14 days (96 mm) | 5.2 h/day | 1.4/10 |
| February | 7°C / -1°C | 12 days (71 mm) | 6.5 h/day | 2.2/10 |
| March | 10°C / 0°C | 14 days (80 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 3.3/10 |
| April | 14°C / 3°C | 13 days (94 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 5.3/10 |
| May | 17°C / 8°C | 17 days (142 mm) | 10.2 h/day | 6.5/10 |
| June | 22°C / 13°C | 16 days (135 mm) | 11.7 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| July | 24°C / 14°C | 15 days (115 mm) | 12.5 h/day | 7.1/10 |
| Best month: August | 24°C / 14°C | 13 days (111 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 7.5/10 |
| Best month: September | 19°C / 10°C | 11 days (88 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| October | 15°C / 6°C | 12 days (96 mm) | 7.5 h/day | 5.9/10 |
| November | 8°C / 1°C | 13 days (100 mm) | 5.6 h/day | 2.0/10 |
| December | 5°C / -1°C | 14 days (105 mm) | 5.0 h/day | 1.6/10 |
Avoid. Cold and grey, with highs of 4.1°C, lows of -2.7°C and 14 rain days. It scores 1.4, the lowest of the year.
Avoid. Still cold, with highs of 6.9°C, lows of -1.4°C and 12 rain days. It scores only 2.2.
Avoid. Highs reach 10.1°C, but nights stay near freezing at 0.4°C and there are 13.5 rain days. It scores 3.3.
OK. Milder at 13.7°C, with 12.8 rain days. Evenings are cool at 3.2°C, so pack a warm layer. It scores 5.3.
Good. Pleasant highs of 16.9°C, but this is the wettest month, with 17 rain days and 142 mm. Bring a rain jacket. It scores 6.5.
Good. Warm at 22.1°C with 11.7 sun hours, but there are still 15.9 rain days. It scores 7.
Good. The warmest month at 24.4°C and the sunniest at 12.5 sun hours, with 14.5 rain days. It scores 7.1.
Best. Warm highs of 24.1°C and fewer showers, with 12.6 rain days. It scores 7.5.
Best. The top-scoring month at 7.8, with highs of 19.4°C and the fewest rain days of the year, at 11.
OK. Cooler at 14.7°C, with 11.8 rain days and 7.5 sun hours. It is still fine for city walks. It scores 5.9.
Avoid. Cold and dark, with highs of 8.3°C, 12.9 rain days and only 5.6 sun hours. It scores 2.
Avoid. Highs of 5.4°C, lows of -1.4°C, 13.5 rain days and the least sun of the year, at 5 hours. It scores 1.6.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Switzerland →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, sightseeing
Bern's medieval Old Town sits on a bend of the Aare River, with long stone arcades, fountains and the Zytglogge clock tower. You can walk to most sights and to the main station. Streets are cobbled and busy by day, and some lanes have bars that stay noisy late.
Good for couples, river lovers
This old craftsmen's quarter lies right by the Aare River, below the Old Town, with narrow lanes and a calm, village-like feel. It is good for riverside walks and summer swimming spots. The climb up to the Old Town is steep, though a small public lift helps.
Good for museum fans, quiet
Across the Kirchenfeld Bridge from the Old Town, this leafy district has Bern's main museums, embassies and wide residential streets. It is calm at night and a short walk or tram ride from the centre. Evenings are very quiet, with few restaurants or bars nearby.
Good for budget travellers, students
The university quarter sits just above the main station, with cafés, small shops and a relaxed student crowd. It is handy for rail travel and day trips. There are few sights here, and the walk from the station goes uphill.
Good for nightlife, alternative scene
North of the river near the Lorraine Bridge, this former working-class area has independent bars, small cultural venues and a laid-back, creative feel. The Old Town and station are a short walk away across the bridge. Some streets can be loud at weekends, and it feels rougher than the polished centre.
Good for families, longer stays
A residential district north-east of the centre with local bakeries, a weekly market and green spaces nearby. It gives a sense of everyday Bern life, with trams into the Old Town. You will need a tram or a longer walk to reach the main sights.
A large platter of boiled and smoked meats and sausages served with sauerkraut, beans and potatoes. It is a filling dish that locals eat in traditional restaurants, mostly in the colder months.
Grated potatoes fried in a pan until crisp, with bacon and often cheese added. Rösti comes from the Bern area. It is served as a side dish or a main meal in local restaurants.
A savoury tart filled with onions, eggs and cream. Locals eat it at the Zibelemärit, the city's yearly onion market, where stalls sell it with hot drinks.
A soft gingerbread made with hazelnuts, often decorated with a white sugar picture of a bear, the symbol of Bern. Bakeries sell it all year, and many people buy it as a gift.
Crisp meringues served with thick Swiss double cream, a dessert linked to the Bernese Oberland region. Locals often order it after a meal in traditional restaurants.
A mild cheese with large holes, made in the Emmental valley in the canton of Bern. You find it in local markets, sandwiches and cheese dishes such as fondue.
Yes. August scores 7.5 out of 10, rated "best". Daytime highs average 24.1°C and lows 14.1°C, with 10.9 hours of sun a day. Rain still falls on about 12.6 days, with 111mm total, so pack something waterproof even in the warmest month.
August and September are the top-rated months, both marked "best". September scores highest at 7.8, with highs of 19.4°C, lows of 10.2°C, and the fewest rain days of the year at 11. August follows at 7.5, warmer but slightly wetter. May, June and July are all rated "good" too, so the whole May-to-September stretch works well.
Two to three days cover the main sights comfortably. The Old Town and Gurten each take about half a day, while the Zytglogge, Bear Park, Rose Garden, and Einstein House are quick stops of 30 minutes to an hour. Add 2–3 hours each for Zentrum Paul Klee and the Bern Historical Museum/Einstein Museum if you want the fuller picture.
Yes. December and January are both rated "avoid", with scores of 1.6 and 1.4. January is the coldest month, with a high of just 4.1°C and a low of -2.7°C, plus only 5.2 hours of sun a day. Rain or snow falls on about 13–14 days in both months.
Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year, but May is the wettest month, with 142mm over 17 rain days. September is the driest, with 88mm over just 11 rain days. Even in the sunniest summer months, July and August, rain still falls on 12 to 15 days.
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