Things to Do in Bern

1. See the cherry blossoms: Come spring and the city’s Rose Garden bursts with the heady fragrance and pinkish hues of lacs of cherry blossoms. These saplings were gifted to Bern by Japan in 1975 and since then have been enticing visitors from all over the world.

It is quite an experience, and one of the best things to do in Bern, as one sits in the shade of one of these blossoming trees while enjoying a picnic lunch with the balmy breeze enveloping you.

Location: Alter Aargauerstalden 31 B, 3006 Bern.
Timings: Every day from 9:00 am to 11:30 pm.

2. Meet Finn, Ursina, and Berna: One of the most unique experiences to enjoy in Bern is to meet the city’s most famous residents. No, Finn, Ursina, and Berna aren’t local celebrities; they are three brown bears, probably more popular than the celebrities! They live in their own huge lush green enclosure located near the Aare River complete with their own swimming pool and caves.

It is amazing to see this family of bears going about their day as they eat and play, enthralling with their cute antics. Round off your visit by enjoying beer from the tap at the Altes Tramdepot terrace restaurant, one of the most fun things to do in Bern.

Location: Grosser Muristalden 6, 3006 Bern.
Timings: The Park is always accessible.

3. Enjoy an open-air fashion show: One of the high points of any Bern visit is when every year for a day, the streets of Bern’s old town area convert into a fashion arena with models walking the cobbled streets doubling up as the open-air ramp.

The idea behind this activity is to promote conscious fashion and its sustainable showcase. The show sees participation from local as well as international designers, live music performances, and a lovely vibe of furor and gorgeousness all around making it one of the best things to do in Bern.

Location: The show starts from Kornhausplatz and ends at Kornhausforum in the Old Town.
Price: All are welcome to enjoy the show.
Timings: The show will be held on 16th May 2002 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

4. See the magnificence of Bern Munster: This 15th-century building is the largest and most important cathedral in Switzerland and one of the most visited landmarks in the world. The 100-metre long spires of the cathedral, are the tallest in the country towering majestically over everything else around.

Built-in Gothic style, its architectural nuances are unlike any building in the world. It has stunning stained glass windows, a 300-foot high bell tower (the largest bell in Switzerland), delicately carved ceilings, an intricate mural of The Last Judgement, columns depicting angels & women, etc. The terrace of the cathedral gives onto stunning views of the city and the snow-capped peaks of the Bernese Alps. One of the best things to do in Bern is to sign up for a guided tour here to know more about this historical masterpiece.

Location: Munsterplatz 1, 3000 Bern.
Price: There is no entry fee for the cathedral. Entry to the terrace area costs around CHF 5, INR 367.
Timings: Summers- 10:00 am to 4:30 pm and winters- 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm.

5. Visit the famous UNESCO site: The Old Town area in Bern is so historically important and pristine in beauty, that it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visiting here, one of the most stunning things to do in Bern is like stepping back in the 11th-century Renaissance era of old-worldly charm, romance, chiming bells, and slow-paced lives having the luxury of time.

The area now houses some of the most popular designer boutiques, charming cafes, chocolatiers, and watchmakers. Some of the most famous buildings that mustn’t be missed are the Zytglogge Clock Tower, Prison Tower, and Bern Munster.

Location: The area is built on a hilly area near the Aare River.
Timings: All attractions have their opening and closing timings.

Fountain hopping is amongst the top 10 things to do in Bern. This ‘City of Fountains’ is dotted with a whopping 100 (or more!) fountains. Every fountain is a historical masterpiece telling its unique story.  Not only are these fountains magnificent samples of Gothic and Renaissance-era art, but they are also sources of fresh drinking water freely available for everyone. Some of the must-see fountains here are:

1. Kindlifresserbrunnen: Also known as the Ogre Fountain, this is one of the strangest fountains in the world and also amongst the most photographed. High up on a column is the figure of an ogre depicting him devouring a baby. 

The ogre’s bag seems to have babies crawling out of it as if trying to escape him. Nobody knows the story behind this fountain, and that doesn’t do anything to lessen its scary effect. The fountain is located at Granary Square and visiting it is amongst the top free things to do in Bern.

2. Simsonbrunnen: Also known as the Samson Fountain, it depicts the Roman hero by the same name that personified strength and valour. Dressed in the traditional attire of the Middle Ages, Samson is seen almost tearing a lion’s mouth apart. Don’t miss to note the intricate detailing in both the figures of this 16th-century fountain. It is located on the middle road of Kramgasse.

3. Lauterbrunnen: Located on Messenger Square, this fountain depicts the proud Bernese tradition of having messengers cross treacherous paths to deliver messages from one region to the other. This figurine is dressed in the traditional Swiss colours with a spear and a case of letters. Next to him is a bear also dressed in similar attire.

4. Lenbrunnen: More than a fountain, this is probably one of the most important water-related discoveries in the history of Bern. Discovered in 1992, this fountain was found to be one of the most important ways of supplying water to the city. 

In the Middle Ages, Len Fountain used to have a holding capacity of 15,000 litres, that was enough for the city. There are regular guided tours to this restored architectural marvel, which are considered to be amongst the top 10 things to do in Bern.

Shopping is considered to be amongst the top 10 things to do in Bern for its sheer range of independent labels, large department houses, and mom and pop stores. Some of the best places for shopping here are:

1. Spitalgasse: One of the best shopping areas in Bern, Spitalgasse is dotted with international clothing label shops, independent boutiques, Swiss watch stores, and art galleries. Some of the best shops here include Changemaker, Swatch, Dress Code Project GmbH, etc. Don’t miss to explore the huge Globus department store here for everything ranging from fashion labels, cosmetics, fine foods, and homeware.

2. Kramgasse: One of the most fun things to do in Bern in winter sun is to go on a shopping spree at the amazing Kramgasse. The medieval atmosphere of Kramgasse is as amazing as its stores. The entire area is paved in cobbled streets and house centuries-old cellars that have now been converted into shops. You will find the best of Swiss chocolates, watches, wines, handbags, apparel, and carpets here.

3. Old Town area: The six kilometre long cobbled streets of the Old Town area is a paradise for shoppers. Some of the best places to explore are Bazaar58 for its collection of over 10,000 buttons & Indonesian Ikat fabrics, Maison Art for its enamel & glass homeware, and Amuse Brocante for its unique antiquities and concept dresses. If you don’t want to shop, you can spend time window shopping, which is one of the best free things to do in Bern.

4. Christmas markets: During the Christmas time, every nook and corner of Bern fills up with the fragrance of freshly baked bread, roasted chestnuts, coffee, and spiced wines. Some of the most charming Christmas markets in the city are Stars market (on the Kleine Schanze) famous for its huge fondue chalet, Bern Minster (Minster Square) market for its handicrafts & jewellery, and the Waisenhausplatz Market (Orphanage Square) for its caramels, mulled wine, and gingerbread. One of the best things to do in Bern in winter is to try and take a tour of as many winter markets as possible.

These are some of the most amazing and surprisingly free things to do in Bern:

1. Visit the weekly markets: Bern is a city of vibrant pop-up farmer’s markets that are a great way to enjoy the sights and fragrances of the city. One of the most interesting markets here is Zibelemarit (Onion Market), (every 4th Monday in November) where you can see 50 tonnes of onions woven in braids with garlic, which is one of the most interesting things to do in Bern in winter. 

Other great options are the weekly market (Tuesday and Saturday at Waisenhausplatz), Market of Wild Plants (late April) and the Flea Market (3rd Saturday of every month from May-October).

2. See the House of Parliament: The Swiss Parliament is an imposing building with magnificent architecture edging on the Aare River. Its copper and golden coloured domes and interiors have been decorated by 38 of the most famous Swiss artists.

Free guided tours are conducted 5 times each day daily that narrate the workings of the building and take visitors through all the important areas and the art collections of the Parliament. These tours rank amongst the top free things to do in Bern.

3. Visit the lush Botanical Garden: One doesn’t have to shell out money to spend a beautiful day surrounded by sunshine, cool breeze, and the intoxicating fragrance of thousands of flowers. The garden houses over 5000 types of plants from all over the world including regions like Mediterranean, Asia, Balkans, Himalayas, etc. 

Don’t miss to see the patches of pineapple, cherry blossoms, and roses here. You can also see the memorial of the famous artist Paul Klee here, which is one of the most surreal things to do in Bern.

This capital city of Switzerland is a classic picture-perfect Swiss beauty! Not only is Bern bestowed with stunning natural beauty but also has unique architectural elements. It’s medieval Gothic buildings, preserved old town area, cobbled streets, quirky & extraordinary fountains are famous all over the world.

Bern, being located at the borders of France and Germany, has an atmosphere that is chic and international. Bern has occupied an important place in the world of art by bringing attention to the works of artists and their fine arts through its amazing museums and galleries.