Bern

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Why visit Bern?

Bern is defined by the Aare River, which wraps around the UNESCO-listed Altstadt like a protective ribbon. Start your exploration at the Zytglogge, the 13th-century medieval clock tower where automated figures perform their choreographed routine on the hour. Wander through the six kilometers of sandstone arcades known as Lauben, which shelter high-end boutiques and cellar-level bars from the alpine chill. Don't miss the Rosengarten, perched on a hill above the city, offering an expansive view of the terracotta rooftops and the sharp bend of the emerald Aare water below.

Culinary heritage here revolves around hearty, traditional fare that fuels long winters. Head to a local tavern to order Berner Platte, a mountainous serving of smoked pork, beef tongue, and savory sausages accompanied by sauerkraut and beans. Afterward, walk toward the Bärengraben to observe the city’s symbolic bears in their riverside enclosure, or explore the minimalist, Renzo Piano-designed Zentrum Paul Klee. If you visit in winter, the Federal Palace—the Bundeshaus—glows with seasonal illuminations, grounding the capital’s civic identity in its heavy, monumental architecture. Whether you are swimming in the river during summer or touring the subterranean history of the Kornhaus cellar, Bern offers a refined, deliberate pace of life found nowhere else in Switzerland.

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Local partners in Bern: Club del Sole · ICON Collection · Baglioni · COMO · UNA Italian Hospitality

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Popular experiences in Bern

The things travellers book most here. You pay the same price as booking direct.

Top tours & activities in Bern

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When to go to Bern

The best months for Bern are May, June, July, August and September. Highs then sit around 21°C, and a week here is expensive.

Jan
4°
low -3°
14 wet days
Feb
7°
low -1°
13 wet days
Mar
10°
low 0°
13 wet days
Apr
14°
low 3°
13 wet days
May
17°
low 8°
17 wet days
Jun
22°
low 13°
16 wet days
Jul
24°
low 14°
16 wet days
Aug
24°
low 14°
12 wet days
Sep
19°
low 10°
12 wet days
Oct
15°
low 6°
12 wet days
Nov
8°
low 1°
13 wet days
Dec
5°
low -1°
14 wet days
Highlighted = best monthsNumber = average daytime highBar = how wet the month is

Temperatures and wet days are measured, not estimated: ERA5 reanalysis for 2021-2023, at Bern, Canton of Bern. Source: Open-Meteo.

Planning Bern

Where to stay in BernWhich area suits you

Bern — common questions

When is the best time to visit Bern?

The best months for Bern are May, June, July, August and September. Highs then sit around 21°C, and a week here is expensive.

What is the weather like in Bern?

July is the warmest month, with daytime highs around 24°C. January is the coolest, around 4°C by day and -3°C at night. May is the wettest, with about 17 wet days. Figures are measured averages, not estimates.

What is Bern known for?

Bern is best known for culture, history, food, architecture and nature. The things people come for: Zytglogge, Bundeshaus, Bärengraben, Rosengarten, Aare River.

Who is Bern best suited to?

Bern works particularly well for couples, families and first-time visitors. That is based on what there is to do there, not on who books it most.

What can you book in advance in Bern?

The experiences that sell out first are food tours, cooking classes, day trips, skip-the-line tickets, walking tours and night tours. You can check availability and prices on our booking partners below — you pay the same as booking direct.

Do I need a visa for Switzerland?

That depends on your passport and how long you are staying, so there is no single answer. TonyPlan has a visa and entry checker — put in your nationality and it tells you what applies to you.

Get the Bern guide as a PDF

Why to go, the best months with real measured temperatures, which area to stay in, and what flights cost right now — in one file you can read on the plane. Free.

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