Sightseeing
Bern’s Old City
Bern’s Old City has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, wowing visitors with its impressive sandstone buildings and incomparable charm. Also typical for the city are its quaint alleys and the six kilometres of arcades.
Parliament Building
The Parliament Building in Bern is at the heart of Swiss democracy. The parliament meets under its mighty dome, while the west and east wings are home to parts of the Swiss federal government and the federal administration. Outside, the expansive Bundesplatz (Parliament Square) is a lively meeting place for young and old alike.
Zytglogge (Clock Tower)
Bern’s typical streets, lanes and buildings have exciting stories to tell, and in the midst of them all in the Old Town one of the city’s best-known landmarks stands high above the rest: the Zytglogge (Clock Tower). Once a city gate, the Clock Tower now attracts spectators from all over the world.
Bern's Minster
The Bernese Minster has the highest church spire in all of Switzerland and is one of the most important landmarks of the capital. There are 312 steps to reach the viewing deck – but the wonderful panorama from the Old City to the peaks of the Bernese Oberland is absolutely worth it.
Käfigturm (Prison Tower)
In the past, Käfigturm was where criminals were interrogated and locked up, today it is a space for political discussions. The former city gate at the upper end of Marktgasse is an important landmark of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bern and home of the Polit-Forum Bern (Political Forum Bern).
Rose Garden
The Rose Garden is one of the most beautiful parks in Bern and offers an unrivaled view over the rooftops of the historic Old Town, the Münster (Minster) and the loop in the Aare river.
Zentrum Paul Klee
The iconic Zentrum Paul Klee was designed by the Italian star architect Renzo Piano and erected on the outskirts of the capital city in 2005. In addition to holding the most significant collection of Klee’s works in the world, the center offers diverse programs, recreational opportunities, an attractive event location and, above all, a lively cultural scene.
Bern Historical Museum
The ten permanent exhibitions at the Bern Historical Museum are devoted to the topics of history, archeology and ethnography. The integrated Einstein Museum presents the life of the Nobel-prizewinning physicist and the museum’s modern addition measuring 1,200 m² houses various exciting and rotating exhibitions.
The Swiss Alpine Museum
The Swiss Alpine Museum focuses on humans and their Alpine environment. Its topics are wide-ranging and close to the public: identity, mobility, spatial development, tourism, climate change, tradition and innovation. It is a platform for dialogue and orientation. The historical collection is part of this task.
The Botanical Garden of the University of Bern
The Botanical Garden thrills the hearts of plant lovers and is popular both among nature fans and those who simply want to unwind in a peaceful setting.
The Gurten, Bern’s Local Mountain
Idyllic mountain oasis, fast-paced tobogganing paradise or legendary open-air festival site – Bern’s local mountain excites both young and old.
