Bern City Guide - Switzerland's Charmingly Understated Capital

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Bern by Dimitri Photography on Unsplash.

Travel Notes: Destinations: Europe: Switzerland - Bern Travel Guide.

Short URL: https://tnot.es/BRN

Travel Guide For Visitors to Bern

Discover why location, medieval streets, quirky bear obsession, and laid-back Swiss charm make Bern the most delightfully unexpected capital city in Europe. Share on Facebook

Bern Discovery

Bern isn't Geneva (that's just where the UN hangs out), and it's refreshingly different from the banking bustle of Zurich.

This UNESCO World Heritage gem sits quietly along the Aare River, offering visitors something genuinely special; a medieval city that actually feels lived-in, not preserved in tourist amber.

Driving Distances in Europe

Driving to Bern.

Capitalising on Your Swiss Adventure in Bern

 Forget what you think you know about Swiss capitals.

With its signature red-tiled roofs, quirky fountains, and yes, actual bears roaming about, Bern proves that capital cities don't need to shout to be memorable.

Whether you're planning a weekend city break or using Bern as your Swiss base, this guide covers everything you need to know about exploring Switzerland's most charmingly low-key capital.

Getting to Bern - Your Swiss Gateway

By Air

Bern Airport (BRN) handles regional flights and seasonal and charter flights.

Most international visitors fly into Flughafen Zürich (ZRH) or Genève-Cointrin (GVA).

Both aiports offer excellent train connections to Bern:

Geneva to Bern: 1 hour 45 minutes by train.

Zurich to Bern: 1 hour 15 minutes by train.

By Train

Bern's Hauptbahnhof (main station) sits right in the city centre, making arrival refreshingly straightforward.

The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) connects Bern to major European cities:

Milan: 3 hours 15 minutes.

Munich: 5 hours 30 minutes.

Paris: 4 hours 30 minutes.

Top Tip: Book advance tickets through the SBB app for better prices and mobile tickets.

 

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