Bern, Switzerland 2025 — Things to Do, Hotels, How to Get

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Altstadt (Old Town)

sightseeing

UNESCO medieval center with Zytglogge clock tower and arcades.

Matte

local

Historic riverside quarter below Old Town with unique character.

Kirchenfeld

culture

Museum district with Swiss history museums and embassies.

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faq.subtitle Bern

Yes, Switzerland is one of world's most expensive countries. Budget €150-200/day minimum. Meal €20-40, coffee €5, beer €7. But quality is exceptional. Coop and Migros supermarkets help save money.

Bern is more charming and less busy than Zurich. UNESCO Old Town is beautifully preserved. 1-2 days ideal. Great base for Swiss Alps day trips. Zurich is bigger, more cosmopolitan, better for shopping/nightlife.

Yes! Aare swimming is beloved local tradition in summer. Crystal-clear, cold water. Float downstream from Eichholz to Marzili. Free public pools (Marzilibad). Very strong current - only for confident swimmers!

Bern Airport (BRN) is small with limited flights. Better: Zurich Airport (ZRH) - 1.5 hours by direct train, or Geneva (GVA) - 2 hours. Excellent Swiss train connections.

Travel Tips

Useful tips for visiting Bern

Watch the Zytglogge clock tower show at 4 minutes before every hour - mechanical figures perform 800-year-old tradition. Free attraction!

Walk up to Rose Garden (Rosengarten) for the best free panoramic view of Old Town. Especially beautiful at sunset. Free entry.

Save money by eating at Coop or Migros supermarket restaurants - hot meals for CHF 10-15. Much cheaper than restaurants.

Many hotels provide free Bern Ticket - unlimited public transport for your stay. Ask at check-in!

Weather

Average temperature by month

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Prices

Cost of food, accommodation and services

Cafes & Restaurants

Budget meal

18 - 28 Fr

~23.0 $

Mid-range

35 - 60 Fr

~47.5 $

Fine dining

100 - 250 Fr

~175 $

Street Food

Local dish

10 - 18 Fr

~14.0 $

Drinks

Coffee

4 - 6 Fr

~5.0 $

Local beer

6 - 9 Fr

~7.5 $

Groceries

Water 1.5L

2 - 4 Fr

~3.0 $

Prices are approximate and may vary by season and area.

Accommodation

Hotels and rental prices

Hostel dorm

35 - 55 Fr / night

~45.0 $

Guesthouse

100 - 150 Fr / night

~125 $

Hotel 3★

180 - 280 Fr / night

~230 $

Hotel 5★

350 - 700 Fr / night

~525 $

Prices are approximate. Book in advance during high season.

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widespread

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Cash declining in Switzerland - only 30% of retail payments now cash, down from 70% in 2017. Still commonly used in Bern. Larger stores, restaurants, hotels accept other payment methods, especially in tourist areas. Mobile payments most used method in Switzerland. Some establishments accept EUR at poor rates. Cash still available but increasingly optional in Bern.

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Exchange at banks: UBS, Credit Suisse (now UBS), PostFinance, Raiffeisen. SBB train station has exchange. ATMs widespread. Switzerland expensive - budget accordingly. Avoid airport/hotel exchange. Credit cards widely accepted. Always pay in CHF when prompted.