1 Perfect Itinerary for a Memorable Day Trip to Bern
Visiting The Capital Of Switzerland
Bern is the beautiful capital of Switzerland. We finally visited Bern in 2018, which was approximately two years after I moved to Switzerland. I had been pestering Mehran about a day trip to Bern for a while, and he finally made it happen. We drove from Zürich to Bern, parked our car at a public parking space, and easily walked to all of our destinations.
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Arriving in Bern
- Via Train or Bus: Bern is centrally located with fast, direct rail connections from Zurich, Basel, and Geneva. To check schedules and book your ticket, use the Busbud platform here.
- Via Flight: Fly into Zurich or Geneva Airport and take public transport to arrive in Bern . To find the best deals on airfare, search and book your flights here.
Getting Around and Staying in Switzerland
- Going Around:
- Taxis & Private Transfers Secure a reliable, fixed-price ride with professional drivers. Avoid the airport queues by booking in advance. Book your taxi/transfer here.
- Car Rentals Enjoy the freedom of the open road. Compare the best rates from top brands to find your perfect vehicle here.
- Public Transport Travel like a local and save money. Skip the station lines by securing your train and bus tickets here.
- Stay Connected: To navigate the city like a local and share your photos in real time, we recommend getting an eSIM. Pick the option that suits your needs:
- We recommend Airalo for a budget-friendly and basic plan. Get your Airalo eSIM here.
- Yesim is our top-pick for unlimited data needs. Get your Yesim eSIM here.
- Where to Stay: To make the most of your trip, I recommend booking one of these hotels.
Bern City Tour
We started our tour in the historic old part of Bern, which is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. Our very first destination was Das Rathaus Bern (Bern City Hall). Because we were visiting on a weekend, the outside area was not crowded at all. On one side of the City Hall, we admired a fountain with an impressive statue of a knight holding the flag of Bern.
Our next destination was the famous Zytglogge (Clock Tower) in Bern. It is a spectacular medieval tower with a mesmerizing architectural style.
As we walked towards the Parliament Building, we came across a path down some stairs that led to a really incredible view of the Aare River. We spent a few peaceful minutes appreciating the beautiful view before continuing our walk towards the Parliament.
Once we arrived, we saw the 26 fountains on the Parliament Square, which signify the 26 Cantons of Switzerland. As we enjoyed the beauty of the fountains, we also spotted the Schweizerische Nationalbank (Swiss National Bank). This was another building with a stunning architecture.
Our next checkpoint was the Bern Minster (Cathedral of Bern), which stands as the tallest Cathedral in the whole of Switzerland.
The last destination of our city walking tour was the Bärengraben (Bear Pit). On our way there, we enjoyed the breathtaking views of the Aare river and the City of Bern. Bärengraben is a famous tourist attraction with specialized enclosures that house local bears. We saw a few bears and treated ourselves to some ice cream before walking towards the Einstein Museum.
Exploring the Einstein Museum
The Einstein Museum has an entrance ticket price of 18 CHF. Because we both have an engineering background, the Einstein Museum was right at the top of our travel checklist.
We spent nearly 2 hours exploring the museum. The exhibits covered the fascinating life of Albert Einstein in complete detail, starting from his birth all the way to his death. The museum collection included both private and professional documents from Einstein’s life. We had a great time going through the museum artifacts and learning about the unique life Einstein led.
Visiting the Historic Einstein Haus
The Einstein Haus is a short 10 minute walk from the Einstein Museum. The entrance ticket costs only 7 CHF. The Einstein Haus is the exact apartment where the famous scientist Albert Einstein resided from 1903 to 1905. It was during those two pivotal years that Einstein made his famous Theory of Relativity discovery.
The apartment features Einstein’s real furniture and personal belongings. It is extremely small in size, and we spent less than half an hour exploring inside. However, it is definitely a must visit for people who appreciate science and history.
Final Remarks
Our day trip to Bern was an extremely fun experience. As we love walking long distances, the highlight for us was the walking part of the city exploration tour.
Found our exploration of Bern interesting? We’d be happy to build a personalized itinerary just for you! Head over to our Custom-Plans page to get started.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is one day enough to visit Bern?
Yes, a day trip is the perfect amount of time to see the main historic highlights of Bern. The old town is highly compact and completely walkable, making it easy to visit the major sites like the Zytglogge, Parliament, and the Einstein Museum in a single day.
How much does it cost to visit the Einstein Museum and Einstein Haus?
As of our visit, the Einstein Museum entrance fee is 18 CHF, and the Einstein Haus entry fee is 7 CHF. Both offer an incredible look into the scientist’s life and are highly recommended for science enthusiasts.
Can you see real bears in Bern?
Yes, you can see real bears at the Bärengraben located along the banks of the Aare River. It is a historic attraction and a symbol of the city of Bern.
