Bern Old Town
★ 4.7🇨🇭 BernSuggested visit Half a dayBest season May to October, with mild weather
World HeritageMedieval old townCity walk
The Swiss capital's medieval core, where six kilometres of arcades and a clock tower form an intact World Heritage quarter.
Overview
Laid out in the 12th century on a bend of the Aare, Bern's old town joined the World Heritage List in 1983. Its defining feature is some six kilometres of arcades, the Lauben, which let you walk the whole centre under cover in the rain. The Zytglogge astronomical clock, the Gothic cathedral and Einstein's former flat are here, and the Bärengraben and Rose Garden look over the rooftops.
History
Founded by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen in 1191, joined the Swiss Confederacy in 1353 and became the federal capital in 1848, with its medieval layout largely unchanged.
Highlights
- •The Zytglogge astronomical clock
- •Six kilometres of arcades
- •Bern Minster
- •The Rose Garden view over the old town
Practical tips
- •The arcades keep you dry in any weather
- •Reach the clock tower a few minutes before the hour to see it strike
Practical information
- Best time
- May-October
- Tickets
- The old town is free; the minster tower about CHF 5
- Opening hours
- Old town open all day
- Local food
- Berner Platte, Swiss cheese, chocolate
- Getting around
- About an hour by train from Zurich, and an hour from Interlaken.
- Visa
- A Schengen visa is required; apply about one month in advance.
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