Bern

Bern Travel Guide

The United Nations has named Bern a World Cultural Landmark, and visitors to Switzerland’s capital city will soon see why. Arguably one of the most attractive cities in Europe, Bern stands as the gateway to the incredible Bernese Oberland area, a great holiday destination. Bern is easily accessible from Zurich or Geneva.

Tourists to the city can take advantage of lots of museums and art galleries including the excellent Kunstmuseum which houses a number of paintings by artists such as Manet, Monet, Picasso, Matisse and Dali. Fans of architecture should headto the Bernishes Historishes Museum. Housed inside a 16^th century neo-Gothic castle, the museum contains an extensive collection of archaeological finds and other historic relics. A series of 15^th century tapestries showing details of the life of Julius Caesar are a highlight of the visit. Magnificent stained glass windows are a popular tourist drawat the 15^th century Cathedral of St Vincent.

Bern Tourist Attractions

Since 1480, the bear has been the mascot of the city. Bears are no longer kept in the old bear pits, they now live in a purpose built Bearpark along the banks of the River Aare. The Rosengarten, the city’s famous rose gardens from where the medieval part of the city can be photographed in all its majestic beauty. Another popular tourist attraction is the botanical garden known as the Botanischer Garten.

The Bernese Oberland is a celebrated winter sports destination. With its magnificent lakes and Finsteraarhorn portion of the Alps, it really is an area of incredible beauty. Grindelwald, Gstaad and Kandersteg boast excellent skiing and snowboarding facilities, while in the summer these areas are known for their water-skiing, swimming and sailing.

Bern has some great shopping areas along the streets of Postgasse, Kramgasse, Marktgasse and Spitalgasse. The city also has a good selection of restaurants and nightspots. In summer, many of the locals head to nearby Interlaken to relax in summerhouses, and it is a great starting point for entry into many of the Bernese Oberland’s miles of cycle paths.