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Bernese Mittelland · German-speaking · Federal Capital

Welcome to Bern

The Federal Capital of Switzerland

Switzerland's capital is a UNESCO World Heritage old town wrapped in a bend of the turquoise Aare river. Six kilometres of medieval arcades, the famous Zytglogge clock tower, the Bear Park, and a relaxed pace of life make Bern one of Europe's most charming capitals.

Bern old town and the Aare river, Switzerland

Bern · Old Town & the Aare · Switzerland

Explore Bern

What to do in Bern

Six essentials, carefully organized — everything you need to plan your visit to Bern.

Good to Know

Bern — common questions

Why is Bern famous?

Bern is Switzerland's federal capital. Its medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for 6 km of covered arcades, the Zytglogge clock tower, and the Bear Park.

Is Bern the capital of Switzerland?

Yes. Bern is the federal city of Switzerland, home to the Federal Palace where parliament sits.

What is the Aare river swim?

A beloved Bern summer tradition — locals float down the clean turquoise Aare river, entering at the free Marzili baths near the parliament building.

Bern TV

Watch Bern.

12 videos: the city from above, the old town, the mountain excursion, the food and the shopping. Tap any picture to play it on the big screen; videos in other languages are marked.

Language

The capital's old town

1:00:58

Bern in autumn, a walking tour

HD Switzerland

The arcades, the fountains and the Aare in 4K.

8:19

Top ten things to do in Bern

The Traveling Swiss – Louis & Alexis

The old town, the bears and the Rosengarten.

10:05

Twelve best things to do in Bern

Before You Go

The Zytglogge, the Münster, the Federal Palace and the river.

3:08

The old city of Berne

UNESCO

UNESCO's own short film on the World Heritage old town.

53:31

The Saturday farmers' market on Bundesplatz

Swiss Walker

The market in front of the Federal Palace, then the old town.

Clock, bears and hill

9:44

Inside the Zytglogge

A-TravelVideo

A tour of the thirteenth-century clock tower and its mechanism.

5:51

The Bear Park

Adventure Isle

Bern's bears in the park on the Aare, below the old town.

19:59

The Zibelemärit onion market

Switzerland is Life

The November market that fills the old town with onion plaits.

23:51

Gurten, Bern's hill

A-TravelVideo

The funicular to the park with the view over the city and the Alps.

In other languages

14:01

Das musst du in Bern gesehen haben

About SwissDeutsch

The city centre, in German.

3:56

Städtetrip Bern

Marco PoloDeutsch

Marco Polo's short city break, in German.

3:45

瑞士伯恩自由行

詹姆士與艾瑞兒 James & Ariel中文

Bern's sights and best viewpoints, in Chinese.

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