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Bern Vacations & Travel

Bern Vacations

Located in the heart of Switzerland, southwest of Zurich, lies Bern, a small medieval town that's been serving as Switzerland’s capital since 1848. Several stories of antiquity can be found between Bern's walls, while Old Town was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. 

Region: Switzerland

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Featured Bern Hotel

Best Western Plus Hotel Bern

Best Western Plus Hotel Bern

Our 3.5-Star classification designates those properties where guests experience an ideal mix of comfortable accommodations and modern amenities. Most of these hotels feature a variety of services, and offer distinguished style and comfort. Half star indicates that the hotel/resort meets all criteria of the designated rating and exceeds in certain areas.
Berne Bahnhof

This hotel in the heart of old town is an ideal base for those wanting to explore Bern's most popular landmarks.

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Overview

Bern is not only surrounded by nature and history, but also holds several modern sites within, such as coffee shops, fine dining, promenades, and a bear park. Gardens, mountains, hiking paths, and the Aare River, which runs the length of the city, can also be embraced. Bern can easily be reached by train and can be counted on to provide 1-3 days of activity.

What to Do

  • Zytglogge Clock Tower: Located within Old Town, this astronomical calendar clock attracts crowds as it strikes each hour, and a mechanical cast of characters comes out to perform. There are also tours that can be taken, inside the tower.
  • 6km of Arcades: Nearly 4 miles of covered shopping promenades are located in Old Town. This is the longest in Europe and a great place to pick up unique and local souvenirs.
  • Bear Park: Once known as the bear pit, is now a sprawling 1.5 acre park for the bears of Bern to explore. Connected by a tunnel to give the bears passage back into the wild, the park allows spectators to view and photograph the bears at leisure.
  • The Aare River: A deep blue river that winds its way throughout the city. Swimming is highly encouraged, especially during summer, at the various outdoor swimming pools. The river is a local hangout and is even listed as an UNESCO tradition. 
  • Gurten Peak: Bern’s local mountain, contains several outdoor activities as well as a tobogganing run, playground, restaurant, and ongoing festivals.