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Bern is a city that you can easily underestimate if you only walk through the main streets. In a few hours I will show you more – without rush and without the feeling of missing something important. We discover the Bern Old Town, hidden corners, historic bridges, the Aare and beautiful viewpoints. On the go, I tell you exciting stories and show you special details as well as beautiful places for photos. Since it is a private tour, we can tailor the pace and focus to your individual wishes.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The tour normally ends in the Rose Garden, from where you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Bern Old Town. After consultation, the route and the endpoint of the tour can be adapted to your further plans.
Itinerary
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1Central Railroad Station
We begin our discovery tour through Bern at Bahnhofplatz. Here you will learn how the city's main train station has changed over time, see the Baroque Holy Spirit Church and hear the history of the lost Christoffel Tower – the former western city gate of Bern, which was demolished in the 19th century. We see where the tower once stood and what traces of it have remained to this day.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Kafigturm
Through the famous Bern arcades we go to the Käfigturm – a former city gate that later served as a prison. Here you will learn how the city limits changed with the growth of Bern and why the Bärenplatz received its name.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Parliament Building
We see the Federal Palace – the political center of Switzerland – and learn why Bern is called the federal city. We also talk about the peculiarities of the Swiss political system. On the Bundesplatz are also the famous 26 water fountains, which symbolize the 26 cantons of Switzerland.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Bundesterrasse
We are going to the terrace behind the Federal Palace – one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the center of Bern. From here we can see the Aare, the Marzili district, the Gurten, and on a clear day the peaks of the Bernese Alps. Here we are not just talking about the city, but also about some interesting chapters of Swiss history.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Bern
We see the legendary Hotel Bellevue Palace – the official guest house of the Swiss Confederation, which is closely connected to the diplomatic history of Bern. Right next door is the Casino Bern – despite its name, it is not a gambling casino, but a long-established venue for concerts and social life in the city.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
We cross the Kirchenfeld Bridge – a 19th-century bridge that not only connected the two banks of the Aare but also paved the way for the creation of a new, representative Bernese city district. From the bridge we enjoy magnificent views of the Aare, the old town, and the Münsterplattform.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Bernisches Historisches Museum / Einstein Museum
On Helvetiaplatz we see the monumental building of the Bern Historical Museum. It resembles a medieval castle, but was only built at the end of the 19th century. We will learn why this particular architecture was chosen and how the museum is connected to the history of Bern and Albert Einstein.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8Clock Tower - Zytglogge
We return to the heart of the Bern Old Town and visit the famous Zytglogge. Here you will learn how the former city gate developed into one of Bern's landmarks and what the 16th-century astronomical dial shows. If time allows, we will also experience the game of mechanical figures shortly before the full hour.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
9
We see the historic grain house and one of Bern's most mysterious fountains – the Kindlifresserbrunnen. You will learn what the imposing grain house was once used for and why the significance of the unusual fountain figure is interpreted differently to this day.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
10Einstein House (Einsteinhaus)
On the famous Kramgasse, we stop at house number 49, where Albert Einstein lived with his family from 1903 to 1905. We are talking about his life in Bern, his work at the Swiss Patent Office, and the extraordinary year 1905, in which the young scientist published several works that fundamentally changed modern physics.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
11Berner Munster
We see the Bern Minster – one of the most important historical sights in the city. We look at the famous portal with the depiction of the Last Judgment and learn why the construction of the church extended over several centuries. Then we will go to the Münsterplatz platform, from which a beautiful view of the Aare and the lower parts of the old town opens up.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
12The Bern Rathaus (Town Hall)
On the town hall square, we see the historic town hall from the 15th century, which still plays an important role in the political life of Bern today. Right next to it is the Church of St. Peter and Paul, whose history is connected with the return of the Catholic community to Bern after the Reformation.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
13Nydegg Church (Nydeggkirche)
In the Nydegg quarter, we reach the eastern part of medieval Bern – where the castle of the Zähringen once stood. We see the Nydegg Church and the monument to Berchtold V. of Zähringen, which is traditionally associated with the founding of Bern.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
14
From the Nydegg we descend to the Aare and enter the lower part of the Bern Old Town. We discover traces of the early city fortifications and cross the Untertor bridge – Bern's oldest surviving bridge. Here, the medieval topography of the city and its historical connection to the Aare can be particularly well understood.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
15Barenpark
We are going to the famous Bear Park and will learn why the bear became the most important symbol of Bern and how the attitude of the Bernese bears has changed over the centuries. We will see the modern Bear Park on the Aare slope as well as the historic bear enclosure from the 19th century.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
16Rosengarten
To finish, we will visit the Rose Garden – one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Bern. From here we enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the old town, the Aare bend, the bridges, the cathedral, and the federal building quarter. The rose garden is the ideal place to look over the route we took from above and take souvenir photos.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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