Our most recommended things to do in Bern

Swiss Travel Pass: Unlimited Travel on Train, Bus & Boat

1. Swiss Travel Pass: Unlimited Travel on Train, Bus & Boat

The Swiss Travel Pass is a must-have for any traveler to Switzerland. You can enjoy unlimited access by public train, bus, and boat to over 90 cities and towns and benefit from free entrance to 500+ museums, discounted city tours, and access to private and scenic trains with a pre-requisite seat reservation. There are two broad types of Swiss Travel Pass: Continuous and Flexi, with an option to choose from 3, 4, 8, and 15 days. Apart from it being an ‘all-in-one’ pass which allows a traveler to access all modes of public transportation within the country, it also offers numerous other benefits on the mountain excursions. Trips up to Stoos, Brunni, Klewenalp, Stanserhorn and Rigi are included in the Pass. A 50% reduction is offered on most other mountain and cableways (Gornergrat, Titlis, etc). Enjoy free entrance to museums like the the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich, the National History Museum of Bern, the Paul Klee Center in Bern, and the Natural history museum in Geneva. Explore with access to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Château de Chillon, and the Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum. So be it the adventurous, the avid or the leisure traveler, you will have the chance to make the most of your Switzerland Travel Pass.

Zürich: City Highlights Tour by Coach, Cable Car, and Ferry

2. Zürich: City Highlights Tour by Coach, Cable Car, and Ferry

Experience Zurich’s highlights and natural scenery in just half a day on this guided city tour. See the university quarter, Zürichberg area, and Limmatquai in the Old Town. Cross Lake Zurich by ferry, and ride a cable car to Felsenegg with scenic views of the snow-capped Alps. Begin by visiting the major attractions of Zurich such as the Old Town, St. Peters Church – known to have the largest clock face of all the European churches – the world-famous Bahnhofstrasse, the Limmatquai, and the Guild Houses. Stop off at the harbor for a photo opportunity, where you enjoy a beautiful view of the Lake of Zurich, and the city and surrounding hills. Drive along the "Gold Coast" to Meilen, where you will then cross the lake on a ferryboat. The journey continues to Adliswil for a ride by aerial cable car to Felsenegg, where you will enjoy an incredible view overlooking Zurich, the lake, and the snow-covered Alps.

From Zurich: Engelberg, Titlis, and Lucerne Day Tour

3. From Zurich: Engelberg, Titlis, and Lucerne Day Tour

Discover the peaks of the Swiss Alps and the picturesque mountain town of Engelberg. See icy glaciers, towering peaks such as Mount Titlis, and ride up a famous cableway. Go on a thrilling walk over a narrow bridge up high on the Cliff Walk, and cross a famous wooden footbridge over the Reuss River. Meet your driver-guide at the meeting point in Zurich, then drive through the countryside to the mountain resort of Engelberg and enjoy a charming journey through central Switzerland. Afterward, arrive at Engelberg, a pleasant alpine village known for its 12th-century monastery. Take in the view of the glacier, Mount Titlis at 10,626 ft (3,239 meters), and the Hahnen, at an altitude of 8530 ft (2,600 meters). This village is also famous for skiing in winter, and in summer, many people visit it for hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking, golf, and other activities. Ride up the famous cableway to a height of 9,908 ft (3020 meters) if you choose this option. Also, decide to go on the Rotair, the world's first revolving cable car, which offers an amazing 360-degree view of the Alps. Then, enter the Ice Grotto (if it is open) for another adventure. Experience the Ice Flyer chair lift and get close to the crevices as you visit Glacier Park. Next, walk through the cliff walk at Titlis to enjoy a splendid view of the mountain while you cross a 1-meter-wide bridge for 100 meters on the Cliff Walk. Dare yourself to look down from a dizzying height. When you finish this, stop off in the city of Lucerne as you make your way back to Zurich. See the Chapel Bridge, a wooden footbridge which crosses the River Reuss, and enjoy some free time in the Old Town. Finally, arrive back to Zurich to conclude your exciting Alpine experience.

Zürich: 2-Hour Sightseeing Bus Tour

4. Zürich: 2-Hour Sightseeing Bus Tour

Experience the unique city of Zürich on this exciting bus tour. See landmarks, such as the gorgeous Old Town and the Swiss National Museum, built in the style of a Renaissance chateau. Visit the Münsterhof square and adjacent guild houses on a short walk through the old town with your guide. See St. Peter's Church, which boasts the largest clock face in Europe, and learn something about the Fraumünster church's exciting history and architecture. Tour distinguished districts with stately mansions from another time and admire the popular Zürichberg recreational area. A further tour highlight is the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich, one of the highest-ranked engineering colleges in the world. Its most famous student was none other than Albert Einstein.

Bern: 90-Minute Stroll Through the Old Town

5. Bern: 90-Minute Stroll Through the Old Town

On this 90-minute stroll through Bern’s Old Town, your local guide will tell you about the city‘s 8 centuries of history. On rainy days, you can still enjoy this atmospheric area, as the arcades provide shelter. Admire the late Gothic Cathedral (Münster) with its stunning portal and rendering of the Last Judgment. See the 13th-century Clock Tower (Zytglogge), where you can watch the fascinating show that happens on the hour. Who knows, you might even meet up with a member of the Federal Council in front of the Parliament building! Come along and discover the charms of the Swiss capital and this UNESCO World Heritage Site on a pleasant and leisurely walk.

Bern: Zytglogge - Tour through the Clock Tower

6. Bern: Zytglogge - Tour through the Clock Tower

Conceived in the 1300s, the clock tower is one of the remainders of Bern's first city walls. For over 600 years, the clock has struck on the hour. Inside, time seems to stand still and cool solitude awaits. The reliable ticks of the Middle Age technology impart a steadiness to visitors. Approximately 130 steps to the top of the spiral staircase lead you to a lookout platform. From here, see the roofs of the old city and maybe even the Alps. Visit the clockwork with your guide and follow the puppet show step by step until the famous rooster crows.

Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour

7. Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour

Get to know Bern at your own pace on this interactive scavenger hunt walking tour played on your phone. Decipher riddles, interact with the most important attractions of the city, and unlock interesting facts and legends. An ideal outdoor activity for first time visitors, couples, groups, families, and children. Can be used as a great team-building activity. After downloading the app onto your phone, set out on an adventure that will take you to 10 attractions in Bern by using integrated maps. At each stop, learn about the attraction and solve a location-based riddle that can only be solved if you reach the specific location. Use logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to unlock the correct code and reveal the next destination of the city sightseeing game. As you explore, solve a location-based riddle at each attraction and unlock the next location you need to visit. The app includes facts and information about each location you stop at, so you'll gain local know-how about the city. Put your skills to the text and work as a team and use logic, imagination, observation, and problem solving to make your way around the city. Along the way, you can stop for a coffee, lunch, or a break at any time. Start your tour at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Switzerland's largest Protestant church! Visit the Swiss Parliament House, the home of the Republic in Bern. Photograph the Käfigturm while learning about its history and admire the Stadttheater Bern with its excellent acoustics. Then the Old City of Berne looks like something out of a fairy tale, don't forget to take pictures. The Zähringerbrunnen will leave you speechless with its beauty. Admire the City Hall with its heavy symbolism! The Nydeggkirche is worth your time and phone memory for its beautiful architecture, while the Cathedral of Bern, the impressive Gothic church will be another addition to your indelible memory. The icing on the cake of this unique tour will be the Bernisches Historisches Museum / Einstein Museum with its endless exhibits.

Zurich: Rhine Falls and Best of Zurich City Full-Day Tour

8. Zurich: Rhine Falls and Best of Zurich City Full-Day Tour

Marvel at Europe’s largest waterfall on a combined scenic and city tour of Zurich and the Rhine Falls in northern Switzerland. Drive through the farming village of Marthalen. Admire its old houses, the 16th-century Munot Fortress, and pass vineyards. Visit the Rhine Falls at Laufen Castle and marvel at the landscape that dates back to the Ice Age. In summer, take an optional boat ride to the heart of the Rhine Falls and enjoy the sights from viewing platforms. Return to Zurich and enjoy 2 hours at leisure for lunch to come back for a guided tour of the Old Town. See Europe’s largest clock face at St. Peter’s Church and the Swiss National Museum. Admire the Grossmünster church and the Fraumünster church with its impressive stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall. After a stop at Lake Zurich, continue to the Zürichberg district to see the stately mansions of the old aristocracy. Continue to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, one of the highest-ranked engineering colleges in the world, where past alumni include Albert Einstein.

Swiss Travel Pass Flex:All-in-One travel pass-train,bus,boat

9. Swiss Travel Pass Flex:All-in-One travel pass-train,bus,boat

Explore the beauty of Switzerland with a Swiss Travel Pass Flex available for 3, 4, 6, 8 and 15 flexible days within 1 month. The freely selectable travel days can be activated and changed on www.activateyourpass.com at any time. You will receive the login information by e-mail after your purchase. The pass offers hassle-free and unlimited travel throughout Switzerland on the Swiss Travel System, buses, and public boats as well as unlimited public transport in cities, discounts on many mountain excursions and free entrance to over 500 museums across the country on the validated days. You can use the pass on the panoramic routes however, seat reservations are mandatory. Children under 6 years old travel free. Children aged 6 and under 16 years when accompanied by at least one parent (holding Swiss Travel Pass) travel for free with the Swiss Family card.

Lucerne: Guided Walking Tour

10. Lucerne: Guided Walking Tour

Enjoy an exceptional walking tour of Lucerne. Stroll through the City of Lights and discover its famous Chapel Bridge with the octagonal water tower. It forms part of the historical city walls together with the Spreuer Bridge and the Museggmauer with its 9 towers. Stroll through the city and discover many other sights including the modern Culture and Congress Centre, the beautiful squares, and the historical building facades in the old town. As you stroll through the narrow streets of the old town with your expert tour guide, discover humorous and interesting facts about Lucerne’s history, churches, bridges, balconies, streets, towers, and squares.

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Things to do in
Bern
With its medieval old town, oriental hammam, and proximity to the Alps, the Swiss capital caters to all.

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Frequently asked questions about Bern

What top attractions are a must-see in Bern?

What are the best day trips and excursions from Bern?

The best day trips and excursions from Bern are:

Interlaken

Other Sightseeing Options in Bern

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What people are saying about Bern

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 499 reviews

Zurich is absolutely amazing, no doubt about that but out guide was the highlight of the trip. The weather was not at its best as it was raining but out guide, Daniel made the day so much brighter with his sense of humor.

My family and I were only in Zurich for a short amount of time, this bus tour was a great way to see the sights of the city in a short time span.

It was wonderful trip around Zurich. Best value for money. The guide was awesome and very entertaining and helpful. Full 5*

We made use of the Swiss Travel Pass. It was amazing. The ticket arrived right and fast. And great value. I recommend

Very satisfactory, and the tour guide skilled and professional