Bern On a Budget
Bern, Switzerland
The city dates back to 1191 when it was founded by Duke Berthold V von Zahringen. It was originally part of the Holy Roman Empire and in 1353 it joined the Swiss confederation. In 1848 it became the Swiss capital.
Sights
The most popular sights around the town include the Bundeshaus (the Federal Palace of Switzerland), Einsteinhaus, where Albert Einstein lived with his wife during his time in Bern, Zentrum Paul Klee, and Zytglogge, which is the Clock Tower near the center of the old town that dates back to the 13th century. Bern has a rich history of culture and the arts. This can be seen in the city's many museums and outdoor galleries. Popular museums include the Bern Historical Museum, Kunstmuseum (the Museum of Fine Arts), and the Swiss Alpine Museum.Neighborhoods
Bern is divided into six districts and each district is divided into quarters. In district I you'll find Innere Stadt or the Old Town area. This is where you'll likely spend most of your time as a tourist. If you're looking for Bern hotels or hostels in Bern, this is where you should look, as this is the heart of the city.Activities
There are some fun activities in the city that are worth participating in as well. Make sure you allow yourself some time to enjoy a swim in the River Aare if you happen to be in town during the warmer summer months. Also take time to head to Gurten, which is a hill located just outside of town. From there you can enjoy views of the city and visit a park that is popular with locals. Rosengarten is another small park with a great view of the old town. It's located near the bear pits and is a popular place to visit around lunch time. To reach the park just take bus 10 from the railway station toward Ostermundigen Ruti.Some of the more popular festivals in the area include Gurtenfestival in July, the popular International Jazzfestival Bern, and Buskers Bern, a festival that highlights the city's street musicians.
Although the nightlife in Bern may not compare to Zurich or Paris, you will find a good number of bars where you can grab a drink and enjoy a chat with friends. The options are more relaxed and mellow than in larger cities, but for many travelers this is an enjoyable way to spend the evening.
Food and Dining
Dining in Switzerland can be shockingly expensive. Make sure you allow yourself time to choose a decent affordable restaurant, as this will help you find the best deal. Touristy restaurants, particularly traditionally Swiss restaurants, have incredibly inflated prices. Unfortunately, this means that if you're looking for a more reasonably priced meal you may have to skip the Swiss restaurants and try a different international cuisine such as Asian or Italian. These international options are popular with locals and therefore have more affordable pricing.Transportation
You can easily walk around the old town area and city center. There are shopping areas and many restaurants that you can reach on foot, but if you're hoping to venture farther outside of the city center then you'll want to use the city's excellent public transportation system. This system includes trams, trolleybuses and regular buses, as well as a suburban rail system. The service is frequent and travels into the surrounding suburbs. The tram and bus systems are run by Bernmobil. The S-Bahn rail system travels to nearby cities including Biel, Thun, Fribourg or Solothurn.It is best to avoid driving in Bern. It is hard to find free parking, and paid parking is very expensive. Because the city is so easy to navigate on foot, or with public transit, then bringing a car is more trouble than it's worth. You can park outside of the city center in the "park and ride" area and take public transportation into town.
Biking is another good option. There are free bikes available for four hour periods through "Bern rollt". If you want to pick up a bike, then you can find them at Milchgassli/Hauptbahnhof all year around, and Hirschengraben or Zeughausgasse between the months of May and October.
Related:
Are you a student or backpacker headed to Switzerland or Austria?
Need a hostel in Zurich or Vienna?
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.