Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Bern?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Bern?
Most visitors spend one to three days in Bern when visiting. The beautiful city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the museums and landmarks, the historic old town, the beautiful scenery, and the many shops.
Bern is the capital of Switzerland. It sits by the Aare River and it has a long history with plenty of medieval architecture. The city has a beautiful old town and many significant landmarks. Although many people don't stop in this nice city, for those who do, it makes a nice few days during Swiss holiday.
Do you have one or two days to visit Bern? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Bern?
One day is generally not enough time to experience everything in Bern. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to browse through museums, browse around the old town, admire the wonderful scenery, and find the best deals at the shops. To genuinely appreciate the highlights, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for one to three days to immerse themselves fully in the charms of the area. After all, Bern is a fun city that is somewhat popular with tourists because of its great list of sights and attractions. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
How to spend a day in Bern
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Bern, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. The city is filled with architecture and charming character. While you're in town make sure you visit the Einstein Museum, the Clock Tower, and the Bern Cathedral.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour ($4)
- Self-Guided Tour of Bern's Fountains, Clocktowers, and Legends ($10)
Bern is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. This beautifully preserved historic city has charm, personality, and a lot to do.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Guided Walking Tour in Bern ($35)
- Exploring UNESCO Gem: Private 3-4 Hour Walking Tour of Bern ($233)
- Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local ($157)
Bern is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. It's fun to explore the old town on foot. It is compact enough to that you can see all of the highlights in a few hours.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Bern?
A fun weekend trip to Bern is often considered the right amount of time, as many tourists spend one to three days in the area. A 2-day trip would usually give you enough time to check out the museums and landmarks, the historic old town, the beautiful scenery, and the many shops. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.
Bern, Switzerland
How to spend 2 days in Bern
If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Bern, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The charming old town is filled with quaint alleys and sandstone buildings. It's a compact area that flows down a hill to the River Aare.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Guided Walking Tour in Bern ($35)
- Exploring UNESCO Gem: Private 3-4 Hour Walking Tour of Bern ($233)
- Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local ($157)
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.
The public transit in Bern is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are trams and buses that run around town.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Bern, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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.
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