Bern travel guide

Bern Tourism | Bern Guide

You're Going to Love Bern

With a population of 121,631, Bern is the largest city in Bern, Switzerland by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Bern deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

When to visit Bern

Bern in November
Estimated hotel price
$171
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bern in November
Estimated hotel price
$171
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Bern in July, when the average temperature is 62.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 73.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 24.8 °F, with an average temperature of 30.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 4.8″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Bern, with an average rainfall of 2.3″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Bern

Plane

When flying to Bern, you’ll arrive at Belp (BRN), which is located 4 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Bern from the United States departs from New York and takes around 21h 35m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Bern, followed by Trenitalia. Located 0.4 miles from the city center, Bern is the busiest station in Bern. Another popular train station is Bern Bümpliz Süd, located 2 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Bern is to pick up a car rental from Zurich, which is about 59 miles from Bern. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Priceless, among others, in Zurich.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bern, including FlixBus, BlaBlaBus and Regiojet. From Strasbourg, the bus ride to Bern takes 205 miles and will cost you around $32. From Lyon, the ticket costs about $40 for a journey of 340 miles. The most popular bus station is Bern Car-Terminal Neufeld, located 1.1 miles from downtown Bern. Bern Schützenmatt P+R is also a commonly used station, and is 0.2 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Bern, you’ll arrive at Belp (BRN), which is located 4 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Bern from the United States departs from New York and takes around 21h 35m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Bern, followed by Trenitalia. Located 0.4 miles from the city center, Bern is the busiest station in Bern. Another popular train station is Bern Bümpliz Süd, located 2 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Bern is to pick up a car rental from Zurich, which is about 59 miles from Bern. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Priceless, among others, in Zurich.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bern, including FlixBus, BlaBlaBus and Regiojet. From Strasbourg, the bus ride to Bern takes 205 miles and will cost you around $32. From Lyon, the ticket costs about $40 for a journey of 340 miles. The most popular bus station is Bern Car-Terminal Neufeld, located 1.1 miles from downtown Bern. Bern Schützenmatt P+R is also a commonly used station, and is 0.2 miles from the city center.

Airports near Bern

Airlines serving Bern

Lufthansa
Good (4,665 reviews)
KLM
Good (852 reviews)
SWISS
Good (942 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,539 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,614 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,306 reviews)
Air France
Good (984 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,585 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (484 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,958 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,120 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,469 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,860 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (229 reviews)
Finnair
Good (872 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,177 reviews)
LOT
Good (685 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (923 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (827 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (833 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Bern

From 5-star hotels such as the Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa to great affordable options like the Ibis Styles Bern City, Bern offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $162 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $405 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Am Pavillon, Bed&Kitchen and Ibis Bern Expo.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bern

Most booked hotels in Bern

Best Western Plus Hotel Bern
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 4165 reviews)
$180+
Swissôtel Kursaal Bern
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 3145 reviews)
$192+
Bern Youth Hostel
2 stars
Excellent (8.4, 2909 reviews)
$75+
Novotel Bern Expo
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, 775 reviews)
$193+
Gasthof Bären Laupen
0 stars
Good (7.8, 132 reviews)
$76+
Ibis Budget Bern Expo
1 star
Good (7.5, 3335 reviews)
$121+

Renting a car in Bern

Renting a car in Bern costs $63 per day, on average, or $126 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $7.91 per gallon in Bern (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $94.94 and $126.58. The most frequently booked car type in Bern is Compact (Volkswagen Golf or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Volvo C40 or similar) are, on average, 69% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bern costs $63 per day, on average, or $126 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $7.91 per gallon in Bern (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $94.94 and $126.58. The most frequently booked car type in Bern is Compact (Volkswagen Golf or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Volvo C40 or similar) are, on average, 69% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.