Anyone who knows us better knows that we try to find something good in every stupid situation. Likewise in the pandemic … instead of long-distance travel, we finally come to discover the varied and beautiful Switzerland from all sides.
So this summer we decided for the first time after only 5 years in our second home, Switzerland, to explore the de facto capital of the country. Many tourists are surprised that it is not Geneva or Zurich that takes the title of capital, but Bern. But why «de facto»? Well, Switzerland officially has no capital.
Well, as is so often the case, once again it’s about bureaucracy … Nowhere was it contractually stipulated that Bern was the capital of Switzerland. The law only mentions that the Federal Assembly meets in Bern and that the city of Bern is the official seat of the Federal Council. That is why Bern bears the title “Federal City”.
Just some background knowledge on the side … 😉
We spontaneously packed our bags on a sunny August weekend and booked an accommodation in Bern. Since we were traveling with our 4-legged Rhodesian Ridgeback, I looked for a program where everyone got their money’s worth 😉
At 8 o’clock sharp, after a hearty breakfast, we sat in the car heading for Bern. After a good hour of driving, we arrived at our first item on the program – the Gurten, Bern’s local mountain.
We parked our car in the car park right next to the valley station of the Gurtenbahn, but we preferred the sweaty 45-minute ascent on foot via one of the hiking trails up to the summit of Bern’s local mountain at 858 meters.
However, we still had a few vertical meters to climb. There is a 22-meter-high observation tower in the Gurtenpark. A spiral staircase takes you to a fantastic panoramic view of the Bern region and, if visibility is good, to the mountain range with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Now we had earned a little refreshment on the terrace of the Gurtner restaurant 😊
Back in the valley, we headed for our hotel in the city center. We decided on the Swissôtel Kursaal Bern because of the good price-performance ratio and its proximity to the old town. To save time, we ate our lunch directly in one of the restaurants in the hotel.
The Giardino restaurant is a small green oasis in the middle of the city where dogs are also welcome. So Kayla could spend a little more time with us before we brought her to our room to rest and we went to explore the city center.
What I noticed immediately … in Bern there is no such hectic hustle and bustle as you know from other capitals. I would even go so far as to describe Bern as a pleasant little historical town. I hope the Swiss don’t take it amiss 🤣
The old town of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include the Zytglogge (clock tower), the Bern Minster, the Federal Palace, and the 6 km long arcades that make the heart of every shopping fan beat faster.
The Zytglogge, a former defense tower, is a medieval clock tower with an astronomical clock and carillon. In front of the tower you will probably find the largest gathering of tourists in Bern 😉 There are also guided tours inside the bell tower.
The Bern Minster is probably one of the most important landmarks of the federal city. An impressive late Gothic building with the highest church tower in Switzerland. The associated cathedral platform is a playground for young and old. With its green areas and shady chestnut trees, the cathedral platform invites you to picnic, play and relax.
view of the Bern Minister
Of course, Switzerland’s most important political building should not be missing. At the moment, the Federal Palace is mainly making headlines because of the constant Corona demonstrations that take place in front of it … but everything was quiet during our visit 😉
After we had spent our afternoon sightseeing and shopping, we were slowly feeling hungry. We did a little lap with Kayla and got ready for dinner.
We had reserved a table for dinner in a very special restaurant. A journey for the senses … it was said on the website of the restaurant «Essort». Of course, that piqued our curiosity. You already know that we like to try something new in culinary terms 😋 In any case, we were not disappointed.
Now our short trip was almost over. Before we started our journey home the next day, however, after breakfast we took a short walk along the Aare to the bear park and the rose garden.
The bear park is not a zoo in the traditional sense, but rather a 5000 square meter recreational area at the lower end of the old town and is available to all visitors around the clock free of charge. We watched the residents of the park, the 3 brown bears “Björk”, “Ursina” and “Finn” for a while before we continued to walk to the rose garden. When not in hibernation, the bears are busy climbing, digging, swimming or just resting. It was particularly exciting for us to observe Kayla’s behavior. Up until then we had not been to a zoo with her and she had certainly not seen any bears. To our surprise, she was very quiet and sniffed the strange, unknown smell with great interest 🤣
The rose garden is slightly elevated and therefore offers a wonderful view of the old town and the Aare loop. As the name suggests, the rose garden is known for its biodiversity. It is popular with locals and tourists alike.
In our video about Bern you can review everything 😍
Our personal opinion about Bern:
- sympathetic, cozy city
- great shopping arcades
- delicious restaurants
On the following page you can get a very good overview of Bern:
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/destinations/bern/
Best travel time:
Bern is worth a visit at any time of the year. Those who want to see the bears should pay a visit to the city between March and October, as the bears hibernate during the winter months. However, Bern can also be very beautiful in December with the Christmas lights and the Christmas markets.
Hotel recommendation:
Swissôtel Kursaal Bern (good price-performance ratio, close to the old town, dog-friendly)
Restaurant recommendations:
- Restaurant Giardino (nice garden area)
- Restaurant Essort (journey for the senses)
More tips & recommendations:
Getting to Gurten: The Gurten is car-free.
If you arrive by car, you can leave it in the parking garage at the valley station of the Gurtenbahn.
Arriving by public transport: From Bern central station, the best solution is to take S-Bahn no. 3/31 in the direction of Belp to the “Wabern” station or tram no. 9 towards Wabern until the “Gurtenbahn” stop. The Gurten funicular valley station is only a few steps from the stops.
Then you have the opportunity to get to the Gurten on foot or by “Gurtenbahn”.
