One Day in Bern: Best Things to Do + Itinerary
Wondering how to make the most of your one day in Bern?
Welcome to Bern! Known as one of Europe’s most well-preserved medieval towns, Bern was the first stop on our 2-week trip around Switzerland.
Switzerland’s capital city is loaded with unique things to do, and it also makes for a great home base if you want to explore other parts of the country. Bern’s history is also as rich as it is long. The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with cobblestone streets, 15th-century arcades (arched passageways), and 16th-century fountains.
If you’re wondering how to spend one day in Bern, I’ve got you covered. While you won’t get to explore everything, you’ll be surprised at just how much you can see in 24 hours.
My detailed itinerary covers key historical landmarks, a scenic lunch spot, hidden gems, plus recommendations on where to stay and the best ways to get around Bern. Enjoy!
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One Day in Bern Itinerary
Morning: Einstein & Cathedrals
It’s time to start exploring! But first, coffee.
Start your morning with a cup of coffee and a small breakfast at Adrianos Bar & Cafe located next to the Zytglogge (Clock Tower).
Be sure to save a little room for the next stop on the itinerary.
Explore the Weekly Farmer’s Market
9:30 – 10:00 am
If you’re visiting Bern on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday between April and October (or on a Tuesday or Saturday in November, January – March), hop over to the local farmer’s market located on Bundesplatz (Parliament Square) and Bärenplatz (Bear’s Square).
The market stalls are run by small Bernese businesses and local farmers, so everything is fresh. They typically open around 8 a.m. and wrap up around 5 or 6 pm.
You’ll find fresh bread, straight out of the oven, all kinds of cheese, juices, fresh meat, flowers, fruits, and vegetables — perfect for a “second breakfast” or to save for later. We bought some cured meat to bring back to the States and share with friends.
TIP: Most vendors will speak German, French, and English too. But, if you want to greet a vendor in Swiss German to be polite, say grüessech (pronounced groo-sah) rather than grüezi. Grüessech is unique to the canton of Bern and means “hello”.
Einstein House (Einsteinhaus)
10:10 – 11:10 am
Visiting the Einstein House was my favorite thing we did in Bern! From 1903-1905, Einstein lived on the second floor of this apartment/flat with his first wife and son, Hans Einstein. The apartment is now a small museum dedicated to his life, thoughts, and work.
What to expect? You can explore his modest apartment, complete with furniture from that time period, to get a true sense of his living conditions. Don’t miss the spiral staircase he used daily to reach the second floor which has been kept in its original state!
There’s a small museum on the third floor featuring a 20-minute introductory video and various exhibits showcasing his work. It was during his time here that Einstein developed his groundbreaking Theory of Relativity and introduced the concept of light quanta.
Einstein also had quite a scandalous family life that let’s just say would raise quite a few eyebrows today…I won’t spoil it, but take some time to explore the Exhibition Room!
Tickets start at CHF 7.– for adults and CHF 4.– for ages 8-15 years. The museum is open Monday – Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed December 21, 2024, to January 31, 2025.
Cathedral of Bern (Berner Münster)
11:15 – 11:45 am
A 2-minute walk from Einstein House is Bern’s 15th-century cathedral. The cathedral includes a 330-foot tower (the highest in Switzerland) and took 150 years to complete!
P.S. You can also climb the spire to see Switzerland’s largest bell at the top for a small fee. FYI this fee is included with the Bern Ticket – available to all overnight guests for free.
Originally built as a Catholic church and later converted to Protestant, the church’s appearance has evolved quite a bit over the years. It’ll be a quick stop on the itinerary, but still worth seeing while you’re in town. Bonus: It’s free to enter!
Afternoon: Clocks, Swiss Parliament, & Bears – Oh My!
Lunch at Altes Tramdepot Brauerei & Restaurant
12:00 – 1:00 pm
For the “best seat in the house” (especially during the summer), enjoy some lunch at Altes Tramdepot. Psst: This restaurant is right across from the next stop, Bear Park.
It’s a restaurant and brewery, famous for its home-brewed beer, wrapped into one with a lovely view of Bern’s Old Town and the Alps. Here’s a peek at their menu.
Bärenpark (Bear park)
1:05 – 1:30 pm
Bears are a big part of Bern’s history! Legend has it that Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen, the founder of Bern, named the city after bears following a hunt in the 12th century. And Bern’s love affair with bears has held strong ever since.
There’s even a small park dedicated to bears.
Bear Park is a 5,000-square-meter area that sits along the Aare River. It’s like a mini zoo that is home to 3 Bernese bears. You can watch them bathing, eating, or taking a nap.
TIP: The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but if you want to see the bears (and who wouldn’t?), avoid visiting from November to mid-March, as they’ll be hibernating. There are also guided tours offered where you can learn more about the Bear Park.
The Zytglogge (Clock Tower)
1:50 – 2:05 pm
Now it’s time to head back to Bern’s old city and visit The Zytglogge, one of the few astronomical clocks left to exist. This historic clock dates back to the 15th century and features an ornate clock face and a set of animated figurines that perform every hour on the hour.
Do you need to catch the performance? You will not experience “FOMO” if you skip it. To be honest, I found this “fascinating puppet show” described in guidebooks a bit underwhelming. Afterward, I turned to my husband and said, “Is that it?” as it’s quite short.
Having grown up in Orlando, Florida, I may be a tad spoiled with the Disney magic.
If you do plan to catch the performance, plan to arrive at least 5 minutes early, as the most exciting part happens during the “teaser” about 4 minutes before the hour.
Regardless, this historic astronomical clock is so impressive and still worth seeing! TIP: I recommend taking a 1-hour tour to go up the clock tower, see the inner workings, and learn about its rich history. (you still get to see the performance at the end)
The Parliament Building
2:15 – 4:00 pm
One of the most significant buildings in Switzerland, the Parliament Building in Bern is a must-visit! It’s where key decisions are made that impact all 26 cantons in the country.
I know, I know – you probably want to leave politics behind on vacation. But, I think it’s fascinating to understand how Parliament functions in other countries.
While you can explore the ornate details of the interior on your own, I would highly recommend taking a tour with a knowledgeable guide to visit the domed hall and the Council chambers and learn about the history of the building.
TIP: 1-hour guided tours are available in 4 languages (German, French, Italian, and English) from Tuesday to Saturday. Tours in English are typically offered at the end of the day (3 or 4 pm). All tours are free and you can book online up to three days in advance.
Optional: Shopping in Bern’s Old Town
4:15 – 5:15 pm
Before you call it a day, take some time to enjoy the streets lined with antique and modern-day shops. While we didn’t buy a whole lot (limited room in my suitcase), it was so fun walking through the shops and getting to know some of the locals.
The main shopping streets are Spitalgasse, Kramgasse, Postgasse, Marktgasse, and Gerechtigkeitsgasse. Here’s an overview of where to find the best gifts and souvenirs.
Stores in the city center are typically open Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Note: Most stores are closed on Sunday (Switzerland’s rest day).
Evening: Dinner & Drinks
Feel free to return to your hotel room before dinner to freshen up, take a nap, drop off any shopping bags, etc.
Dinner at A Local Spot
6:30 – 8:00 pm
During our time in Bern, we actually didn’t have a single bad meal. In fact, our dinners here were some of the best during our 2-week stay in Switzerland.
You can have dinner wherever you please, but here are the ones we enjoyed (in no particular order). P.S. I would recommend making a reservation, just in case.
- Kornhauskeller, dine in a vaulted cellar that serves Swiss and Bernese specialties
- Zimmermania, a hidden gem known for its French traditional dishes
- Falken, a traditional restaurant offering pasta, tapas, and vegetarian dishes
Nightcap at Cocktail Bar
8:15 – 9:15 pm
As our waitress replied when we asked her where we should go after dinner, “Bern is a sleepy town.” The nightlife in Bern might not be the most exciting in Switzerland, but there are still quite a few cocktail bars in Old City to enjoy.
Here are a couple of options recommended to us by locals that we loved:
- Abflugbar – underground cocktail bar with bartenders who make a mean drink
- Volver – quaint cocktail bar on the corner with an outdoor patio
Where to Stay
If you only have one day in Bern, I suggest staying in Old Town. Not only is it super charming, but it also places you at the heart of everything. Many travelers choose to stay here, with plenty of restaurants and shops nearby.
My Recommendation:
We stayed at Hotel Savoy and thought it was incredible! The staff was so friendly (they even left us a sweet note in our room) and the rooms were clean and modern. TIP: On the day of arrival, your reservation confirmation serves as a transfer ticket from the train station or Bern Airport to the Hotel Savoy.
Looking for more options? Use the interactive map below to input your desired dates and verify availability for hotels and vacation home rentals.
How to Get Around Bern
Bern is a small, compact city that’s ideal for exploring on foot. In this one-day itinerary, the longest stretch of walking you’ll need to do at once is just 15 minutes. My husband and I also found it pretty easy to walk from the train station to our hotel in Old Town.
But, I get it – sometimes you’re just not in the mood to lug your baggage across town. If you’re interested in taking public transportation, see more details below.
TIP: If you are staying at a tourist accommodation (i.e., hotel, hostel, or Airbnb) in the city of Bern, you will receive a Bern Ticket for your entire stay. The ticket lets you travel for free on public transport (i.e., streetcar and bus journeys) in zones 100/101.
Which basically includes all of Bern.
To activate the ticket, search for “Bern Welcome” in your Play or App Store and download the Bern Welcome app onto your smartphone. Then enter the booking number provided by your host or hotel and click on “activate” after filling in your details.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! Here is a 1-day itinerary that allows you to see where Einstein once called home, the city’s beloved bears roam around in their natural habitat right in the heart of town, a 15th-century astronomical clock, and enjoy dinner in an old cellar.
With its charming old town, fascinating history, and unexpected wildlife, Bern does not disappoint. I hope you feel more confident to explore this unique Swiss city!
More posts about Switzerland:
- Is Bern Worth Visting? 7 Reasons We Think So!
- Do People Speak English In Switzerland?
- Paragliding In Lauterbrunnen
- How To Get To Jungfraujoch From Lauterbrunnen
- Lauterbrunnen To Mürren: How To Get There By Cableway, Train, Or On Foot
- Murren Restaurants: 10 Best Dining Spots
- Is Lucerne Worth Visiting? 7 Reasons To Visit
- 2 Days In Lucerne: The Perfect Itinerary For A Fairy Tale Visit
