Bern, Switzerland · Europe
Bern is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Muri, 47km from Lake Brienz.
Bern is a city located in Bern, Switzerland. With a population of 121,631, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Bern sits in Switzerland, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Zurich time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Bern to your route.
Bern (Swiss Standard German: [bɛrn] ), or Berne (French: [bɛʁn] ), is the de facto capital of Switzerland, referred to as the "federal city". With a population of about 146,000 (as of 2024), Bern is the fifth-most populous city in Switzerland, behind Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Lausanne. The Bern agglomeration, whichRead more
includes 36 municipalities, had a population of 406,900 in 2014. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000.
Bern is also the capital of the canton of Bern, the second-most populous of Switzerland's cantons. In 1983, the historic old town (in German: Altstadt) in the centre of Bern became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is surrounded by the Aare, a major river of the Swiss Plateau.
Although fortified settlements were established since antiquity, the medieval city proper was founded by the Zähringer ruling family, probably in 1191 by Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen. Bern was made a free imperial city in 1218 and, in 1353, it joined the Swiss Confederacy, becoming one of its eight early cantons. Since then, Bern became a large city-state and a prominent actor of Swiss history by pursuing a policy of sovereign territorial expansion. Since the 15th century, the city was progressively rebuilt and acquired its current characteristics. Bern was made the federal city in 1848. From about 5,000 inhabitants in the 15th century, the city passed the 100,000 mark in the 1920s.
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Bern offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Bern is located in Bern, Switzerland, Europe. The coordinates are 46.9481 latitude, 7.4474 longitude.
Bern has a population of approximately 121,631 people, making it a city in Switzerland.
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Essential numbers in Switzerland
Motorway vignette (toll sticker) required: buy at the border or online. Roadside assistance (TCS): 140.
Full driving guide for Switzerland8 notable places within an hour's drive.
historic highway
The 7.3km forest circuit outside Bern where racing ended after Switzerland banned circuit motorsport in 1955. Its dappled, constantly curving roads through the Bremgartenwald are open to traffic and eerily unchanged.
3 km · about 5 min drive
landmark
Atmospheric forest clearing filled with rusting classic Volkswagen Beetles, a pilgrimage site for VW enthusiasts.
12 km · about 25 min drive
mountain pass
A quiet ridge road in the Bernese Prealps with a long panorama over the Stockhorn chain.
24 km · about 30 min drive
mountain pass
A friendly pass linking the Gruyère region to the Simmental, open all year and lined with chalet villages.
40 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
The adventure capital of Switzerland, set between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz with the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau as its backdrop.
43 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
A tiny village on Lake Brienz made world-famous by the Netflix series Crash Landing on You, with a photogenic jetty extending into turquoise waters.
47 km · about 55 min drive
natural wonder
A dazzling turquoise lake in the Bernese Oberland, fed by glacier meltwater and famed for the Giessbach waterfalls on its southern shore.
47 km · about 55 min drive
natural wonder
A small but enchantingly clear blue lake in the Kander Valley, its transparent waters revealing submerged tree trunks and trout.
49 km · about 55 min drive
April to October
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