Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

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. Consider staying at least one whole day in Bern to see all of its attractions.

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When to visit Bern

Bern in February
Estimated hotel price
$358
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bern in February
Estimated hotel price
$358
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Bern in July, when the average temperature is 17 °C, and the highest can go up to 23 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as -4 °C, with an average temperature of -1 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 121 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Bern, with an average rainfall of 58 mm.

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 6 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Bern from New Zealand departs from Wellington and takes around 37h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Bern, followed by SNCF. The train journey from Bern to Basel takes 1h 28m and costs around $63 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Innsbruck, expect to pay about $56 for a 3h 38m trip. Located 0.6 km from the city centre, Bern is the busiest station in Bern. Another popular train station is Bern Bümpliz Süd, located 4 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Bern is to pick up a car hire from Geneva, which is about 129 km from Bern. You’ll find branches of Alamo and Europcar, among others, in Geneva.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bern, including FlixBus, Bus and BlaBlaCar Bus. From Strasbourg, the bus ride to Bern takes 330 km and will cost you around $42. From Munich, the ticket costs about $68 for a journey of 370 km. The most popular bus station is Bern Car-Terminal Neufeld, located 1.8 km from the city centre of Bern. Bern Schützenmatt P+R is also a commonly used station, and is 0.4 km from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Bern, you’ll arrive at Belp (BRN), which is located 6 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Bern from New Zealand departs from Wellington and takes around 37h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Bern, followed by SNCF. The train journey from Bern to Basel takes 1h 28m and costs around $63 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Innsbruck, expect to pay about $56 for a 3h 38m trip. Located 0.6 km from the city centre, Bern is the busiest station in Bern. Another popular train station is Bern Bümpliz Süd, located 4 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Bern is to pick up a car hire from Geneva, which is about 129 km from Bern. You’ll find branches of Alamo and Europcar, among others, in Geneva.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bern, including FlixBus, Bus and BlaBlaCar Bus. From Strasbourg, the bus ride to Bern takes 330 km and will cost you around $42. From Munich, the ticket costs about $68 for a journey of 370 km. The most popular bus station is Bern Car-Terminal Neufeld, located 1.8 km from the city centre of Bern. Bern Schützenmatt P+R is also a commonly used station, and is 0.4 km from the city centre.

Airports near Bern

ZRHZurich
GVAGeneva Geneve-Cointrin

Airlines serving Bern

KLM
Good (1,434 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,697 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,659 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,031 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,154 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,843 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,079 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,141 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,702 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,463 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,519 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,603 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (889 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,361 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,635 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,126 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,169 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,346 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,429 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (380 reviews)
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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 $321 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $691 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Am Pavillon, Bed&Kitchen and Hotel National Bern.

Where to stay in popular areas of Bern

Most booked hotels in Bern

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Stay Kooook Bern City - Online Check In
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
$259+
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Swissôtel Kursaal Bern
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$325+
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Novotel Bern Expo
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$266+
View
Holiday Inn Bern - Westside By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$219+
View

Hiring a car in Bern

Expect to pay $3.72 per litre in Bern (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $44.63 and $59.51. The most frequently booked car type in Bern is Standard (Volkswagen Vento or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Renault Clio or similar) is, on average, 51% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay $3.72 per litre in Bern (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $44.63 and $59.51. The most frequently booked car type in Bern is Standard (Volkswagen Vento or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Renault Clio or similar) is, on average, 51% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Bern