Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting 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. Bern deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

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When to visit Bern

Bern in March
Estimated hotel price
$219
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bern in March
Estimated hotel price
$219
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 7h 40m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Bern, followed by SNCF. The train journey from Bern to Geneva takes 2h 53m and costs around $65 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Milan, expect to pay about $55 for a 3h 17m trip. 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 Thrifty and Dollar, among others, in Zurich.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bern, including FlixBus, Bus and BlaBlaCar Bus. From Stuttgart, the bus ride to Bern takes 205 miles and will cost you around $15. From Munich, the ticket costs about $19 for a journey of 230 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 7h 40m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Bern, followed by SNCF. The train journey from Bern to Geneva takes 2h 53m and costs around $65 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Milan, expect to pay about $55 for a 3h 17m trip. 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 Thrifty and Dollar, among others, in Zurich.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bern, including FlixBus, Bus and BlaBlaCar Bus. From Stuttgart, the bus ride to Bern takes 205 miles and will cost you around $15. From Munich, the ticket costs about $19 for a journey of 230 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

ZRHZurich
GVAGeneva Geneve-Cointrin

Airlines serving Bern

KLM
Good (1,432 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,631 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,010 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,580 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,100 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,813 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,094 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,683 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,052 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,440 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,506 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,527 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,332 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (879 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,095 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,606 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,337 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,413 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,147 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (911 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 $181 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $416 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

See all
Stay Kooook Bern City - Online Check In
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 3437 reviews)
$159+
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Stay Kooook Bern Wankdorf - Online Check In
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1664 reviews)
$122+
View
Novotel Bern Expo
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 2777 reviews)
$159+
View
Los Lorentes Hotel Bern City
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1513 reviews)
$96+
View
Gasthof Bären Laupen
0 stars
Excellent (8.1, 155 reviews)
$181+
View
Prize By Radisson, Bern City
3 stars
Excellent (8, 5200 reviews)
$113+
View

Renting a car in Bern

Renting a car in Bern costs $91 per day, on average, or $182 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 14% more expensive than at Zurich.

Expect to pay $8.03 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 $96.30 and $128.40. The most frequently booked car type in Bern is Compact (Class Compact Car or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Citroen C3 or similar) are, on average, 52% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bern costs $91 per day, on average, or $182 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 14% more expensive than at Zurich.

Expect to pay $8.03 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 $96.30 and $128.40. The most frequently booked car type in Bern is Compact (Class Compact Car or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Citroen C3 or similar) are, on average, 52% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Bern