Bern: Old Town, Culture, Nature and Cycling Tours

A trip to Bern can be shaped as much by its medieval urban layout, museums and craftsmanship as by hiking and cycling routes. In Bern’s Old Town, the sights are located on a hill surrounded by the Aare; in the Emmental and Gantrisch Nature Park, the focus is on landscapes and outdoor activities. When planning your trip, you can first decide which of these experiences you would like to focus on.

Old Town and cultural history

Despite ongoing modernisation, Bern’s Old Town has retained its medieval urban layout. Six kilometres of arcades define the townscape, while vaulted cellars house studios, bars and shops. The Rose Garden, with views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located above the Old Town. This means you can plan different stops on a visit to the city to take in the architecture, the characteristic arcades and a viewpoint.

Another place to explore cultural history is Burgdorf Castle. It has stood for around 900 years and is a monument of national significance. The castle houses three museums with collections of national significance: the Castle Museum, the Museum of Ethnology and the Swiss Gold Museum. At the Zentrum Paul Klee, children can create their own art in the Creaviva studio. These attractions offer different experiences, from historical collections to hands-on artistic activities.

Crafts and regional experiences

At the Emmental Show Dairy, a tour takes you through several dairy buildings, from the Stöckli dating from 1741 to the dairy built in 1989. A public fresh cheese workshop is also offered in the historic Küherstube dating from 1741. Private groups can also make cheese over an open fire or create fresh cheese hearts. If you plan to take part in a workshop, check the dates and booking conditions in advance.

The Kambly Experience in Trubschachen introduces visitors to the origins and art of fine biscuit-making in a fun, interactive world of experiences. The 3.5-kilometre Discovery Trail leads to places and sights in the village and ends at the Kambly Experience, where visitors solve tasks and puzzles. The trail and interactive activities offer different parts of the experience; if you have specific stops in mind, check the current offer in advance.

Hiking, cycling and experiencing nature

The canton of Bern has around 10,000 kilometres of signposted hiking routes. In Gantrisch Nature Park, the well-developed, signposted Gantrisch Panorama Trail offers views of the Pre-Alps and the Jura range. Two described hiking stages showcase different landscapes: one stage from Rüeggisberg to Guggisberg passes through alpine pastures and the Schwarzwassergraben gorge; another from Guggisberg to Schwarzsee runs through the Laubbach valley and then through forests.

There are also different ways to explore the area by bike. The Veloland routes in the canton of Bern form part of the cantonal network, are signposted consistently and are communicated via SchweizMobil. The 58-kilometre Green Belt of Bern is a themed cycling tour connecting municipalities around Bern. Six of Bern Welcome’s ten E-bike highlight routes are in the Emmental, which has more than 600 kilometres of signposted E-bike routes in total.

Gantrisch Nature Park covers 405 square kilometres and includes 19 municipalities. It was certified as a Regional Nature Park by the Swiss Confederation in 2012. It was the first area in Switzerland to receive the international “International Dark Sky Park” label. For mountain biking and gravel biking, the Gantrisch Nature Park and Schwarzsee offer more than 350 kilometres of trails and around 300 kilometres of routes. Route details may change; check the current route if you are planning a specific tour.

The Gantrisch Legends Route, around 50 kilometres long, offers another way to explore the region. It passes through forests and gorges, with opportunities at various experience stops to listen to or read local legends. The welcome points in Burgistein, Schwarzenburg and Riggisberg can be reached from Bern by S-Bahn in around 30 minutes. Check the timetable if you plan to travel this way.

Seasonal and active trip ideas

Gantrisch Nature Park has 45 kilometres of well-groomed cross-country ski trails at altitudes between 1,450 and 1,650 metres. Cross-country ski equipment can be rented at three locations. Cross-country skiing is seasonal, so take snow conditions and operations into account when planning. Good swimmers can swim in the Aare. When river rafting on the Aare, visitors float downstream in a boat. Check local conditions and water levels before either activity.

Choose a hotel based on your plans

Then match your choice of hotel location to the places you want to visit.

Discover more destinations: Wangen, Aarwangen, Biel/Bienne, Neuenstadt, Bern, Nidau, Seftigen, Konolfingen, Thun, Aarberg, Signau, Frutigen, Niedersimmental, Schwarzenburg, Münster, Interlaken, Obersimmental, Saanen, Laupen, Burgdorf, Trachselwald, Courtelary, Oberhasli, Büren, Fraubrunnen, Erlach, Bernese Jura, Vauffelin, Emmental, Oberaargau.

For the main travel overview: Switzerland.