Bern > Bern Experience

Advantages: lovely historic city
Disadvantages: may be limiting if you want a big city scene

...We made day trips to Bern on several occasions. First some general orientation. The old part of the city is on a large rock promintory surrounded on 3 sides by the River Aare. This has prevented the old part of the city sprawling. The city centre is easily walkable from the main SBB railway station. If you like you can hire a bike or scooter free from a cabin outside the station (there is another rental point in the town). You have to pay a deposit ...
...for 2 hours on the Bern trams / trolleybuses from when you first stamp it before boarding your train. There are several km of arcades, ie covered walkways, in three parallel shopping streets. This reminded me of Italy but there is a strong French influence. Many of the shops are boutiques and we bought several gifts, prices were more reasonable than I expected. International chains are well represented. Jewellery and Watches were available for all ... Read review

Advantages: it's peaceful
Disadvantages: some people think it's not exciting enough (nightlife etc.)

I'm working in Bern for more than one year now. I'm Swiss, but it's not my home town. It's a really nice town I must say. Not only for tourists. People living in Bern are considered to be a bit slow. Compared with people in "Business-Zurich" this is defenitely true. Bern is the capital of Switzerland and a town with many officers, working for government organisations, for Swiss Railways, for Swiss Post (I confess, I am one of them) etc. The Old ... Read review

Advantages: Good value, compact,safe and lots of places of interest
Disadvantages: Might not suit someone wanting exciting night-life

Bern must be one of the best kept secrets in Europe when it comes to selecting a destination for a city break. Transferring from Zurich Airport was simplicity itself, as the airport station has a direct,express service to Bern which takes about 75 mins.Even with an 8 month old baby and buggy, the journey was stress-free, as our luggage was delivered directly to our hotel from the airport and vice-versa on the return journey. Our package on a 6 ...
...of Bern's subterranean railway station. Bern is clean, safe and easy to get around. If you buy a travel pass, this covers transport on bus, tram , train and even steamer, if you wish to travel further afield. Contrary to the perceived stereotype of the Swiss, everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. Language was not a problem, as nearly everyone spoke English, Shopping was fantastic in the medieval vaulted shopping arcades which run the full ... Read review

Advantages: Good value, compact,safe and lots of places of interest
Disadvantages: Might not suit someone wanting exciting night-life

Bern must be one of the best kept secrets in Europe when it comes to selecting a destination for a city break. Transferring from Zurich Airport was simplicity itself, as the airport station has a direct,express service to Bern which takes about 75 mins.Even with an 8 month old baby and buggy, the journey was stress-free, as our luggage was delivered directly to our hotel from the airport and vice-versa on the return journey. Our package on a 6 ...
...of Bern's subterranean railway station. Bern is clean, safe and easy to get around. If you buy a travel pass, this covers transport on bus, tram , train and even steamer, if you wish to travel further afield. Contrary to the perceived stereotype of the Swiss, everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. Language was not a problem, as nearly everyone spoke English, Shopping was fantastic in the medieval vaulted shopping arcades which run the full ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful Historical City with all facilities and amenities
Disadvantages: The PRICES in the shops. Autobahn access can resemble "death race 2000".

Bern is the capital of Switzerland, surprisingly few people know that. It is also a stunningly beautiful, and relatively quiet, city. The centre of Bern is in a small valley, the old city is built on an even smaller hill, the result is that the sprawling suburbs might as well not exist. The style of the city is Italianate, tall houses of golden sandstone built in high terraces. Most of the shops are tiny and set back behind the vaulted arcades ...
...cellars are much older still. Bern was built on an earlier city. Some of the excavations are preserved in the modern Banhof. My impressions of Bern are heavily laced with the scent of geraniums, which are in every window in summer, cool alleys leading into courtyards, each with it's own distinct fountain. Many have statues in a unique style that is rather like heraldry in 3 dimensions. They represent figures and event from the history of the city ... Read review