Stay in Bern
We present some important information about Bern, so that your stay can also be experienced as a tourist pleasure. Bern is a charming little town, part of UNESCO's World Heritage Site. With our recommendations for arrival and accommodation, we hope you will enjoy a pleasant stay during the conference at the University of Bern.
Getting to Bern
Thanks to its central location in Switzerland, Bern is easily accessible by car, train or plane.
If you land with an international flight in Zurich, Geneva or Basel, you have the ideal opportunity to continue your journey with the Swiss railroad. Click here to access ticket sales. In Zurich and Geneva, the train terminal is integrated into the airport so that you can board the train directly to Bern. If you land in Basel, take the number 50 bus which leaves you at Basel central train station and from there follow the journey with the railway.
Travel time to Bern by train...
- from Geneva airport (direct train connection):
- from Zurich airport (direct train connection):
- from Basel airport (bus - train):
2h 24min
1h 18min
1h 26min
Accomodation
Bern offers a wide range of accommodation options (Hotel, Apartment, airbnb, Hostel). Some recommendations (in brackets we indicate the time you have to walk to the university):
Luxury
- Bellevue Palace Bern (14 minutes walking)
- Schweizerhof (5 minutes walking)
3-4 stars
- Sorell Hotel Arabelle (9 minutes walking)
- Hotel Bären am Bundesplatz (12 minutes walking)
- Am Pavillon (5 minutes walking) (near a current construction site)
- Kreuz Bern Modern City Hotel (10 minutes walking)
- Sorell Hotel Ador (8 minutes walking) (near a current construction site)
Economic
Tourist information – Bern
The medieval atmosphere of the city with its numerous fountains, sandstone facades, alleys and historical towers is unique. The rose garden on the BärenPark (bear park) or the platform of the 101-meter-high cathedral tower offers the most beautiful view of the old town, which is surrounded by the Aare River and is part of UNESCO's World Heritage Site. The old walls and bastions abruptly mark the boundary between the old town and the river. Boutiques, bars and art galleries in the old town, as well as small cafés in the streets attract locals and many tourists. Despite its good public transport system, the best way to explore Bern's city centre is on foot.
The world's most complete collection of artworks by artist Paul Klee is located in the Paul Klee Centre, just outside the city. Albert Einstein House is a testament to the physicist's stay in Bern at the beginning of the 20th century and can ideally be combined with a visit to the Einstein Museum. From the Historical Museum to the Museum of Art, the Swiss Alpine Museum and the Museum of Communication, Bern offers a wide range of exhibitions.
Bern is the seat of government in Switzerland. A few steps from the central station, the "Bundeshaus" (the building of the federal parliament) rises above the city. Most of the time, the doors of the parliament building are open to visitors, and if you're lucky you might also meet one of the members of the government on the city streets.
In summer, the Aare River invites you to enjoy maximum bathing fun; very good and experienced swimmers can swim in the clean Aare River with views of the nearby Bundeshaus. The Botanical Garden, the Dählhölzli Zoo and the Old Town of the Matte are also located along the river. Bern and the bear, its heraldic animal, are inextricably linked. A visit to the city cannot be made without visiting Bear Park, home to a family of bears.
In the city centre squares, colourful weekly markets offer regional products. It is worth a visit to the Zibelemärit on the fourth Monday of November: the traditional folklore festival dedicated to onion filled with visitors early in the morning.
Bern is the gateway to the Alps, in the heart of Switzerland. The capital city is easily accessible by car or plane via Bern-Belp airport and bus connections to the city center. Those who prefer the railways benefit from a dense railway network that guarantees direct connections with major European cities. Thanks to its central location, Bern is also an ideal place to spend the night and take excursions all over Switzerland.
(Source of information: https://www.myswitzerland.com/de-ch/bern.html)
