Our Bucket List: 77 Things to Do in Bern in 2023

A Cycle Route, a swimming lesson on the river Aare or a visit to Thun Castle: we can provide you with inspiration for a typical Bern bucket list.

City of Bern

  1. Grab a bicycle (from PubliBike, for example) and explore Bern’s neighbourhoods
  2. Taste-test locally produced beers at Barbière
  3. See the world’s largest and most important Paul Klee collection
  4. Convince yourself of the delicious vegan Fondue at JUL
  5. Practise your Sun Salutation at the Bern Historical Museum (the Yoga class takes place every Tuesday from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
  6. Solve the mystery of the Green Fairy within 60 minutes in Novotel Bern Expo’s Adventure Room
  7. Be sure to order a coffee at Café Jusq’a
  8. Get to the traditional “Zibelemärit”(Onion Market) at 4:00 a.m. and start the day off with a slice of onion tart
  9. Have a drink at Kornhauskeller’s Gallery Bar, one of the most beautiful bars in the world according to TripAdvisor
  10. Enjoy a piece of "Zopf" (traditional plaited bread) for your Sunday breakfast
  11. Go on a tour of the famous Zytglogge (Clock Tower) to see the inside of the tower and learn more about the ancient clockwork
  12. See how 8 world religions are unified under one roof at the world’s first and only Haus der Religionen (House of Religions)
  13. Visit the animals at Bern Animal Park, Dählhölzli – it’s free and beautifully located on the banks of the Aare river
  14. Spend a laid-back vacation at campground Camping Eymatt or Camping Eichholz and enjoy the simple life by the Aare river
  15. Discover your new favourite cocktail at Abflugbar, where they make the best cocktails in town
  16. Tour Bern’s most beautiful antiques shops and find hidden treasures
  17. Enjoy some beautiful views – for example from Hotel Schweizerhof’s Sky Terrace or the rooftop bar on the eighth floor of Hotel Bern
  18. Try out the Bernese signature scents by perfumer Brigitte Witschi (the ingredients in the scent “Aarewasser” apparently make you happy!)
  19. Have Fondue in the cosy ski lift gondola at Restaurant Marzilibrücke
  20. Spend the night at One Suite Hotel Zollhaus on Nydeggbrücke (Nydegg Bridge) – the magazine “Geo Saison” ranked it one of Europe’s 100 most beautiful hotels
  21. Go and see the beautiful blossoming cherry trees at Rosengarten and make sure to snap a picture – likes on Instagram are guaranteed!
  22. Order the legendary apple fritters at Restaurant Bärenhöfli
  23. On Wednesdays, discover new talents at the open stage night at Mahogany Hall, Bern’s oldest music club
  24. In winter, visit the sauna at the Lorraine swimming pool and then jump into the Aare naked
  25. Root for the BSC Young Boys (our favourite team) at a soccer game
  26. Visit Albert Einstein’s original apartment at 49 Kramgasse
  27. Have delicious hot chocolate at Adrianos
  28. Climb the 344 steps to the top of the Bern Minster (Switzerland’s highest steeple) and enjoy the breathtaking view of the famous mountains Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau
  29. Have mulled wine and roasted chestnuts while perusing Bern’s various Christmas markets
  30. Relax in a beautiful oriental setting at the Hammam & Spa Oktogon Bern
  31. Try a Berner Ingwerer
  32. Take a selfie at the Museum of Communication
  33. Climb up into the towers of Thun Castle and enjoy the impressive view of the town, lake and wonderful mountains.
  34. Go see a movie at Kellerkino, Switzerland’s first and oldest independent movie theatre
  35. Perform your pirouettes in a unique and beautiful setting at the skating rink in front of the Parliament Building (December–February)
  36. Dive into the sweet world of chocolate at Casa Nobile
  37. Use the city as your gym: go up and down all of Bern’s stairs
  38. Sit in on a jam session at the International Jazz Festival Bern, one of the oldest of its kind in all of Europe
  39. Visit Zar-Bar, Bern’s tiniest bar
  40. Spend a Saturday morning at the farmer’s markets on Bundesplatz (Parliament Square), Bundesgasse and Münstergasse
  41. Buy a sweet Mutz (the large version of the legendary Mandelbärli) and share it with friends or take it home as a souvenir
  42. Get dressed up and go see a play or opera at Bühnen Bern (Bernese Stages)
  43. Run the nicest 10 miles in the world at the Bern Grand Prix
  44. Eat a scoop of black vanilla ice cream at the “Eiswerkstatt” (Ice Workshop) the ice cream bar of the restaurant Altes Tramdepot
  45. Go on a tour of the Parliament Building 
  46. Root for the SCB (our local heroes) at a hockey game
  47. Enjoy life and a chocolate Fondue at Restaurant toi et moi
  48. Dance the night away, for example at a concert at Dachstock
  49. Visit one of Bern’s many flea markets
  50. Stroll along the Aare river and discover pretty places
  51. Order one of the world’s best Schnitzels at Jack’s Brasserie
  52. Travel back in time to the roaring twenties at Casino Bern and take a selfie in the most beautiful lavatory in all of Bern
  53. Find out if the chocolate cake at Apfelgold really is the best in town
  54. Experience a sunset in the Rose Garden


    Around Bern

  55. Eat your way through all the brunch options on the Gurten, spectacular view included
  56. Go snowshoeing in the beautiful winter wonderland that is the Emmental
  57. Enjoy the summer sun at Aarebar between Marzili and Eichholz or at Bogen 17 on Lake Wohlen
  58. Take an alpaca for a walk
  59. Hike through the Gantrisch nature reserve and marvel at the natural diversity
  60. Enjoy the beautiful view of the Emmental, Bernese Oberland and Napf regions from the top of Chuderhüsi Aussichtsturm (Chuderhüsi viewing tower)
  61. Enjoy a dinner with moonshine on the Stockhorn
  62. Cycle along the Tales of the Gantrisch Route and listen to legends from the region
  63. Treat yourself to a luxurious gourmet weekend at Moosegg and enjoy a glass of bubbly in the Hotpot
  64. Visit “Weg der Wolle” (“Wool: From Sheep to Textile”) in Huttwil – a perfect activity for families
  65. Look up into the starry night sky from the Sternenplattform (star platform) in the Gurnigel region
  66. Produce your own cheese the traditional way at the Emmental Cheese Show Dairy
  67. Discover and explore some pretty Bernese towns – how about Burgdorf or Laupen?
  68. Go on a micro-adventure with “skepping”: spend the night in a tree tent under the stars
  69. Watch the Kambly Maîtres Confiseurs at work
  70. Get on an e-bike and ride along the “Grünes Band Bern” (“Green Bench Bern”) around Bern
  71. Put on some warm clothes and go ice fishing, for example on the Stockhorn
  72. Digital detox! Take a relaxing time-out at Romantik-Hotel Dürrenroth in the picturesque Emmental
  73. Dance to the live music of artists from all over the world at the popular Gurten Festival on Bern’s local mountain
  74. Overcome your fear of heights at Seilpark Bern (ROPETECH adventure park)
  75. Discover the Hügu Himu (Heavenly Hills) e-bike tours in the beautiful Emmental
  76. Take in the view from the Chutzenturm while enjoying the Friensiberg Scenic Route
  77. Play disc golf on the Gurten

More inspiration for the finest season

Summer in Berne

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