12 Themed Trails in and around Bern

Scent path, forest adventure trail, “KrimiSpass” – looking for a fun alternative to your usual walking route? Here are our favourite themed trails in the city and region of Bern for next-level walks.

For adults

For Klee connoisseurs

All roads lead to Klee – well, almost. At least these three do. The “Wege zu Klee” (paths to Klee) can be walked independently (equipped with an information brochure) or accompanied by a guide. They take about two hours and lead you to Renzo Piano’s impressive building, the Zentrum Paul Klee, on different routes: be it via the city and the Aare river, via the Old City and the Rosengarten, or via round-trip through Ostermundigen. There are informative panels along the way, focusing on the life and work of the artist as well as the evolution of the city of Bern. Perfect for Klee and Bern enthusiasts! And keep your eyes open around the museum for street signs with strange names such as “nur auf Umwegen” or “was alles wächst!” – those are titles of his works of art.

Klee spree

For fragrance fans

Wangen an der Aare is the backdrop for a truly scent-sual walk. You begin at the train station and make your way to Air Creative, where, during opening hours, you can take a tour and learn more about smells and their effects on us people. At this first stop, you will also find instructions as well as absorbent scent sticks. And off you go! The round tour, marked with blue “Duftweg” signs, takes you through neighbourhoods, to the Oeschbach stream, past fields, along the Aare river and back to the station. Along the way, you will encounter 23 scent stations with different (wonderfully fragrant!) essential oils and their descriptions. By the way: you can also choose the Aare river as the starting point for the tour. There are leaflet boxes on either side of the historic bridge. Please note: the information along the way is only available in German

What’s that smell?

For art aficionados

Bern is full of art – have you ever noticed? If not, that’s where the themed walk "Kunst StadtBern Spaziergang” comes in: its goal is to make you aware of the art in your own city. Because let's be honest: when visiting a foreign place, we are usually much more aware of our surroundings than at home. To make sure you don’t miss anything, you can pick up a free brochure containing the route and other useful and interesting information at the Tourist Information in the main station. There’s a total of six different routes through the city’s neighbourhoods, from Länggasse to the Old City to Bümpliz. Bümpliz? Why not visit the western part of the city for a change! We’re keeping it in mind for our next outing – “Von Jerusalem zur Graffitimauer” (from Jersalem to the graffiti wall) does sound promising! Please note: the brochure is only available in German.

Let’s discover some art

For families

For adventurers of all ages

The Gäggersteg, a wooden walkway that was re-opened in 2020, takes visitors through the trees of the forest reserve by the Pfyffe, a local mountain. The impressions and beautiful landscape will give you the energy boost you need to discover the entire family-friendly, themed path. The walkway is made from local wood and stands at up to eight metres above the ground, leading visitors through the forest that was almost completely destroyed by storm Lothar in 1999. Learn how nature has been recovering on the two-hour loop hike with its eight themed stations on the topics of forest, wind, and roots, and play the game about "Wild Türst" and his goats: collect runes and find the codeword in order to receive a reward at the end. Please note: the Gäggersteg is closed in the winter.

To the walkway

For elf enthusiasts

A farm that has a camel? You can find it in the small Oberaargau town of Wolfwil. The Schlatthof, an organic farm, is also the starting point for the lovingly designed Elves and Gnomes Trail. What sounds like a children’s activity is an adventure for the entire family – the trail has several stations that are just as interesting, tricky, and fun for adults as they are for kids. The path lets you play, solve riddles and puzzles, and experience nature. There are two barbecuing pits and three picnic spots on the way. If you’re up for it, you can take the longer route (3.5 kilometres), for shorter legs it might be enough to take the quicker one (2.5 kilometres). Both trails end back at the Schlatthof, where there’s an inviting bistro and a shop that sells the farm's products. And who knows, maybe the pot-bellied pig will stop by to say hello. Or the two little donkeys. Or – the camel. Please note: the information along the way is only available in German.

Who can find the gnomes?

For inspired investigators

A highlight for older children and teenagers when visiting the charming town of Laupen is the "KrimiSpass": on the two-hour scavenger hunt, amateur detectives go on an exciting adventure to solve a mysterious murder case – “armed” with nothing but a smartphone and their wits. In their roles as inspectors of the Bern Cantonal Police, they have to find clues related to the disappearance of Professor Braun. The renowned scientist was working on a revolutionary invention in Laupen but has recently disappeared without a trace. Mysterious! The “KrimiSpass” is free, so all you need to do is charge your phone’s battery and request the e-mail with the instructions for the game, and you’re good to go! Please note: the instructions are only available in German.

Who can solve the case?

For diminutive discoverers

This trail is perfect for little explorers with little stamina: the Forest Adventure Trail in Roggwil. Nobody will get bored on the short, one-kilometre loop trail, we promise! There are so many fun things to discover, such as a forest xylophone, a zipline and a large ball path. If you’re up for it and the temperature is right, you can also slip off your shoes and socks and try out the barefoot path. And if you get hungry from all the playing and exploring, there’s a pretty barbecuing spot at the starting and ending point of the trail! If you don’t feel like a picnic, the Zulauf café in Roggwil has got you covered.

Experience the forest

For active astronauts

Switzerland’s first planet trail takes visitors from Burgdorf to Wynigen and is perfect for all fans of our solar system, no matter the age. What gave trail its name? The models of the planets, of course! On a scale of 1:1 billion, the size of the sun and the planets as well as the planets’ distance to the sun are exhibited as a large-scale open-air model over a distance of about 6 kilometres. Along the way, you will discover all the planets and accompanying informative panels as well as pretty spots for picnic breaks. We recommend the barbecuing pit on the edge of the forest behind the Binzberg farm, which you will reach after about 45 minutes. At this point, you will have already passed the sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Please note: the information along the way is only available in German.

From Burgdorf to infinity (and beyond)

For fable freaks

Dragons, witches, and a spectacular waterfall: the Häxewääg (Witch Path) by lake Schwarzsee captivates and motivates even the laziest little hikers. There are seven witches along the way, and you can stop and listen to the fairytales and myths they tell. They may be a bit spooky, but that makes this two-hour themed hike all the more exciting! Thanks to the goosebumps, the children will not have to be asked twice to continue the hike – the stories and riddles will push them on. And there’s a surprise waiting for them at the end: a flying dragon and a 30-metre secret waterfall hidden in the forest – a magical place. The hike around pretty lake Schwarzsee is suited for families and children of all ages and stroller-friendly. Please note: the information along the way is only available in German and French.

Hop on your brooms

For playful pathfinders

What’s the best way to explore a town? We know something better than just plain old walking around: playing as you go! “Spiel dich durch Burgdorf” is a fun visitor’s experience in the pretty town of Burgdorf in the Emmental valley. A backpack filled with games and a map can be picked up either at the tourist office or at the “Chrigu Beck” bakery, and off you go: The map takes the players to 25 stations that require skills, tactics, stamina, and fairness. Playing on a barrel, making music with marbles, or a cake game that will leave your mouth watering – “Spiel dich durch Burgdorf” is the perfect activity on an entertaining outing with kids. By the way: “Spiel dich durch” is also available in Langnau! Please note: the information along the way is only available in German.

Play your way through Burgdorf

For cartoon-crazy characters

The town of Langnau in the Emmental valley is known for three very different things: its ice hockey team, its cheese, and the International Cartoon Festival. Two of them are combined in the Comicweg, a live crime story in which families with children aged nine and over can go hunting for clues in the village. Who will solve the case of the “fake Emmental cheese”? This calls for a good nose (quite literally)! On the exciting scavenger hunt, children, teenagers, and adults learn (more) about the unique history of the village with its long-standing cheese tradition and about the Emmental’s most famous product, its cheese. The trail is open year-round, and the comic book can be purchased for 20 francs at the BLS Travel Centre at the train station, which is also where the trail starts. Please note: the comic book is only available in German.

Chasing the cheese

For general knowledge geeks

Versatile, colourful and, of course, warm and cosy: in Huttwil, Spycher Handwerk AG has honoured the all-rounder that is wool with a trail that answers all the questions there are regarding the material. And there are indeed many, many questions – for example: Where does wool come from? How is it processed? Which products can be made from it? What’s the difference between a Valais Blacknose and a Racka? And, most importantly: what does this difference feel like? On the themed trail “Wool: from Sheep to Textile”, you’ll find the answers to all of these questions, along with 25 wool samples from different breeds that you can touch. Learn everything there is to know about wool at Spycher Handwerk AG in Huttwil. On workdays, you can even watch the craftsmen at work! Please note: the information is only available in German.

Hello wool

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