Marzili Youth Hostel

Wake up to a direct view of the Aare. This is possible thanks to the youth hostel. It was reopened in spring 2018 following a year of renovations. The hostel features a modernized old building, a new building, light-filled rooms and large windows looking onto the river. Sleepy rafters can choose from single rooms up to six-person rooms. An inviting garden with chess, mill games and ping-pong tables lets you mingle with international guests. And for Aare rafters, the location can’t be beat. The turquoise Aare is flowing just a few steps away, the popular Marzili pool is just around the corner, and the legendary Gelateria di Berna, with its tempting ice cream creations, is also within walking distance. With a location directly under the Parliament Building, the hostel is also perfectly located for you and your crew to visit the Old Town. Why not head over and experience true Bernese leisure with a coffee break under the arcades?

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Landhaus Hotel close to the Bear Pit

History fans will be well served at the Landhaus Hotel. Located at Bern’s Altenberg between the Aare and the BearPark, this hotel was one of the first buildings constructed on the east side of the river. If you like special, unconventional locales, you will love staying in this protected historical building, which is over 100 years old. Each of the ten rooms (ranging from single to multi-bed occupancy) is individually furnished, with no room like the other. The renovated rooms offer a home away from home, not only for Aare rafters, but also for globetrotters, families, artists, businesspeople, backpackers, individualists, and even groups and school classes. The Aare flows directly next to the hotel. Our tip: Walk across the Untertorbrücke (Untertor bridge), the oldest bridge in Bern, to the Matte district and enjoy the special village atmosphere in this former harbor and artisan district. The Matte Distillery at Mühlenplatz, which produces dry gin and absinthe, is also worth stopping by for a nightcap.

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TCS Camping, Bern-Eymatt

The TCS campgrounds at Bern-Eymatt – located between Bern, Wohlen, Bremgartenwald, the Aare and the Lake Wohlen recreation area – are perfect for nature lovers and athletes. Here you’re in the middle of nature but also just a few minutes away from the capital of Switzerland, thanks to a direct bus connection. Stand-up paddling, bike tours, boat trips, or simply rest and relaxation at the campsite – all your needs are met here. Glamping, or glamorous camping, can also be done here. Wheelchair-accessible bungalows and campers can be rented if you need something a bit more luxurious after your Aare rafting tour. Our favorite is the “pod,” a cute wooden house similar in shape to an igloo. It can house up to three people and even has its own terrace. A perfect camping weekend with friends and a warm, relaxed summer evening with red wine – all the elements are here!

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River Surfing

Who needs the sea when you’ve got the Aare? Don’t be surprised if you come across a surfer complete with a wetsuit and surfboard under their arm in Bern’s alleyways: Bern is not just a city with a relaxed lifestyle but is also a hotspot for river surfers. The cool, deep-blue, clean water of the Aare river, which winds its way into the city from the Bernese Alps, offers optimum refreshment on hot summer days. In the summer, allowing yourself to float downriver in the cool water is one of the most unforgettable highlights of a stay in the Swiss capital.

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Aare swimming

When the sun comes out, hundreds of Bern locals head to the Aare river for a swim or river rafting while the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site old town looks down on them from high above. The Marzili is perhaps the most famous pool in the capital, right on the Aare with beautiful views of the Parliament Building. Swimmers can swim lengths in the pool. There is also a children’s pool, a section for women only, and a diving pool. However, most Bernese locals like walking from the Marzili to Eichholz, from where they can drift back down the Aare into the Marzili.

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For cinema lovers: Marzili Movie

You’ll recognize it by the smell of fresh popcorn: On five evenings every July, there is an open-air cinema at the Marzili pool. Each year focuses on a different country, with movies and refreshments corresponding to the specific theme. Whether it’s Ireland, Spain or Australia, the program features both popular and lesser-known movies from near and far. The location is rather exclusive: The screen is directly by the Aare, with the silhouettes of the Parliament Building and Bern Minster adorning the night sky behind it. You can either rent a lounge chair or bring your own seating solution. Then just lean back and relax – the movie is starting!

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If you feel like celebrating: Swiss National Day (August 1)

Bern really knows how to celebrate the Swiss national holiday (August 1)! There’s so much to experience, including the city brunch on Münsterplatz (Minster Square), “open house” events at various institutions, a children’s program on the Minster terrace, tours of the Zytglogge (Clock Tower) and Bern Minster, concerts and the official festivities on Münsterplatz, the legendary fireworks display on the Gurten, and a sea of lights on Bundesplatz (Parliament Square). Insider’s tip: A vintage bus tour through the UNESCO World Heritage city is a one-of-a-kind experience!

For a lively experience: Buskers Street Music Festival in Bern

Colorful, creative, whimsical and poetic. From August 9 to 11, 2018, around 150 artists from around the world will transform Bern’s lower Old Town into a lively open-air summer festival. The rich variety of music, dance, drama, comedy, puppetry and acrobatics draws around 80,000 people to the capital city each year. The range of music is highly diverse, including genres such as electronic afro-soul, psychedelic Celtic folk, soul flamenco in the local dialect, and indie rock. The festival is free of charge. Of course, street musicians welcome donations from the audience.