Highlights – “Christmas. Nothing beats Bern.”

From traditional Christmas markets to winter pop-up venues, Bern has a lot to offer at Christmas time! A visit to these locations – all just a few minutes from each other on foot – is particularly worthwhile.

  • Opening times and map
    Highlight Opening times
    Christmas market
    Waisenhausplatz (Orphanage Square)    		 26 November to 24 December 2021
    Mon–Sat 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
    Sun 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

    Altjahresmarkt (Old Year’s market)
    27–29 December 2021
    daily from 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
    Christmas market
    Bern Minster    		 27 November to 24 December 2021
    Mon–Thu 11:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
    Fri 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
    Sat–Sun 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
    Handwerkermarkt (Artisans’ market)
    Minster Platform    		 On the following weekends:
    Sun 28 November
    Sat–Sun 4 & 5 December 2021
    Sat–Sun 18 & 19 December 2021

    Sat 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
    Sun 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
    Berner Sternenmarkt (Star market)
    Kleine Schanze    		 25 November to 31 December 2021
    Mon–Sat 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
    Sun 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
    Rummelbummel
    PROGR inner courtyard    		 18 November 2021 to 8 January 2022
    Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 4:00 p.m.–12:30 a.m.
    Wed & Sat 1:00 p.m.–12:30 a.m.
    Sun 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
    Øscår Elch
    Ringgenpärkli    		 20 November to 22 December 2021
    Mon–Tue 12:00 p.m.11:00 p.m.
    Wed–Sat 12:00 p.m.–12:30 a.m.
    Sun 12:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
    Chalet Alpenland
    Kornhausplatz (Granary Square)    		 19 November to 23 December 2021

    Mon-Thu
    Outdoor terrace: 3:00 p.m. - 00:30 a.m.
    Chalet restaurant: 5:00 p.m. - 00:30 a.m.

    Fri-Sun
    11:00 a.m. - 00:30 a.m.
    Winter Wonderland
    on the Gurten    		 4 November 2021 to 31 January 2022
    Daily 5:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
    Winter market
    Berner Generationenhaus    		 1 to 24 December 2021
    Wed–Fri 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
    Sat 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
    Sun 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

    Click here for the overview map.

Christmas Market on Waisenhausplatz (Orphanage Square)

The Bernese Christmas market with over 30 years of tradition. On the Waisenhausplatz (Orphanage Square), 50 festively decorated stands offer a wide range of souvenirs, Christmas presents and products for everyday use. The stands are lovingly decorated and the scents of gingerbread, caramel and mulled wine hang in the air.

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Bern Minster Christmas Market

Enjoy the Christmas spirit far from the hustle and bustle: The Christmas market on Münsterplatz (Minster Square) offers a cozy, charming atmosphere in a beautiful setting. Local artisans sell their unique handicrafts at the foot of Bern Minster, the cathedral with the highest tower in Switzerland. Discover lovingly created arts and crafts, unique jewellery and much more.

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Artisan market Münsterplattform (Minster terrace)

Over two weekends in the Advent season, the Christmas edition of the traditional craftsman's market on the Münsterplattform (Minster terrace) invites you to wander around and marvel at the sights. Artists from Bern and the surrounding areas will be presenting their exclusive, hand-crafted products. Here, passion and love for craftmanship are plain to see.

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Bern Starsmarket

The Starsmarket on the Kleine Schanze is the latest addition to the Bernese Christmas markets. Some 80 huts with delicacies from all over the world, hot drinks and changing designer products invite you to shop and linger. The Starsmarket is located only a short walking distance from the station and features a large fondue chalet, weather-protected lounges and a children's area with merry-go-round.

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Rummelbummel

"Rummelbummel" stands for a unique ambiance in the playfully decorated courtyard of the PROGR and a varied Advent programme that will delight young and old. The hustle and bustle in the courtyard of the PROGR Centre for Cultural Production is not a Christmas market, but a lovingly and lavishly decorated place to marvel and linger. Old furniture, discarded objects, special decorative elements and light productions create a unique and cozy atmosphere – young and old alike feel at home here!

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Øscår Elch

Things are as colourful and lively as ever at Øscår Elch. The popular winter pop-up is making a guest appearance at Ringgenpärkli, transforming this snug spot into a small winter paradise in the middle of the city. The bar offers gløgg (Scandinavian mulled wine made from red wine and grain or vodka and spices) made from an original recipe, freshly shaken hot mules, and tarte flambée. You’ll be warmed from your head to your toes – that’s a promise!

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Chalet Alpenland

Chalet magic in the middle of Kornhausplatz (Granary Square)! Up to 100 guests can enjoy delicious food and warming drinks in a wintry Alpine atmosphere in this rustic chalet. Tarte flambée, fondue and many variations of raclette are served, while appetiser platters and desserts are available for anyone who prefers a lighter snack. And of course, the house mulled wine is always on the menu. By the way, all of the products on offer come from the city or region of Bern.

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Winter market at the Berner Generationenhaus

An oasis in the middle of the city, yet far removed from urban stress. For the first time, the inner courtyard of the Berner Generationenhaus is being transformed into a winter market as well. A cosy place to spend time during the colder months, with concerts around a warming fire, market stalls with products from social institutions, craft workshops for children, an upcycling gift-wrapping table and much more – and without any obligation to purchase, as usual. The visit is only possible with a Covid certificate.

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Winter Wonderland on the Gurten

The fairytale spectacle on Bern’s local mountain, the Gurten, transports visitors to an enchanting world of lights every evening until the end of January. The “Winter Wonderland” has more than 120 life-size animals and hundreds of other illuminated objects on display, all handcrafted from over 500,000 LED lights. As darkness descends, visitors enter a magical world as they stroll along the approximately one-kilometre-long circular path amidst glowing mythical creatures and colourful installations. The scope of this wonderland is one of a kind in Switzerland. The visit is only possible with a Covid certificate.

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Christmas can be experienced all over the Bern region. Our tip: Spend a Christmas day in Bern’s Old Town, take advantage of one of the exclusive winter hotel offers, and set off the following day to discover the wonderful festive experiences all over the Bern region.

Kambly Christmas Market

The Kambly Christmas Market will take place in Trubschachen, in the Emmental valley, on the first two weekends of Advent from 26 to 28 November and from 3 to 5 December 2021. Thirty festive chalets arranged in a circle around the Kambly Experience create an authentic Christmas village. The regional culinary specialities and quality local handicrafts provide highlights for visitors to the Christmas market. As always, the romantic lantern walk along the Ilfis river and cosy campfire allow visitors to enjoy all the magic of this special season.

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Huttwil Christmas Market

In the historic centre of Huttwil, a 60-minute train ride from Bern, you will find one of the biggest, prettiest, and most romantic Christmas markets in Switzerland. You can’t help but marvel at the around 100 lovingly decorated chalets. Candlelight, music, fairy tales, culinary delights, arts and crafts, the scents of winter, and great conviviality are all to be found within a small area.

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Ochlenberger Christmas Path

Enjoy a festive Christmas walk, far removed from the season’s usual hectic pace. The one-and-a-half-kilometre circular route tells the Christmas story with eight little houses and charming figures made of wool. Let yourself be captivated by the lovingly designed scenes. The approximately one-hour Christmas experience is particularly impressive after dark, when everything is illuminated by glowing lights. The “Hof-Beizli” pub at the Jordihof farm – the starting and finishing point of this Christmas adventure – will ensure that your feet are warm and your tummy is full of something delicious.

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Berchtoldshof nativity scene

Every year, the front of the Jakob family’s farmhouse in Bätterkinden is transformed into a 16-metre-long Christmas nativity scene – most likely the largest one in the Mittelland region. The figures, sets and props are all crafted by hand. From near and far, young and old – the visitors are as diverse as the Christmas story, which is told from a different and new perspective each year. The nativity scene can be viewed daily from 1.12.2021 to 6.01.2022 between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Since the nativity scene is elevated 50 centimetres above the ground, it is well suited for children and wheelchair users.

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