Christmas shopping under the sidewalk arcades

The best Christmas presents can be found not only at the Christmas markets but also in the shops of Bern’s Old Town. The city’s six kilometres of sidewalk arcades and shops located in traditional vaulted cellars make Christmas shopping an unforgettable experience. The lower part of the Old Town – the area downhill from the Zytglogge (Clock Tower) – is particularly worth exploring with its many charming boutiques, studios and local shops. Interesting fact: The shops in the lower part of the Old Town open their doors on 28 November 2021 as part of the traditional first day of Advent event and offer many Christmas surprises.

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Discover creative winter pop-ups

Christmas in Bern is not always just contemplative and nostalgic, but also very colourful, creative and light-hearted. Numerous winter pop-ups invite you to enjoy a hot, steaming drink after work, with the most popular being the “Rummelbummel” in the charmingly decorated PROGR inner courtyard, “Øscår Elch” in Ringgenpark, the winter market in the inner courtyard of the Berner Generationenhaus, and Chalet Alpenland on Kornhausplatz (Granary Square). You can also indulge in mulled beer, mulled hot chocolate and much more at the new Winterbar pinkSNOW, try mulled wine, raclette and table-top grills around the warm fire in the “Freibank” outdoor area of “Bim Portier”, and sample “Bsoffne Öpfu” cider and more winter magic at Restaurant & Bar Allmend on the grounds of the Bern EXPO. Have fun discovering!

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.

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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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The best way to view the Christmas lights in Bern

This bird’s-eye perspective is sure to impress! It’s easy to see why Bern was named the “Most Instagrammable Winter City” by the London Evening Standard. And the Rose Garden offers a particularly stunning vista of Bern’s UNESCO-listed Old Town. If you sit on the wall and let your feet dangle, you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the Christmas lights and festively decorated streets and medieval houses around the Bern Minster. Our tip for warming up and enjoying a gourmet treat: Combine the stunning view with a fragrant cheese fondue in the heated fondue veranda of Restaurant Rosengarten.

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