The 5 most popular city tours in Bern

Historic buildings, mysterious alleys and impressive sights characterise Bern’s UNESCO-listed Old Town. Our city tours are as diverse as the stories of the federal city.

"E Ligu Lehm" (Bernese for “a piece of bread”) – the Matte neighbourhood

A disreputable past and its own language called "Matten-Berndeutsch" (Bernese dialect of the Matte) – as the oldest district of the city, the Matte neighbourhood has many a hair-raising story to tell. Inhabited by butchers, tanners, and hangmen from all over the world, the Matte was considered a rather shabby, working-class neighbourhood. Why does it have its own language? And why is the pavement there higher and the arcades lower than elsewhere in the city? You will get answers and hear many other amazing and amusing facts and anecdotes on this city tour.

«E Ligu Lehm»

(Guilty) Pleasure – the seven deadly sins

The "(Guilty) Pleasure" tour reveals Bern’s mysterious and seductive sides: the stories tell hair-raising tales and erotic anecdotes from then and now. The one-and-a-half-hour-long tour rummages through Bern’s past and brings to light eerie stories and spooky legends that you won’t be able to find in history books. The tour was inspired by the exhibition "Lust and Vice", a joint project of the Museum of Fine Arts Bern and the Paul Klee Centre.

«(Guilty) Pleasure»

Tour of the Zytglogge (Clock Tower)

Take a look inside the centuries-old clockwork, learn about the background of this Bernese landmark, and enjoy the view over the roofs of Bern’s old town from the tower. This 50-minute-long tour will delight fans of technical masterpieces as well as history buffs and panorama lovers. What do the figures signify? How does the ingenious mechanism work? What stories are hidden behind the thick walls of this famous attraction? And what can you see from the tower windows? The answers to these and many more questions can be found on the guided tour of the Zytglogge.

“Tour of the Zytglogge"

UNESCO Stroll through the Old Town

Albert Einstein, Paul Klee, and Friedrich Dürrenmatt all strolled through Bern’s arcades (so-called Lauben) and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere on the cathedral platform. Bern’s Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and enchants luminaries, people from all over the world and locals alike with its distinctive sandstone buildings, charming alleys, and monumental structures. The UNESCO Stroll through the Old Town shines a light on Bern’s historical side and leads you to the most famous sights: from the city gates, the Parliament and the Zytglogge (Clock Tower) past the fountains adorned with historical figures to Bern’s Cathedral.

“UNESCO Stroll through the Old Town”

Bernese Beer Tour

Why does beer from a bottle taste different than beer from a glass? On the Bernese Beer Tour, you can find the answer to this and many more questions yourself: participants will learn everything about beer and its production at four different locations – from the hip, trendy brewery scene to the classic Altes Tramdepot (old tram depot). A professional beer sommelier will serve you 15 different beers and enhance the experience with exciting information and anecdotes. On this tour, learning is not only theoretical and dry, but practical and liquid. Santé!

"Bernese Beer Tour”

 Looking for more? More tours and information can be found here.

More recommendations

Bern’s city tours

Learn more