Top 10: Bern's January Highlights

Pirouette on Bundesplatz (Parliament Square), toboggan down the Gurten, discovering local design and much more: make the most of January in Bern!

#1 Pirouette

Get the feeling of the Big Apple right here in Bern. Bern offers the same attraction that draws tens of thousands to New York every year: an ice rink in the middle of the city! You can practice your ice skating in front of the impressive Swiss Parliament Building through February 18. Entry is free and ice skates are available to rent at the rink.

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#2 Wander Through Bern’s Alleyways

With 6 km of arcades, Bern is home to one of Europe’s longest covered shopping promenades. While international brands invite you to take a look at their January sales in the upper Old Town, you can also discover a maze of small boutiques and workshops with local designs, culinary delights and other finds in the lower Old Town. Tip: Take a break in one of the cozy cellar cafés along the famous Kramgasse.

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#3 Take a Stroll Along the Aare

Our recommendation for an enjoyable walk along the riverbank is to start at the Rose Garden – you can get there using the number 10 bus from the station, Bundesplatz (Parliament Square) and the Zytglogge (Clock Tower) – and take in the panoramic view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can then walk down to the BearPark and cross the Nydeggbrücke bridge, descend the steps immediately after the bridge which lead to the Matte district with its historic old houses, and follow Aarstrasse from there up to the Schwellenmätteli where a hot cup of coffee or fondue awaits you.

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#4 Tobogganing on the Gurten

When the skies turn white in winter, the Bernese head for their local mountain, the Gurten. In the same spot where 80,000 music fans attend the legendary Gurten Festival in July, you’ll now find people whizzing down the slopes in the snow. Sixty sturdy Davos sledges are ready and waiting to zip down the 1,200m toboggan run.

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#5 Make your own cheese

Ever wondered how the most famous Swiss cheese gets its holes? Now you can find out! Visit the Emmental Show Dairy (Schaukäserei) and watch the professional cheesemakers at work before making your own cheese in the traditional farm building from 1741.

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#6 Try Something New

Not been to the opera yet? Then it’s about time you did! Bring out your tie or your little black dress and you’re ready to go! We recommend “Il Trovatore” by Giuseppe Verdi, a powerful-voiced bel canto opera with an alluring tale of medieval romance and an explosive cast. It premiers on January 27. The impressive auditorium at Bern City Theater alone is worth a visit.

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#7 Cross-country skiing a stone’s throw from Bern

Did you know that cross-country skiing is one of the healthiest sports in the world? In the Nature Park Gantrisch, just 30 minutes’ drive from Bern, a cross-country skiing paradise with 45 kilometers of perfectly groomed trails awaits you at a snow-sure elevation of 1,450 to 1,650 meters above sea level. The perfect spot for endurance skiers, lovers of the great outdoors, and anyone who wants to try a peaceful sport in a stunning setting.

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#8 Warm Your Body and Soul

Cold weather getting you down? A few hours of bliss are sure to set you straight! Whether you are after an oriental feel at the Hammam, a modern feel at a five-star superior hotel or a regal feel at the castle, various baths and tranquil oases in and around Bern offer pure relaxation.

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#9 From the capital to the slopes

Many well-known and large ski areas such as the Jungfrau ski region, Adelboden-Lenk, Meiringen-Hasliberg, and Gstaad are less than a 90-minute drive from Bern. A smaller and lesser known option is the Bumbach/Schangnau ski area in the Emmental. This fabulous location is a particularly great low-cost alternative for families and beginners. Even the world champion Beat Feuz learned to ski here!

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#10 Discover Swiss Design

The perfect rainy day plan for design lovers: with its large number of innovative, world-famous companies, the Oberaargau Region, and Langenthal in particular, occupy a unique place in the design arena. The “Designtour Langenthal” gives you an insight into the production facilities and you can follow the making of design products from up close.

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