Travel Bern Guide, Bern: museums, shopping, clubs etc.

The capital of Switzerland, Bern is at once an exciting modern metropolis and a center of ancient heritage. Founded in 1191, the city retains many historically significant buildings and carriage rides through the historic district are a must.

Among the must-see sights in Bern are the clock tower that once served as the city’s west gate, the bear pits and park, botanical gardens, city of fountains, zoological gardens, French Church, House of Parliament, Prison Tower and Munster Cathedral.

Among Bern’s excellent assortment of museums is the Einstein house where Albert Einstein maintained a flat for several years. Landshut Castle, the Natural History Museum, and the Art Gallery are also among the museums well worth visiting in Bern.

Bern has a lot to offer for outdoor enthusiasts, including swimming, golf, paragliding, boating, hot air ballooning, ice skating, climbing and biking. The city also offers some great outdoor family activities such as miniature golf, ice skating, giant outdoor chess sets, horseback riding and Monday night skating events.

It seems there’s always some sort of festival or event taking place in Bern. From the Bern Grand Prix to the Carnival in Bern, the variety of events is enough to keep anyone entertained. The annual Gurten Festival features top musicians, while the Bern Dance Days provide beauty and art at its best.

Bern is well-known for its shopping, and has one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe. The shopping district is located in the historic section of the city, offering shoppers a chance to sightsee while pursuing great buys.

Touring Bern by bicycle can be a great experience and bike rentals are readily available throughout different areas of the city. Family friendly, Bern also offers a centralized childcare service so that visitors can spend a few hours enjoying sites of the city while their young children are entertained.

http://www.wandersite.ch
Hiking and trekking trails through Switzerland - Specialised hiking and
trekking homepage for Switzerland. Lots of information about short and long
distance hikes, timetables, hotel and hut lists, tourist offices, most of
them in German.