Biel/Bienne

Select your Region:

Basel Region (2) Bernese Oberland (21) Central Switzerland (25) Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein (20) Fribourg Region (8) Geneva (Region) (1) Graubünden (28) Lake Geneva Region (11) Neuchâtel / Jura / Bernese Jura (6) Schweizer Mittelland (7) Ticino (5) Valais (15) Zurich (Region) (8)

News

17. – 18. Mai 2008
Winetasting, Schafis
24. – 25. Mai 2008
Winetasting, Tüscherz
31. Mai 2008
Summer festival, Nidau
13. – 14. June 2008
Running Days, Biel/Bienne
20. – 21. June 2008
Market of Lyss
21. June 2008
GayPride, Biel/Bienne
7. – 29. June 2008
Euro 2008, Biel/Bienne
20. – 22. June 2008
Old Town Jazz Openair, Biel/Bienne
27. – 29. June 2008
Big summer festival, Biel/Bienne
15. – 20. July 2008
Pod’Ring, Biel/Bienne
19. July – 1. August 2008
International Chess Festival, Biel/Bienne

This is where they speak German ... or French

Biel - or Bienne, in French - is the only town in the whole of Switzerland where both German and French are spoken on an equal footing. For example, all the street names are given in both languages.

Here you will notice the easy-going attitude that comes from the mixture of two languages. Biel has a throbbing New Town and an Old Town that will tempt you to stroll. Moreover, Biel is a traditional clock and watchmaking centre in which great store is still set by Swiss handwork. It is just a hop, skip and a jump from this town on the linguistic border to the lush, green hills of the Jura range or to the three lakes of Biel, Neuchâtel and Murten (Morat) that lie just outside the city gates.

5 Good Reasons To visit Biel:

This centrally located, bilingual town in the exciting lake setting is the clock and watch capital of Switzerland.
Beautifully preserved old town with a heavenly Gothic city church from the 15th century.
The gateway to the 3 lakes (Lakes Biel, Neuchâtel and Murten) that can be travelled by various routes in Summer.
Starting point for trips to the Jura Mountains, the Lake District and the Bernese Mittelland. Pure Nature, mild climate, unspoilt landscape - the forest and vine-covered surroundings invite you to dally.
Many sporting facilities in town and the surrounding region: hiking, water sports, cyclotourism, trendy sports, etc.

How to get there

Public Transport:

approx. 30 minutes from Bern (direct connection, approx. every 30 minutes)
approx. 1 hour 15 minutes from Zürich (direct approx, approx. all 30 minutes)
approx. 1 1/2 hours from Zürich Airport (approx. every 30 minute / every hour direct connection Zürich Airport - Biel)
approx. 1 hour from Basel (direct connection every hour)
approx 1 1/2 hours from Geneva (direct connection, every hour)

By car:

Autobahn A1 from Zürich, from Solothurn Autobahn A5, exit Biel-Bienne
Autobahn A2 from Basel to Egerkingen, A1 to Solothurn, A5 to Ausfahrt Biel-Bienne
Autobahn/Amotorway A6 from Bern up to Biel-Bienne
Autobahn A1 from Geneva, via Lausanne, from Yverdon A5 via Neuenburg to Biel-Bienne.

Other/Air: Airline access to the international Airports of Zürich, Bern, Geneva and Basel.

Zoom map

Biel/Bienne

How to get there

More links

Contact Information

Local Information

Multimedia

TopTips and recommended

Accommodation & Restaurants

Public Transport

Amenities & Facilities