Experiences along the Grand Tour in Bern Region

The BearPark is one of the top attractions in the middle of Bern. You can watch real brown bears up close – right on the banks of the Aare with a view of the old town. Discover the extensive grounds with the "BäreBähnli".

Swimming and snorkelling among ducks and water-lilies in clean water in a nature reserve.

Whether over the fire or in the modern Kessi – in the show dairy you can learn everything about the production of the world-famous Emmentaler AOP on 17,500 m2.

Visit the Staubbach Falls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Experience one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Europe, which falls almost 300 meters into the depths.

Around 1200, Duke Berchtold V von Zähringen gave the order to build Castle Burgdorf as a residential castle. The Counts of Kyburg inherited it after his death in 1218. In 1384, the Canton of Bern bought the Burgdorf estate and the castle became the seat of the Bernese governor (Schultheiss). It served as a court, prison and the governor's office until 2012. The castle counts as one of the oldest preserved Romanesque secular buildings in Switzerland and today houses a museum, a youth hostel and a restaurant.

With its picturesque streets surrounded by vineyards and breathtaking views of Lake Bienne and St. Peter’s Island, Erlach (Cerlier in French) is one of the prettiest little towns in the Three Lakes Region. The townscape is dominated by the towering silhouette of the 11th-century castle, one of the oldest in the Canton of Bern, along with the town hall, local school, and church. Erlach is the perfect base for a day trip to the nature reserve on St. Peter’s Island, source of inspiration and creativity for such luminaries as Rousseau and Goethe in times past.

Watch the puppet play at the Zytglogge clock tower, the landmark of Bern's old town. On a guided tour, climb inside the tower and see the medieval clockwork from 1530.

The Adventure Park Ropetech near Thunplatz is a fixed-rope park established among the natural tree population of the Bernese Dählhölzli Forest.

The mountain ridge to the south of Gstaad is well known to hikers as the most beautiful starting point for the panoramic hike to the hugely popular Lauenensee lake. A gondola takes visitors up to Höhi Wispile.

A petting zoo and large playground make the Dählhölzli an ideal family outing destination.

You overlook the beautiful alpine landscape of the Stockhorn region, with the blue Oberstockensee and the famous Simmental as well as the Alps in the background.

The "Bernisches Historisches Museum" (The Berne Historical Museum) is one of Switzerland's most important cultural and historical museums and hosts a general historical collection containing approximately 500,000 objects as well as the Einstein Museum.

Schadau Castle was built between 1846 and 1854 for the Neuchâtel banker Denis Alfred de Rougemont. The location of the castle, on the southern banks of Lake Thun where the River Aare flows out of the lake, and with its views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, is almost as attractive as the architecture itself.

Discover the St. Beatus Caves above Lake Thun: Stalactite grottoes, waterfalls and the exciting dragon saga await you. In the cave museum you will learn everything about the hidden world inside the mountain.

You can take the funicular from Wabern to the Gurten in just a few minutes. At 858 metres, Bern's local mountain offers a panoramic view from the Jura to the Bernese Alps, playgrounds for children, fireplaces and restaurants.

Take the hiking trail from Axalp above Brienz to the idyllic Hinterburgsee lake and watch the chips fly!

The nostalgic red cable car carries passengers from the sunny mountain village of Isenfluh above Lauterbrunnen up to the hamlet of Sulwald. The cabin has enough room for eight people or one cow.

Outstanding walking enjoyment combined with interesting information on agriculture.

This Lake District can be experienced in the manner of the eco-museums: the objects are not to be found in a building, but in the landscape, in their historic as well as contemporary context.

A summer highlight for families. The story of the forest creature “Grimmimutz”, his friend Spillgert, the evil pepper witch and her husband Lothar can be enjoyed on the hiking loop in Schwenden.

Located in the picturesque mountain village of Grindelwald, Lindt Boutique offers a selection of exquisite chocolate products. Enjoy the incomparable taste and let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of the Swiss Alps.

The collections of the capital city’s fine arts museum, the Kunstmuseum Bern, are among the finest in the country. The innovative venue also offers a creative forum for exploring current trends in art as well as the changing world around us.

Thun – the charming city on the Aare. The venerable 12th century castle of Thun, the Obere Hauptgasse with its elevated pavements and the picturesque old town are the ideal place to immerse yourself in the past. Mühleplatz and Aarequai are perfect spots for enjoying the Thun Riviera. Restaurants, bars and cafes invite you to linger over tasty food and drink. As the gateway to the Bernese Oberland, Thun is the ideal starting point for excursions in the region.

The historic elevated pavements of Thun’s Old Town, which offer shopping on multiple levels, are unique in Europe.

The most popular open air bathing spot in Bern. As with all other public baths in the town of Bern, the Marzilibad is completely free. The separate “Paradiesli” and “Männerbad” areas allow men and women to sunbathe unclothed.

During his vacations on the Grimmialp Albert Schweitzer took a great many walks. He treasured the peace and tranquillity of the mountainous landscape.

The Gwunderwasser Playground in the Diemtigtal Valley (Tiermatti, Schwenden) guarantees exciting experiences for young and old on the water.

Discover the Taubenlochschlucht gorge near Biel/Bienne. Steep rock faces, wooden footbridges and the sound of the river Schüss accompany you through the Bernese Jura. You will experience one of the most popular excursion destinations in the Biel/Bienne region.

In just ten minutes, the panorama funicular takes guests from Interlaken up to its local mountain Harder Kulm.