Winter excursions in Bern and surrounding

From a brewing course to the “ZAPF! Craft Beer Festival” and the Bern brewery walk, these 12 experiences are the perfect way to immerse yourself in Bern’s beer culture.

Team up with a seasoned beer sommelier and embark on a beer fact-finding tour: learn some interesting insights and anecdotes that are bound to impress people.

A visit to Bern in December is particularly magical thanks to the many Christmas markets and pop-ups. The numerous Advent experiences are within walking distance in Bern's UNESCO-listed Old Town. And many villages around Bern also offer enchanting markets and experiences during the Advent season.

From humble beginnings in a cramped flat to a snowballing success story: “Schuum-Bier” was created by two friends and is now well on its way to ​becoming a household name.

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

A unique building by star architect Daniel Libeskind houses around 2,000 square metres of water, with bathing fun for the whole family.

With a spectator capacity of 17,000 seats, the PostFinance Arena – the largest ice stadium in Switzerland and one of the largest halls in Europe – attracts numerous visitors to Bern.

The neighbourhoods of Bern are as diverse as their restaurants, and there are quite a few of them in the federal capital. You can really get a true sense of the typical Bernese lifestyle by visiting one of Bern's cosy neighbourhood pubs.

The 26 fountains of the Parliament Square’s water display represent the 26 cantons of Switzerland. Sometimes in rhythm, sometimes randomly, the water sprays up to seven metres into the air. This image is quite amazing in many regards. Such a sight would be practically unthinkable in front of other seats of government.

Many famous Swiss bands hail from Bern. Music has a long tradition in Switzerland's capital.