Two Days in Bern Itinerary: Old City, Gurten, & Museums
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After exploring Bern and taking in its gorgeous landmarks, picturesque spots, and even its charming fountains, I’ve come to realize that half a day is just ample to cover the city’s highlights, and a full day only allows for a thorough exploration of the Old Town and the Rose Garden.
To fully experience the city’s other offerings, including its museums, delightful spas, and surrounding natural wonders, you would need at least two days. For a truly relaxed journey, consider extending your stay to three days.
Now, if you opt for a two-day itinerary in Bern, I have some excellent tips to help you make the most of your time in the Swiss capital. Ready to start?
Yet, I must admit, two or three days do not seem entirely practical, especially when you consider other Swiss destinations that offer more memorable experiences, such as the Jungfrau Region and Lucerne for your entire Switzerland trip.
In fact, if you’re planning a two-day stay in Bern, it may be more rewarding to dedicate your second day to a day trip to nearby attractions, like the quaint town of Thun, Lake Thun, or Oberhofen Castle, as outlined in my 4-Day Switzerland itinerary.
Nevertheless, a two-day visit to Bern can be quite enjoyable, particularly if you’re spending a week or longer in Switzerland or if it’s your second visit to the country. (If you’re undecided, I can help you decide how long to stay in Bern.)
Day 1 in Bern: Old City & Gurten
There are several ways to spend a day in Bern; however, your priority should be seeing the old city. It is, in my humble opinion, the primary reason to visit Bern.
The old city of Bern is a beautiful place, filled with picturesque, romantic scenes. If you are a history lover, an architecture enthusiast, or a photographer, I’m sure you’ll find your trip to Bern worthwhile.
I honestly think the old city alone can “complete” a trip to Bern. Every visitor can undoubtedly find value in it. You can see unique historical landmarks, learn about Swiss history and politics, and have some relaxing moments at places with panoramic views. Visiting the old city can keep you busy for the entire day.
However, there are times when an attraction is unavailable for tourists, or you might not be interested in a specific destination and decide to skip it. If that happens, you will indeed create some spare time. Of course, we don’t want to be idle during our trip, as visiting Switzerland is quite expensive!
We want to maximize our day, constantly seeing new, beautiful places or having great experiences. The museums can fill the space in the itinerary, but I would not suggest them yet at least for day 1. Especially if the weather is excellent, you have to take advantage! I suggest going to other outdoor attractions like Gurten or the River Aare in Bern.
As I mentioned at the beginning, there are many ways to spend a day in Bern. If you really like the outdoors and the weather is fantastic, you can also spend a day in Bern: half in the old city, half in Gurten. This can be a good option, as you can already see the unmissable places in the old city of Bern in half a day.
You might find these interesting!
Old City of Bern (Main Destination for Day 1)
Spending time in the Old City of Bern is simple: explore it on foot.
It’s the best way to fully immerse yourself in the uniqueness of Bern’s Old City. Start at the train station, which is located west of the old city. From the train station, move eastward, explore every street, and you’ll effortlessly encounter the tourist attractions and main points of interest in the town.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the local culture, get the inside scoop on the best eateries, or uncover Bern’s hidden gems, think about getting a local guide for a personalized city tour. Just let the guide know your interests and they’ll take care of the rest, making your day in Bern hassle-free!
Here is the visual summary of the places to see/visit in the Old City of Bern
Here’s how you can make the most of your visit to 3 of the 4 must-see attraction in the Old City of Bern: Bundeshaus, Zytglogge, and Bern Cathedral.
Gurten (Alternative Destination for Day 1)
Gurten is the nearest mountain to Bern, located just a few miles south of the city.
It stands a little over 2780 feet high. From the area around its peak, you can enjoy a sweeping view of Bern and a panoramic vista of the Bernese Alps.
I believe Gurten is a fantastic alternative to the Rose Garden for watching the sunset in Bern. It even features an observation tower that you can access at no cost. Ascend it for even more panoramic views.
Day 2 in Bern: Museums & Other Indoor Attractions
One way to spend another day in Bern is by engaging in activities that aren’t dependent on the weather.
Naturally, these are the indoor tourist attractions in Bern, such as the museums, spas, and tours inside the historical sites in the old city.
Is museum hopping in Bern a good idea? I believe so.
The museums in the city are fun and unique, especially the Einstein Museum and the Museum of Communication. If you’re a fan of art and history, Bern’s Historical Museum and Zentrum Paul Klee are worth a visit.
Visiting different museums in Bern is easy as they are located near each other in their own district called “Kirchenfeld,” which some people refer to as the “Museum district” of Bern. In Kirchenfeld, you’ll be walking short distances to go from one museum to another.
Kirchenfeld is situated south of the old city, across the Aare River.
It is connected to the old city via Kirchenfeldbrücke, the bridge next to Bern Casino. You can get directly to Kirchenfeld from Bern’s central train station by taking Bus #19 or Tram #8 or #9.
However, I wouldn’t entirely recommend it, especially if you want to see a different panoramic view of the old city.
I think you’ll also appreciate the view of the old city while walking along Kirchenfeldbrücke.
From the bridge, you can get a different perspective of the old town’s skyline—it’s picture-perfect. Facing the old city, you can see a panorama that includes the Bundeshaus, Bern Casino, and Bern Cathedral.
By the way, in addition to some of the museums mentioned earlier, you can also find the Natural History Museum, Kunsthalle Bern (an art museum), and Alpine Museum in Kirchenfeld. There are several restaurants near the museums, so you might not need to leave Kirchenfeld and return to the old city for lunch.
Visiting a few museums in one day can be tiring. This is especially true if you enjoy visiting museums and can spend hours exploring, strolling, and standing to appreciate the exhibits.
If you need some pampering and relaxation, you might want to check out Hammam & SPA Oktogon. In a nutshell, it’s a beautiful spa with a unique bathing experience in its 4-story building.
Let me share the four museums that I think are the most interesting in Bern.
Resources
I hope this two-day itinerary for Bern has given you an idea of how you can spend a couple of days in the Swiss capital. For further planning, here are the official websites of various museums and attractions in Bern, where you can find the most recent practical information for your trip.
- Gurten
- Einstein Museum
- Bernisches Historisches Museum
- Museum of Communication Bern
- Natural History Museum of Bern
- Hammam & Spa Oktogon Bern
Plan Your Trip Now
Here are my recommended services
Two days in Bern are usually sufficient, and it’s recommended to visit other places in Switzerland after that.
If you want to stay in the Swiss Capital for longer, it’s practical to use it as your home base. For instance, if you stay here for three days, consider making your third day a day trip to nearby beautiful destinations like Thun — absolutely one of the most magical places in Switzerland. The town sits by its own lake, Lake Thun — a lake surrounded by castles and mountains. There’s Oberhofen Castle, Thun Castle, and more.
From Bern, you can also spend a day in Lake Thun if you wish. You can enjoy a cruise, visit a cave, and more. You must see the 10 attractions that make Lake Thun worth visiting.