Things to do & places to visit in Canton of Bern, Switzerland

Canton of Bern #2 destination in Switzerland 2023. The average rating score is 4.43 based on 46.7k traveler reviews, of 547 attractions. Timezone: Europe/Zurich, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 8:53.

Top things to do (32)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Oeschinen Lake (721 reviews)
- Breathtaking
Spent More than 3 hours Bodies of Water

Oeschinensee is accessible by foot from Kandersteg within 1.5 hours. The cable car operates in summer and winter season daily from mornings till evenings - non stop. In summer enjoy swimming in the lake, boat rides on the blue and clear water or just have fun with the toboggan run at the top station of the cable car. Several hotels around the lake offer rooms in summer. Restaurants are open in winter and summer. The region belongs to the Unesco heritage Jungfrau-Aletsch. See more..
5.0 The Eiger (486 reviews)
- I Hiked from the Bar to the Balcony with My Beaujolais
Mountains • Hiking Trails

We spent four nights in Grindelwald at a chalet which had a stunning view of Mount Eiger. This was our first trip to the Alps and the building that housed the apartment rental was a true postcard-perfect charming example of a Swiss chalet in every aspect. The chalet had a wrap-around balcony with plenty of chairs where you could just sit and admire the beautiful snow-covered mountain scenery. The setting is breathtaking, and it is an amazing sight when the mountain peak comes out of the clouds. This has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world and being from the flat coastal plains of Texas, you don’t see this very often. Many people come to the Bernese Alps to hike and climb, but I just enjoyed the view from our balcony. See more..
5.0 Aletsch Glacier (298 reviews)
- Gorgeous view. Switzerland at its best.
Geologic Formations

Europe's largest glacier, a UNESCO World Heritage site, surrounded by geological glacial featured landscapes and Alpine flora and wildlife. See more..
4.5 Old City (3.722 reviews)
- Amazing Old City of Bern
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Neighborhoods

Bern is the de facto capital of Switzerland, referred to as the "federal city Bern" is the fifth-most populous city in Switzerland. Built on a narrow hill bordered on three sides by the river Aare, its compact layout has remained essentially unchanged since its construction during the twelfth to the fifteenth century. During our day trip at Bern from Interlaken , we got a chance to go around the old city of Bern. It's beautiful. We could see amazing sights of various landmarks and understand their significance . Among other things we visited various fountains, Old Clock Tower, Bundesplatz, Federal Building, Aare River , the Bear Pit ,Cathedral at Munsterplatz, Rathaus Bern . Bern is a city that has retained it's old charm yet embracing modernity. Do visit See more..
4.5 Schilthorn Piz Gloria (2.468 reviews) from $64.34
- Adventure!
Monday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lookouts • Ski & Snowboard Areas

It takes you just 32 minutes by Cable car to reach the summit of the 2970 m high Schilthorn. Enjoy the beautiful view of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau (UNESCO World Heritage) and on more than 200 other summits. See more..
4.5 Harder Kulm (2.386 reviews)
- Breathtaking views of Jungfrau region
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Mountains • Lookouts

Visited Harder Kulm today when the weather cleared and it was amazing. Access to the summit is through the vertical railway which takes you from Interlaken to 1300m within 8 minutes and its free with regional pass and swiss travel pass. It's a high demand attraction in good weather so expect queues and waits for the railway as it runs every 30mins. Once you're on top, the views are unbeatable with the full Jungfrau region in sight along with the areas up to Thun on the right and the beautiful lakes on the left. There's a platform for those instagram worthy snaps and there's also a restaurant which runs late into nights in spring/summer. Highly recommended! See more..
4.5 Trummelbach Falls (2.092 reviews)
- Stunning and unique. If you can cope with heights and stairs then do it!
Spent 1-2 hours Waterfalls

We walked up from Lauterbrunnen on a hot day. You start off with a lift to get you part way up then staircases lead you from one amazing cascade to the next. They are high up, but even with my fear of heights I managed most of it, and it was very worthwhile. The sound is deafening, the cascades stunning, And the glacial spray very refreshing. Some people went with rain jackets but it’s really is just a light mist - not worth packing extra layers for! See more..
4.5 Grindelwald-First (1.932 reviews)
- Grindelwald- amazing sounds and sights
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Ski & Snowboard Areas

The key element of the First Aerial Cableway is the cableway with six-seater gondolas travelling from Grindelwald up to First via Bort and Schreckfeld. The gondola cableway has a capacity of up to 1,200 persons per hour with a travelling time of approximately 25 minutes. Aside from the gondola cableway, Firstbahn AG also has three chairlifts and two ski lifts. See more..
4.5 Rose Garden (Rosengarten) (1.625 reviews)
- Average gardens, amazing views
Monday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 AM Gardens

The Rose Gardens are set in the eastern part of Swiss capital, at an elevated position above the Aare river. The gardens itself are very ordinary, even not worth coming only for them. Contrary to that, the Bern city views from here are the best you can have in the area. The entire city lies just beneath you at Aare river sharp bend. The place is very popular with locals - it was packed on a sunny March afternoon. See more..
4.5 Cathedral at Munsterplatz / St. Vincent (Munster Kirche) (1.118 reviews)
- Spectacular cathedral..with no views for solo travellers
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Architectural Buildings • Lookouts • Religious Sites

Located in the center of the Old Town, this 15th-century cathedral sports a towering 328-foot-tall spire that dominates the city skyline. See more..
4.5 Lauterbrunnen Valley Waterfalls (1.096 reviews)
- A Breathtaking Walk
Spent More than 3 hours Valleys • Waterfalls

If you find yourself in Lauterbrunnen, which you should if you’re anywhere near Interlaken, you should do the valley hike. I am tempted to call it a walk rather than a hike because there is no challenge or elevation at all, but it is a wonderful experience. Get off the train in Lauterbrunnen, and follow the signs through the valley until you reach Stechelberg. From there you can take a very cheap bus ride back to Lauterbrunnen or a gondola up to Murren or Grindelwald. See more..
4.5 Ballenberg, Swiss Open-Air Museum (929 reviews)
- Very interesting, dont miss a chance to visit
Temporarily closed - Closed until Apr 5, 2023 Spent More than 3 hours Speciality Museums

More than one hundred centuries-old buildings from all over Switzerland, 200 farmyard animals, traditional, old-time gardens and fields, demonstrations of local crafts and many special events create a vivid impression of rural life in days gone by. Ballenberg is indeed unique. See more..
4.5 Lake Brienz (847 reviews)
- Picture of tranquility
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Bodies of Water

A beautiful, calm and quiet lake with turquoise water. The ferry ride from Interlaken to Brienz on this lake is around an hour. The scenery is good, but not as dramatic as say lake Lucerne. There is a restaurant called Strandbad on the lake side in Brienz about 10 minutes walk from the station. Do try it, it is one of the most pleasurable eats that i had had for both the ambience and the food. See more..
4.5 Federal Building (Bundeshaus) (839 reviews)
- Great views and imposing building
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Flea & Street Markets • Government Buildings

The home of the Swiss national government, this building's political significance stands out in an otherwise quiet city. See more..
4.5 Gurten (837 reviews)
- Stunning view from top of the hill
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Parks • Observation Decks & Towers

Climb to 858 metres above sea level on the Gurten funicular, by bicycle or on foot, and take in breath-taking views of the capital, the Jura and the Alps. Gurten Park offers a programme of pampering and leisure activities for families, athletes, music fans and gourmets. Montez à 858 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer avec le funiculaire du Gurten, à vélo ou à pied et admirez la vue époustouflante sur la capitale, le Jura et les Alpes. Le Gurten propose tout un programme de bien-être et de loisir pour les familles, les sportifs, les amateurs de musique et les gourmets. See more..
4.5 Aare Gorge (739 reviews)
- Beautiful gorge with nice panoramic views
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Historic Walking Areas

A very interesting and must visit location while in Meiringen village. The views are fantastic and the panoramic view in the end is mesmerizing. It’s a total of 40 min walk one way. There are lighting arrangements at strategic points, which adds to the beauty. A kids play park is there at the entrance, good to engage little ones while adults can relax after the long walk. Tips: At either end of the entrance to the gorge there are train stations; for people who do not wish to return by walk can catch the train back. Train ticket cost is covered in the entrance ticket, Also recommended is to combine the visit along with Reichenbachfalls. See more..
4.5 Luftseilbahn Wengen-Männlichen (730 reviews)
- Easy journey up to the Mannlichen
Monday: 8:15 AM - 4:15 PM Spent 1-2 hours Trams

Two spacious 75-passenger cabins transport you in comfort from Wengen to Männlichen. It takes just under five minutes to climb the 947 metres to Männlichen – precious time you can invest in admiring one of the world's most scenic mountain vistas. With a little luck, you might even see the thundering waters of the Staubbach Falls. Since it first opened in 1954, the Wengen-Männlichen Aerial Cableway has carried locals and visitors from all over the world year in, year out. Since 2018, you can even ride on our open-air balcony in summer. Take your place on the rooftop balcony of our new cableway cabin and feel like Queen Elizabeth II greeting her subjects. You might even be tempted to try out your best royal wave, but we'll leave that up to you. See more..
4.5 Staubbach Waterfall (674 reviews)
- Major highlight of Lauterbrunen
Waterfalls

The main waterfall out of all 72 waterfalls in the Lauterbrunen valley. It's quite high and provide magnificent views. There's a pathway to reach the inside of the waterfall, where you get to see the water flowing infront of you. As we noticed the amount water of the falls got reduced by the day. So it's better to visit this in morning time. There are several other small water falls around here but this one is the major highlight. See more..
4.5 Bachalpsee Lake (662 reviews)
- Classic hike in the Bernese Obeland
Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water

He painted the Jungfrau and the Schynige Platte, but Ferdinand Hodler never committed Lake Bachalpsee to canvas. The glacial water reflecting the Schreckhorn in the calm air would have been entirely in keeping with the taste of the well-known symbolist. Many others discovered the beauty of the "blue jewel". Lake Bachalpsee travels around the world as a postcard. However: no photo are able capture the radiance of the lake. You need to go there and see it for yourself. That doesn't require much effort. Lake Bachalpsee can be reached from First on foot in less than an hour. See more..
4.5 Jungfrau (636 reviews)
- Magnificant mountain
Monday: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM Mountains

A mountain chain popular for its scenic beauty and great skiing. See more..
4.5 Maennlichen (628 reviews)
- Affordable excursion and easy going for families
Mountains • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Ski & Snowboard Areas

We got on the Mannlichen gondola at the brand new Grund station in Grindelwald. The other excursion are incredibly expensive. This is affordable for families (if you’re staying in the area, hotel will give you a card to get some reduction) They have actually Catered really well for children to make the whole hiker experience fun. There’s lots of fun surprises at the top for young people, a nice restaurant and the views up there are breathtaking. You feel content to have experienced time with the Eigor mountain and Jungfrau. The descent is fun and easy enough though we received a rather frightening electric storm on the way down...take your rain coat and hiking boots. The cows are adorable and seemed happy to pose for photos. Loved every minute.. apart from the few minutes that included fork lightening and torrential rain fall, that is See more..
4.5 Thunersee (627 reviews)
- Another amazing Swiss fairy tale site
Bodies of Water

Many Swiss towns are just by a lake which is surrounded by mountains. This is also the case with Thun - a small town set by the Thunsee or Thun Lake. The drive around the lake is so rewarding with so many places to stop and take fab pics. Also, another option is taking a boat ride over the lake. See more..
4.5 Kleine Scheidegg (493 reviews)
- Plateau connecting Jungfrau regions
Historic Walking Areas

Amazing plateau that serves trains going up and down from Jungfraujoch and also connects Lauterbrunnen to Grindlewald. It looks beautiful in spring and is great in winter when the skiing paths open up with the snow. Highly recommend visiting and this can be accessed for free using regional passes and swiss travel passes. See more..
4.5 First Cliff Walk by Tissot (487 reviews)
- Thrilling walk!
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lookouts

This jaw-dropping metal walkway is suspended from the mountainside at the top of Grindelwald First, a feat of Swiss engineering. Admire the stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys below along First Cliff Walk, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes to finish. For the best chance of clear days and far-reaching views, you can check the real-time weather online via webcam before visiting. To get there, you'll have to take a 25-minute gondola ride from Grindelwald and then another 5-minute walk to the cliff walk. While you're there, you can also hike to Lake Bachalpsee, and then descend the mountain by zipline or mountain cart. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Lauterbrunnen Village (448 reviews)
- Traditional Swiss Alpine Village!!
Spent 1-2 hours Mountains • Valleys • Waterfalls

18 years ago we had visited Lauterbrunnen, and this area of the Swiss Alps, in the Fall. We felt it was one of the most beautiful places on earth. We were so excited to now be able visit in the Wintertime. We started our day visiting the traditional Alpine Lauterbrunnen Village. With the snow-covered mountains as a beautiful backdrop, we enjoyed a leisurely walk through the town and sweet treats at Flavours Restaurant. We then hiked the Lauterbrunnen Valley & rode the gondola to Murren, where we viewed the city of Lauterbrunnen from high above. Still one of the most beautiful places on earth! See more..
4.5 Schloss Thun (447 reviews)
- Interesting castle with a great view of the lake
Monday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Castles

The medieval castle above the town of Thun is a striking focal point at the entrance to the Bernese Oberland region. This almost completely preserved symbol of power contains the Knights' Hall, one of the few surviving halls of its type from the Middle Ages. Built at the end of the 12th century by the Dukes of Zahringen as a purely administrative castle, this striking building was extended by its new owners, the Bernese, with its impressive roof in the 15th century. The five floors of the castle now house a historical museum highlighting the region's history, as well as host temporary exhibitions on a variety of cultural, historical and current issues. Concerts and other public events are held in the intact knight's hall. The corner towers of Thun Castle provide an unforgettable view over the city of Thun, Lake Thun and the mountains. See more..
4.5 Bernisches Historisches Museum - Einstein Museum (445 reviews)
- Educational and interesting experience
Monday: History Museums

The Bernisches Historisches Museum is one of the most important museums of cultural history in Switzerland. The collections of archaeology, history and ethnography include approximately 500,000 objects dating from the Stone Age to the present and representing cultures from all over the world. The hydria from Graechwil, the Burgundian tapestries, the diptych from Königsfelden and a series of ethnographical objects as well as coins and medals are all internationally renowned. Besides these, other highlights of the permanent exhibitions include the spectacular Bernese sculptures, two Bernese mayoral thrones and much more. The integrated Einstein Museum offers an account of the life and work of the physicist and places it in a fascinating manner in the context of world history. Temporary exhibitions are regularly staged in the generously proportioned exhibition hall. See more..
4.5 Bundesplatz (429 reviews)
- Nice Square
Points of Interest & Landmarks

The social heart of the city, this public square is named for the bear, the animal that serves as Bern's symbol. See more..
4.5 Schynige Platte (420 reviews)
- Great views of Eiger, Monk & Jungfrau
Spent 2-3 hours Mountains • Lookouts • Gardens

Hiked the Panorama route of 6+ km, unfortunately we hiked it counterclockwise and felt the views would have been better clockwise keeping Interlaken and the lakes as well as the Alps to our front. The views were fantastic and the trails were well maintained. Half way through the hike you have the opportunity to climb a tall rock mass to get a panoramic view. This was the toughest part of the hike. The train ride up and back down takes about an hour each way and the hike was a little under 3-hrs. See more..
4.5 Reichenbach Waterfall (416 reviews)
- Real location for a fictional milestone
Waterfalls

This 656-foot waterfall is best known for its fictional significance as the place of Sherlock Holmes's death. See more..