Travel Highlights

Few cities have preserved their historic charm as successfully as the Swiss capital, Bern. Bern's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its 6-kilometer-long arcade—locals fondly call it "Lauben"—is Europe's longest covered shopping arcade.

The Rose Garden above Bear Park, along with the 101-meter-tall cathedral bell tower and terrace, offer stunning views of the Old Town and the Aare River. Former fortifications and bastions are situated on the steep slopes that border the river. The Old Town is home to numerous fashion boutiques, bars, and pubs, some housed in ancient vaulted wine cellars. The numerous cafés tucked away in the side streets attract both locals and tourists. While Bern has an excellent public transportation network, it's best explored on foot.

Bern is the capital of the Swiss Confederation. The Houses of Parliament (Bundeshaus) tower over the city, not far from the train station. The Parliament Buildings are open to visitors most of the time, and if you are lucky, you may even run into members of parliament on the street.

Bern wasn't on our itinerary, but we came to it just to save an extra day. We originally planned to spend a few days in Germany, with the opportunity to visit a French town near my cousin's home. However, since we didn't have our passports with us and border checks have been tightened recently, we returned to Switzerland early, thus adding two extra days. Upon arriving in Switzerland, we realized it's a small country, only an hour's drive away. Thanks to a 50% discount and a mobile app, we were able to travel around just like the locals.

Strolling slowly to the Zytglogge, a landmark in Bern, the Zytglogge, built in the 13th century, boasts over 800 years of history. It has served as a city gate guard tower, prison, and bell tower. Its mechanical clock is the oldest in Switzerland.

Kramgasse

Let's briefly outline the main attractions in Bern, Switzerland. They're all located around Kramgasse, the Old Town's main shopping street. It's a popular destination for first-time visitors to Bern, whether traveling with a tour group or independently. The stretch of Kramgasse, just before and after the Zytglogge Clock Tower, is Bern's main shopping district, boasting numerous European boutiques, Swiss watches, and century-old chocolate shops. This approximately 7-kilometer-long arcaded shopping street in Bern, Switzerland, features arcades, making it a pleasant stroll even in the rain. Even more unique is its medieval construction, reportedly not due to a desire for arcades. Rather, it stems from the city's surrounding rivers, which limited urban development. As the population grew, residents built on the sidewalks, one store after another, eventually creating this 7-kilometer-long arcade, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bear Pit Garden

After crossing the arch bridge, you'll arrive at Bern's famous Bear Pit. I'd heard you could see real bears! But I don't know if it's because the bears are hibernating this season. Anyway, I didn't see any real ones, but there were a few fake ones. You'll also see this statue in the Bear Pit. Guess who it is? I guarantee you know it 😆 The answer is: Albert Einstein. It turns out Einstein worked at the Bern Patent Office, where he proposed the theory of special relativity in 1905 and the equivalence principle, the core of general relativity, in 1907! Remember to take a picture with him!

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