One Day In Bern Itinerary For First-Time Visitors

Last Updated on 20th May 2025

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10 Best Things To Do In Bern In One Day - Perfect Bern Day Trip

Despite being the capital city of Switzerland, Bern isn’t a city that seems to get as much attention as the likes of Zurich, Geneva, Interlaken, Basel or the Swiss Alps.

However, I think it’s a vastly underrated city in Europe as there are plenty of awesome things to do in one day in Bern. It’s the perfect place for a day trip from Zurich, Basel, Lucerne or Interlaken as it can easily be reached via train within an hour (or so) from all those places.

With just one day in Bern, you can see the sights in the Old Town, learn more about the culture of the city and experience the understated beauty of the Swiss capital. If you’re planning a day trip to Bern or you want to know more about how to spend one day in Bern, check out my itinerary below!

One day in Bern itinerary map – best things to do in 1 day

One day in Bern itinerary map - best things to do in Bern in 1 day

Discover the best things to do in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Town of Bern in just one day!

One day in Bern itinerary summary

Bundeshaus/Bundesplatz
Heiliggeistkirche
Stadttheater
Zytglogge
Einsteinhaus
Bern Cathedral
Münsterplattform
Bärengraben
Aare River
Dinner at Hemen’s Takeaway

1. Bundeshaus/Bundesplatz (The Parliament Building)

Begin your one day in Bern in the Government Plaza known as Bundesplatz. The square houses the Bundeshaus, also known as the Parliament Building, which is one of the most notable landmarks and structures in the city.

You can take a guided tour of the inside of the Parliament Building from Tuesday to Saturday or you can just admire the impressive building from the outside.

Bundesplatz also hosts its very own market every Tuesday and Saturday throughout the year where you’ll find excellent, local produce and homemade artisanal crafts.

2. Heiliggeistkirche

Heiliggeistkirche - things to do in Bern in one day

The next stop on your Bern day trip itinerary is the Heiliggeistkirche, also known as the Church of the Holy Ghost. It is one of the largest Swiss Reformed churches in Switzerland and it originally dates back to the early 1700s.

It’s located just over the road from the main train station, so you really can’t miss it as you head into the Old Town to explore!

3. Stadttheater

The Stadttheater is another landmark that you need to have on your list of things to do in Bern in one day as it’s such a beautiful feat of architecture. The theatre plays host to various operas, ballets and concerts throughout the year, but even if you don’t manage to catch a performance, it’s still worth wandering past the Stadttheater to admire the beautiful building.

4. Zytglogge

Zytglogge - things to do in Bern in one day

No Bern day trip would be complete without seeing one of the city’s most iconic sights; the Zytglogge.

This medieval clock tower resides in the heart of the Altstadt (Old Town) and originally dates all the way back to the 13th century. It was once used as the city’s guard tower and it has also been used as a prison. Today it serves its main purpose as the city’s clock tower.

On the hour, you can see the Zytglogge’s mechanical figures, including a parade of bears, a jester and a golden rooster, putting on a theatrical performance. It’s also possible to venture up the 130 steps inside the structure for impressive views of the Old Town.

5. Einsteinhaus

The former residence of Albert Einstein is now a museum that showcases some of the famed scientist’s most notable work and it also depicts how he lived in Bern for two years between 1903 and 1905.

Walking past the building from the outside, you would never guess that such a notable historic figure resided there as it’s incredibly non-descript. Once inside the building, however, you can see where Albert Einstein lived, discover a timeline of events in his life, as well as his living conditions from where he made some of his most famous discoveries.

You can also enjoy tea, coffee and cake in the small cafe just underneath the apartment.

Einsteinhaus is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM except for major holidays.

6. Bern Cathedral

Bern Cathedral is the tallest cathedral in Switzerland, with its tower reaching a height of over 100m. It’s also a Cultural Property of National Significance and one of the most beautiful and famous buildings in the city.

You can climb the 344 steps to the top of the Minster to enjoy views of the city below, but the climb is not for the faint-hearted! If you do brave the ascent, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Old Town from the cathedral’s viewing platform.

Those who would rather avoid dizzying heights can still enjoy the cathedral from ground level; it’s worth having a nosey inside though as it’s a truly wonderful feat of architecture.

7. Münsterplattform

Münsterplattform is a gorgeous park area just a short walk from the cathedral and it’s a great place to stroll through during your day trip to Bern.

There are often people playing musical instruments or busking in the park, but there’s also plenty of space for you to relax and unwind, enjoy a picnic lunch or just partake in a spot of people-watching.

8. Bärengraben (bear pit)

Upon researching the best things to do in one day in Bern, I came across numerous mentions of bears and, in particular, Bärengraben which is a bear pit enclosure right in the city centre!

Now, of course, animals kept in captivity isn’t something I agree with necessarily, but I was fascinated to discover that bears lived in the centre of the city and have done on and off for hundreds of years!

Situated on the bank of the River Aare, the bear pit is home to numerous brown bears who roam around the giant pit and hibernate between the months of November and March. We spent one day in Bern in mid-February so it seemed unlikely that we would see any bears, but one emerged from its hiding spot just as we were walking past!

The bear is actually the symbol of the city of Bern and the wild animal has resided in the city since 1441. There have naturally been many complaints over the years about Bärengraben and keeping the bears in the city centre, so I’ll let you determine whether you want to add a visit to the bear pit to your Bern itinerary.

9. Aare River

Aare River - things to do in Bern in one day

Once you’ve seen the bears, it’s time to enjoy the views of the Aare River and if you have time, perhaps even enjoy a leisurely stroll along the river.

Head up to the Nydeggbrücke (Nydegg Bridge) for an incredible vantage point of the river and city below, or head back down to river level and embark on a walk along the Aare.

10. Hemen’s Takeaway

One day in Bern isn’t enough time to experience a lot of the food culture in the city, but it is enough time to enjoy one of the best kebab boxes I’ve ever had!

After enjoying the celebrations of the annual Bern festival (which we accidentally stumbled across during our time in the city), we were craving something truly naughty and after a quick look at Google reviews (rated 4.7* from 477 reviews!), we came across Hemen’s Takeaway and we ordered a large Doner kebab box!

While it might not be the fanciest place to eat in the city, it certainly did not disappoint and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to you guys during your day trip to Bern!

Where to stay in Bern

We stayed at the Los Lorentes Apartments Bern City hotel which was such an incredible place to stay in Bern for one night; I only wish we could have stayed for much longer!

Los Lorentes is an apartment complex with rooms available for as little as one night that come with a fully equipped kitchen, a huge comfy bed, a sizeable desk/table area and an awesome bathroom. It felt like a luxury Airbnb apartment with the convenience of a hotel and I would highly recommend staying here if you’re planning to spend the night in Bern.

Check rates and availability in Bern here!

How to get to Bern

Bern is located in the west of Switzerland, but as Switzerland isn’t a very large country, it’s super easy to get to via car, train or plane.

If you’re already in Switzerland, you can easily get to Bern via train from Zurich (1 hour 20 minutes), Interlaken (1 hour), and Basel (1 hour 15 minutes). Alternatively, you can also drive from all these cities as well.

We visited Bern as part of our 2-month Interrail trip so we used our Interrail Pass to travel from Zurich to Bern in just over an hour!

It does also have its own airport, but it’s relatively small with only a few select routes flying in and out of the city. If you want to fly to Bern, I’d recommend flying to Zurich Airport first and then taking the train to Bern Bahnhof.

How to get around – one day in Bern itinerary

As it’s such a small city, it’s super easy to get around on foot without relying on public transport. Once you’re in the main inner area of the city, you can easily walk everywhere on this Bern itinerary.

However, if you’re staying a little outside of the city centre (such as at the Los Lorentes Apartments), you’ll be pleased to know that Bern also has an excellent public transport system. In fact, the city is so awesome that you’ll actually benefit from 36 hours of free transport on local buses in Bern!

When you check into your hotel or accommodation of choice, you’ll usually be given an activation code for the Bern app that provides you with 36 hours of free travel on local buses around the city! This is such an incredibly cool incentive and such a great saving, especially as a single bus journey in Bern usually costs €4.60!

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