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| Skyline of Berne - mafa / pixelio.de |
A friend visiting Switzerland once joked that in Switzerland all cities are on a lake or river and have their medieval castle nearby. While that is certainly not true for ALL cities here, it is true for many. Considering that many of the Swiss cities have their origins in medieval times it is easily understood why they were built near the water: it offered water for drinking and transportation. After all, goods needed to be transported and there were nor railways, trucks or airplanes to ship them around. Plus, there are simply a lot of rivers and lakes all over Switzerland which makes the chances of settling near one of them pretty high.
Like Zurich, Geneva and Basel, the capital city of Switzerland Berne also lies on the shores of a river, in this case the Aare river. It not only houses the building of the Swiss parliament and government but also features a lovely old city that invites people for a stroll. There is also a good number of museums, parks and other attractions that can be enjoyed all year round. Here's my list of best things to do in and around Berne.
10 Fun Things to Do in Berne
- BearPark: Bears are the heraldic animals of Berne. Until 2009 the famous Bernes bears were living in the famous Bärengraben, two deep pits on the shores of the Aare river, that obviously didn't provide species-appropiate housing. So in 2009 the new BearPark was inaugurated and people can go visit several bears. Entrance is free.
- Dählhölzli Zoo: This is a large park area in the middle of the city. It houses some exotic animals and many native ones as well. The area on the Aare riverbank and the children's zoo are free of charge.
- Parliament Building: You can go on a guided tour through this important building and learn about the history of the building and how the Swiss parliament functions.
- Old city: Of course, a visit to the beautiful old city is a must for anyone. Enjoy the old houses, a cup of coffee in one of the cafés or visit a specialty shop.
- Zytglogge Clock Tower: This is a landmark tower in the old city. You can enjoy the spectacle of the clock striking at every full hour. It includes, bears, jesters and others. It's also possible to visit inside and get to the top and enjoy a great view of the old city.
- Farmers markets: Every Tuesday and Saturday there is a big farmers market in many of the old city's alleys. Once a year there is even a bigger and more famous market: the Zibelemärit (lit. onion market) where you can buy onions and many other things as well.
- Aare River: This river plays a central role in the life of the city, especially during the summer months where it becomes a public swimming pool and hundreds of swimmers swim downstream through the city on a good weather day. Please follow good practices for swimmers in lakes and rivers if you plan on joining the fun.
- Marzillibahn: This funicular has been functioning since 1885 and connects the main railway station of Berne with the Aare river. It's a fun and fast way to discover this part of the city.
- Marzili Lido: This public swimming pool is free for all and during the summer months is usually packed with people enjoying the pools, the river and the sun.
- Museum: Visit one of the many museums in Berne. Among them: The Swiss Alpine Museum, Bernese Historical Museum, The Einstein House, Museum of Natural History and more!
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