- Free cancellationFor a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Duration2 hr – 3 hr
- Guide languagesArabic, German, Vietnamese, Chinese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
- Instant confirmationMobile ticket
Free cancellation
You book and pay on Viator, our booking partner, at the same price as booking with them directly.
Overview
Your expert guide will show you the city's highlights and hidden gems. On this walking tour you will be able to see a lot of places within a short timeframe. Apart from explaining the sights, your guide can provide insight into the history and culture of the city and the country in general. The focus of this tour is to see the city through the eyes of a local. This private tour can be customized according to your personal preferences. Sightseeing points to visit can be agreed upon in advance or discussed when meeting up. Therefore, the sightseeing points listed below in the itinerary are just an example of what is possible. Your guide can suggest other sightseeing points that better suit your interests. This tour has two options for guides: a local guide or a professional tour guide. Please be aware that a local guide does not have detailed historical knowledge. If profound knowledge is important to you, you should book the tour option with a professional tour guide.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Walking tour (fully customizable and private)
- Local guide (Swiss or expat) or professional tour guide (depending on your choice)
- Tickets for public transport (not necessary as it is a walking tour)
- Tickets for attractions with entry fees such as museums
- Gratuities
Itinerary
- 1
Old City
5 min
Bern’s Old City has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, wowing visitors with its impressive sandstone buildings and incomparable charm. Also typical for the city are its quaint alleys and the six kilometres of arcades.
- 2
Parliament Building
10 min
The Parliament Building in Bern is the heart of Switzerland’s democracy: the parliament holds its meetings under the grand dome, the west and east wings house parts of the federal government and administration.
- 3
Clock Tower - Zytglogge
5 min
Bern’s typical streets, lanes and buildings have exciting stories to tell, and in the midst of them all in the Old Town one of the city’s best-known landmarks stands high above the rest: the Zytglogge (Clock Tower). Once a city gate, the Clock Tower now attracts spectators from all over the world.
- 4
Dreifaltigkeitskirche
5 min
The Dreifaltigkeitskirche in the immediate vicinity of the parliament is the oldest Catholic church in the region of Bern.
- 5
Kafigturm (Prison Tower)
5 min
In the past, Käfigturm was where criminals were interrogated and locked up, today it is a space for political discussions. The former city gate at the upper end of Marktgasse is an important landmark of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bern and home of the Polit-Forum Bern (Political Forum Bern).
- 6
Berner Munster
10 min
The Bernese Minster has the highest church spire in all of Switzerland and is one of the most important landmarks of the capital. There are 344 steps to reach the viewing deck – but the wonderful panorama from the Old City to the peaks of the Bernese Oberland is absolutely worth it.
- 7
Rosengarten
15 min
The magic of cherry blossom in spring, around 250 varieties of roses in bloom in summer, a blaze of colour in the autumn months and the cosy fondue veranda of the Rosengarten restaurant in the winter season make a visit to the rose garden something special at any time of year.
- 8
Stop 8
10 min
The Bern bear pit is an attraction that is known far beyond the borders of Switzerland. Since 2009, the Bern bears have primarily had a modern, 6,000 square meter park at their disposal, which they reach through a tunnel – the BärenPark.
- 9
Freibad Marzili
10 min
It seems that “all” of Bern meets up at the Marzili. On peak days, over 10,000 visitors descend upon what is considered to be the most beautiful riverside pool in Switzerland, right below the Parliament Building.
- 10
Botanical Garden (Botanischer Garten)
15 min
The Botanical Garden thrills the hearts of plant lovers and is popular both among nature fans and those who simply want to unwind in a peaceful setting.
Meeting point and pickup
Meeting point
Meet your guide at the entrance of Loeb department store.
End point
Ends back at the meeting point.
Hotel pickup offered
Good to know
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveller reviews
5.0
13 reviews
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- Steven_H · Oct 2026
Bern Sites and Swiss History in Three Hours
The pace was quick but perfectly manageable for four 60+ travelers. Our guide Christoph knew a lot about Swiss history and government which I found very interesting. Those facts were woven into the beautiful tour of city sites. Bern is not huge so we covered all major points of interest. Christophe was great at identifying historical or beautiful vistas for taking photos.
Review via Viator
- Colleenhthqi_K · Oct 2026
Our guide Willi was a...
Our guide Willi was a native and had such in-depth knowledge of the Swiss government and the history of Bern itself. He took us on a very informative and fun walking tour of the city. Highly recommend!
Review via Viator
- Kris_A · Jul 2026
A Day in Bern
3 hours was an appropriate amount of time for our one day in Bern. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable in the history of Switzerland and Bern so we learned a lot (having even read up before our tour). Willi took us to diverse locations including one’s that other guides tend to ignore. Willis was a local guide and we highly recommend him!
Review via Viator
- Callie_C · Jun 2026
I appreciated Hector’s...
I appreciated Hector’s description of the history and culture behind the sites that we were seeing. He was very friendly and a pleasure to walk around with.
Review via Viator
- Karin_W · Jun 2026
Christoph was a wonderful...
Christoph was a wonderful guide. Knowledgeable and personal. He adapted the content of the interest and knowledge of the group.
Review via Viator
- clairemH3783YB · May 2026
A lovely tour to familiarise yourself with this beautiful city
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Olha - she was so friendly and helpful and took us on a fantastic walk around the old town of Bern. The pace was relaxed and there was time for chatting, questions and photos. We particularly liked the visit to the 2 main churches as well as seeing the bears at the end of the tour.
Review via Tripadvisor
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