Swiss Excursion Part 4: Exploring Bern
Our next stop through Switzerland was the city of Bern. We left Lauterbrunnen as it was now time to make our way to Zurich, but we knew we needed to burn some time before check-in, so we decided to take a little day trip somewhere before heading towards Zurich. Bern is highly recommended and also one of the places we contemplated staying at originally, so that made it a no-brainer.
What to Do:
Check out Bern’s clock tower. it’s one of the first things that you’ll see once you arrive in the city and it just so happens to be one of Bern’s most significant landmarks as it was the city’s first-ever gate.
Explore Bern’s Alstadt (old town). There are many restaurants, souvenir shops, cafes clothing stores to burn holes through your pockets as Bern has the longest esplanade in all of Europe.
One of the best things about the Altstadt other than the flags of all the cantons of Switzerland hanging off the building is the erection of many fountains throughout the town. They all were erected to commemorate various events though ought Bern’s history and each has its own interesting characteristics about them.
Take in the extraordinary views as you cross the Nydeggbrucke bridge. If you admire medieval architecture the way that I do, just look around you and you’ll realize that you're completely surrounded by it. Peek down and you’ll see the blueish-greenish waters of the River Aare below. The waters flow straight down from the nearby Swiss Alps and loop around the city in a very cool U shape. As you explore, cross the Nydeggbrucke bridge and head over to Barengraben, where a few Pyrenean Brown bears call home.
While in the old town look for the Berner Munster which is one the most sacred buildings in all of Switzerland. We didn’t end up going inside but you can also get a great view of the city from the tower of the cathedral. The stained glass windows are quite exceptional up close as well.
