Altstadt (Bern) Travel Guide - Free

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Altstadt Bern pairs UNESCO-listed medieval streets, covered arcades, the Zytglogge, fountains, markets and riverside walks in Switzerland’s capital.

A Medieval Centre Shaped for Walking

Bern’s Altstadt occupies a long, narrow peninsula above the River Aare, where medieval streets, sandstone façades and covered arcades form the historic core of Switzerland’s capital. The old town is compact enough to explore on foot, yet its apparently uniform streets reveal distinct spaces: the broad Bundesplatz at the western end, the market-oriented Spitalgasse and Marktgasse, the clock tower at Kramgasse, and the quieter lanes descending towards the river. The arcades, known locally as Lauben, provide shelter from rain and sun while housing shops, cafés, restaurants and galleries.

Streets, Towers and Civic Life

The Zytglogge, Bern’s famous medieval clock tower, marks the centre of the old town, while Bern Minster rises above Münsterplatz with its elaborate western portal and tall spire. Sculpted fountains punctuate the streets, including the Kindlifresserbrunnen and the Zähringerbrunnen, and the Rathaus remains a working centre of cantonal political life. Albert Einstein’s former home on Kramgasse adds a modern intellectual layer to the historic setting. Beyond the buildings, the city’s topography is inseparable from its character: viewpoints near Nydegg and the Kirchenfeld bridges look across the Aare to wooded slopes and the city’s eastern edge.

Markets, Culture and Everyday Atmosphere

The Altstadt is not simply an open-air monument. Residents use its bakeries, bookshops, bars, tram stops and weekly market streets, while cultural venues such as the Bernisches Historisches Museum and the Zytglogge attract visitors from beyond the centre. Government offices and university buildings bring weekday activity, and the evening mood shifts towards dining, theatre and modest nightlife rather than a single entertainment strip. The combination of living city centre, protected heritage and practical arcaded streets gives Bern’s old town a measured rhythm distinct from a purely museum-like quarter.

Explore Altstadt on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Altstadt, mapped for you.

Altstadt essentials

Getting There

Bern railway station lies immediately west of the Altstadt and is the most useful arrival point for visitors coming by train from elsewhere in Switzerland. From the station, the old town begins across Bahnhofplatz, with trams and buses continuing along the western approaches and through parts of the central streets. Long-distance rail connections make the station practical for arrivals from Zürich, Basel, Geneva and other Swiss cities. Visitors arriving by car should remember that the historic centre has restricted access and limited parking; using a peripheral car park and continuing on foot or by public transport is generally more straightforward.

Getting Around

The Altstadt is compact and best explored on foot, with the main east–west route running from the station through Spitalgasse, Marktgasse and Kramgasse towards Nydegg. Covered arcades make much of this walk comfortable in unsettled weather, although the paving can be uneven. Trams share several central streets, so crossings require attention. The plateau streets are relatively level, while routes towards the Aare, Matte and Nydegg descend steeply or use steps and lifts. Bern’s public transport network is useful for reaching the wider city, but most old-town sights are close enough to connect by walking.

Safety

The Altstadt is generally straightforward for visitors, but normal urban precautions remain sensible in crowded market areas, around the railway station and on busy tram corridors. Keep belongings secure in dense pedestrian traffic and take particular care when crossing tracks or walking beside moving trams. Evening streets are usually well used, though quieter lanes and the steep approaches to the river can feel isolated later at night. Wet weather can make sandstone paving slippery, while the slopes towards Matte and Nydegg require more care than the level central streets.

Emergency Situations

In Switzerland, call 112 for a general emergency; 117 reaches the police, 118 the fire service and 144 ambulance services. State that you are in Bern’s Altstadt and give the nearest street, square or landmark, such as the Zytglogge, Bern Minster or Bundesplatz. For urgent medical assistance, call 144 rather than trying to travel independently. English is commonly understood in central Bern, but having the exact address written down can help, especially in the narrow historic streets.

Do's and Don'ts

Respect the Altstadt as a lived-in quarter: keep noise low near homes, avoid blocking arcades and doorways, and follow local queues at market stalls and transport stops. Do not climb on fountains, monuments or historic structures, and ask before photographing people at market stands or religious events. Watch for trams even when walking in apparently pedestrian-friendly streets. When entering the Minster or other places of worship, dress and behave respectfully. Swiss service customs are generally orderly, and a modest tip for good restaurant service is appreciated rather than compulsory.

Local Tips

Start at the station and walk east beneath the arcades, pausing at Bundesplatz, the Käfigturm area, the Zytglogge and Münsterplatz before descending towards Nydegg. The side streets around Rathausgasse and Münstergasse offer a slower pace than the main shopping route. For a strong sense of the city’s geography, combine the old-town lanes with a viewpoint towards the Aare and wooded slopes beyond. Markets and civic activity are most visible around the central squares, while the lower river level provides a contrasting perspective on the peninsula’s steep setting.

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics

English	Local	Say it
Hello	Grüezi	[grewt-see]
Goodbye	Uf Widerluege	[oof vee-der-lee-ge]
Yes	Ja	[yah]
No	Nei	[nye]
Please/You're welcome	Bitte	[bi-te]
Thank you	Merci vilmal	[mehr-see feel-mal]
Excuse me/Sorry	Entschuldigung	[ent-shool-dee-goong]
How are you?	Wie goht's dir?	[vee gotz deer]
Fine. And you?	Guat. Und dir?	[gwat oond deer]
Do you speak English?	Redsch du Englesch?	[redsh doo eng-lesh]
I don't understand	I verstoh nid	[ee verst-ho neet]

Eating & Drinking

English	Local	Say it
I'd like to see the menu, please	Chönnti bitte d'Menu ha?	[churn-tee bi-te d'meh-noo ha]
I don't eat meat	I äss keis Fleisch	[ee ess kice flysh]
Cheers!	Proscht!	[prosht]
I would like to pay, please	Chönnti bitte zahle?	[churn-tee bi-te tsah-leh]

Emergencies

English	Local	Say it
Help!	Hülf!	[hoelf]
Go away!	Gang weg!	[gahng vehg]
Call the Police!	Ruef d'Polizei!	[roo-ehf deh-poh-lee-tsey]
Call a doctor!	Ruef en Dokter!	[roo-ehf en dohk-ter]
I'm lost	I ha mi verlore	[ee hah mee fer-loh-reh]
I'm ill	I bi chrangk	[ee bee krank]

Shopping

English	Local	Say it
I'd like to buy...	I möcht ... chaufe	[ee muhkt ... kow-fuh]
I'm just looking	I lueg nur	[ee loog noor]
How much is it?	Was koschtet das?	[vahs kohshtet dahs]
That's too expensive	Das isch z' teuer	[dahs ish tsoh toy-er]
Can you lower the price?	Chönd Sie de Priis redeziere?	[churnt zee deh prees reh-deh-tsee-reh]

Time & Numbers

English	Local	Say it
What time is it?	Wieviu isch's?	[vee-foy isschs]
It's one o'clock	Eis isch's	[ice isschs]
Half past (10)	Halbi zehni	[hal-bee tseh-nee]
Morning	Morge	[mohr-geh]
Afternoon	Namitag	[nah-mee-tahg]
Evening	Abig	[ah-big]
Yesterday	Gestere	[gehs-teh-reh]
Today	Hüt	[hoot]
Tomorrow	Morn	[morn]
1	Eis	[ice]
2	Zwei	[tsey]
3	Drei	[dry]
4	Vieri	[feer-ee]
5	Füfi	[foo-fee]
6	Sächsi	[zehk-see]
7	Sächsi	[zehk-see]
8	Achti	[ahk-tee]
9	Nüni	[noo-nee]
10	Zähni	[tseh-nee]

Transport & Directions

English	Local	Say it
Where's a/the...?	Wo isch a/d...?	[voh issch ah/deh]
What's the address?	Was isch d'Adresse?	[vahs issch dah-drehseh]
Can you show me (on the map)?	Chönd Sie mir's zeige (uf em Plan)?	[churnt zee meers tsie-geh (oof em plahn)]
When's the next (bus)?	Wänn gaht de nächschti (Bus)?	[vann gaht deh nekh-shtee (boos)]
A ticket (to ....)	E Billett (nach ....)	[eh bill-et (nahkh ....)]

History of Altstadt

The Zähringer Foundation

Bern was founded in 1191 by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen on a defensible peninsula above the Aare. The earliest settlement occupied the western end of the modern old town, with the river providing natural protection on three sides. Its name is traditionally linked to the bear associated with the foundation legend, although the historical details of that story are uncertain. The original town followed a planned medieval street pattern, and the Zytglogge area later became an important point between the first settlement and subsequent extensions.

Medieval Expansion Eastward

As Bern grew during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the built-up area extended eastwards along the peninsula. New defensive walls, gates and streets enlarged the town, while markets and craft activity developed along the main thoroughfares. The distinctive long blocks and arcaded fronts of today’s Kramgasse, Marktgasse and Spitalgasse reflect this gradual expansion rather than a single urban design. Civic and religious institutions, including the developing Minster precinct and the town hall area, helped establish the old town as the political and commercial centre of the surrounding territory.

Fire, Reconstruction and Civic Stone

A major fire in 1405 destroyed much of Bern’s medieval town, particularly the densely built western and central areas. Reconstruction brought stricter use of local sandstone and encouraged more durable, coherent façades, while arcades became an increasingly characteristic feature of the rebuilt streets. The disaster therefore helped create the visual consistency now associated with the Altstadt. During the late medieval and early modern periods, fountains, guild buildings, civic offices and market spaces reinforced the quarter’s role as the seat of government and commerce.

Conservation in a Living City

Bern’s historic centre remained politically and commercially important as the city expanded beyond the peninsula in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Traffic, modern services and changing retail patterns altered daily life, but the medieval street plan and sandstone architecture survived on a remarkable scale. The old town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983 in recognition of its historic urban form and architectural coherence. Conservation has since operated alongside contemporary housing, offices, shops, public transport and cultural uses, leaving the Altstadt as a protected but functioning part of Bern rather than a preserved set.