Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde (Bern) Travel Guide - Free

Explore Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde in Bern with Evendo's free guide. Find the best shops, historic streets, restaurants, and gems on web or mobile.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde
Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde photo 2
Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde photo 3
All photos

Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde in Bern pairs museum-rich boulevards, embassy villas, the Aare landscape, Zentrum Paul Klee and Dählhölzli Zoo with quiet local streets.

Between the Old Town and the Aare

Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde occupies the broad eastern and south-eastern side of Bern, rising from the Aare beside the Old Town and extending towards the wooded slopes and open landscapes around Schosshalde. The Kirchenfeldbrücke provides the area’s defining approach: cross it from the historic centre and Bern changes character from medieval lanes to spacious avenues, detached villas, embassies, museums and leafy residential streets. The district is not a single compact village but a collection of closely connected quarters, each with its own rhythm.
Read more about Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde

Museums, Architecture and Public Culture

Kirchenfeld is Bern’s principal museum area. The Bernisches Historisches Museum, with its Einstein Museum, the Naturhistorisches Museum Bern and the Museum of Communication form a remarkable cultural concentration around Helvetiaplatz and nearby streets. Their buildings, gardens and collections make the neighbourhood especially rewarding for visitors interested in Swiss history, science, design and everyday life. The embassy quarter and late nineteenth-century villas add another layer, reflecting the district’s transformation into an affluent residential extension after the bridge opened in 1883.

Open Space and Contemporary Art

Further east, Schosshalde feels more spacious and suburban. The undulating grounds of Zentrum Paul Klee, designed by Renzo Piano, bring modern architecture, art and landscape together, while walking routes descend towards the Aare and the Dählhölzli area. Cafés, restaurants and local shops are concentrated rather than continuous, particularly around Helvetiaplatz and Thunstrasse. Evenings are generally quieter than in Bern’s Old Town, making Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde a district for museum afternoons, architectural walks, green outlooks and a slower residential atmosphere.

Best attractions in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde

Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde offers an unusually concentrated selection of cultural attractions within a leafy residential setting. The Bernisches Historisches Museum introduces the history of Bern and Switzerland, while its Einstein Museum focuses on Albert Einstein’s years in the city; nearby, the Naturhistorisches Museum Bern presents natural-history collections in a more traditional museum setting. The Museum of Communication explores the ways people and societies connect, making it one of the district’s most distinctive institutions. Across the eastern plateau, Zentrum Paul Klee combines a major collection of the artist’s work with Renzo Piano’s expressive architecture and open landscape. Visitors can also explore the broad approach of the Kirchenfeldbrücke, the embassy quarter, tree-lined villa streets and paths leading towards the Aare and the Dählhölzli area, where the city’s riverside landscape becomes more prominent.

Show more attractions

Best landmarks in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde

The Kirchenfeldbrücke is the district’s defining landmark, spanning the Aare and creating a dramatic visual and physical link between Bern’s medieval centre and the nineteenth-century plateau. Around Helvetiaplatz, the Bernisches Historisches Museum is an important architectural and cultural presence, while the Naturhistorisches Museum Bern and Museum of Communication reinforce the area’s institutional identity. Kirchenfeld’s embassies, villas and tree-lined avenues are significant as a coherent example of planned bourgeois expansion rather than as isolated monuments. Further east, Zentrum Paul Klee is the neighbourhood’s most recognisable contemporary structure: Renzo Piano’s three undulating forms respond to the surrounding fields and hills. The contrast between the bridge, historic museum buildings, residential architecture and modern cultural complex gives the district an unusually legible architectural history.

Show more landmarks

Explore Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde on the map

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

Best restaurants in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde

Dining in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde is concentrated around Helvetiaplatz, Thunstrasse and the streets linking the museum quarter with the residential plateau, rather than spread across a single restaurant strip. Visitors find cafés connected with cultural institutions, relaxed daytime places and restaurants serving the cosmopolitan style expected in Bern’s central neighbourhoods, alongside Swiss dishes and seasonal European cooking. The museums make the area practical for lunch or coffee between visits, while the local commercial streets provide a more everyday setting than the Old Town’s tourist-oriented lanes. Schosshalde is quieter and more dispersed, with food options associated mainly with the museum and surrounding residential area. Menus and opening patterns vary, so checking current information is sensible, particularly when planning an evening meal away from the centre.

Show more restaurants

Best bars in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde

Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde is not one of Bern’s principal clubbing districts, and its evenings are generally restrained once the museums and offices have closed. The most dependable atmosphere is around Helvetiaplatz and Thunstrasse, where cafés, restaurants and bars provide places for a drink before or after a cultural visit. Museum programmes and occasional performances can add evening activity, but the district’s character remains residential rather than entertainment-led. Visitors seeking a denser concentration of late-night bars and clubs will find more choice across the Kirchenfeldbrücke in Bern’s Old Town and central quarters. In the neighbourhood itself, keep conversations and departures quiet around villas, apartment buildings and embassy streets, especially late at night.

Show more bars

Best nightclubs in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde

Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde is not one of Bern’s principal clubbing districts, and its evenings are generally restrained once the museums and offices have closed. The most dependable atmosphere is around Helvetiaplatz and Thunstrasse, where cafés, restaurants and bars provide places for a drink before or after a cultural visit. Museum programmes and occasional performances can add evening activity, but the district’s character remains residential rather than entertainment-led. Visitors seeking a denser concentration of late-night bars and clubs will find more choice across the Kirchenfeldbrücke in Bern’s Old Town and central quarters. In the neighbourhood itself, keep conversations and departures quiet around villas, apartment buildings and embassy streets, especially late at night.

Show more nightclubs

Best shops in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde

Shopping in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde is modest and local in scale, with everyday retail and independent businesses concentrated around Helvetiaplatz, Thunstrasse and nearby residential streets. The neighbourhood is better suited to browsing small food shops, cafés, florists, pharmacies and practical services than to a dedicated shopping expedition. Museum shops at the Bernisches Historisches Museum, Museum of Communication and Zentrum Paul Klee provide books, design objects, art-related gifts and educational material linked to their collections. The district’s streets are also worthwhile for architectural browsing, particularly where villas, gardens and institutional buildings create a distinct setting for local commerce. For major department stores, a broad selection of Swiss brands or larger markets, visitors generally need to continue towards Bern’s central shopping streets rather than expect an extensive retail scene within Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde.

Show more shops

Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde essentials

Getting There
From Bern station and the Old Town, Kirchenfeld is reached easily on foot across the Kirchenfeldbrücke or by Bernmobil tram along Thunstrasse, with stops serving the Helvetiaplatz and Thunplatz area. The bridge is the clearest arrival route for first-time visitors because it leads directly towards the museum quarter. Schosshalde and Zentrum Paul Klee are farther east and are best reached by local bus or tram connections from the city centre, checking current Bernmobil information before travelling. From the station, allow for an uphill walk if crossing the bridge on foot; the museum district itself is straightforward once on the plateau.
Getting Around
Kirchenfeld’s museums, embassy streets and central villas are comfortably explored on foot, although the plateau rises from the bridge and roads towards the Aare can be steep. Thunstrasse and the streets around Helvetiaplatz provide the main orientation corridor, while paths lead down towards the riverside and the Dählhölzli area. Schosshalde is more spread out, so public transport is useful when combining Zentrum Paul Klee with the western museum quarter. Pavements are generally good, but slopes, crossings and occasional cobbled or uneven sections may matter to visitors with limited mobility.
Safety
Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde is chiefly residential and institutional, but ordinary urban precautions remain sensible around tram stops, museum entrances and busy bridge approaches. Keep valuables secure in crowded vehicles and avoid standing in cycle or tram lanes while taking photographs. After dark, use well-lit main streets and public transport if returning from the riverside or less busy residential sections. Traffic can be brisk on major roads, and the combination of trams, bicycles and pedestrians requires attention when crossing. Respect barriers and signs in museum grounds, parks and riverside areas.
Emergency Situations
In Switzerland, call 112 for a general emergency, 117 for police, 118 for fire services and 144 for an ambulance. State that you are in Bern and give the nearest street, museum, tram stop or clearly marked landmark; operators can coordinate the appropriate response. For urgent medical care, follow instructions from the emergency service or contact a local pharmacy, hotel or official medical provider for non-emergency advice. The Aare has strong currents and changing conditions, so stay on marked paths and do not enter the river unless a clearly designated facility indicates that it is safe.
Do's and Don'ts
Keep to the right on shared paths and allow trams, bicycles and pedestrians their space, particularly around the Kirchenfeldbrücke and Thunstrasse. Ask before photographing people, private residences or embassy-related premises, and remember that many of the handsome villas are homes rather than public attractions. In museums, follow photography and bag policies and avoid touching displays. Keep voices low in residential streets and around cultural institutions after evening events. Swiss public spaces generally reward orderly queueing, punctuality and considerate waste disposal; informal behaviour should not become a nuisance for local residents.
Local Tips
Begin at Helvetiaplatz, then choose a museum or follow the quieter streets towards the embassy quarter before continuing towards Schosshalde. The route between the Bernisches Historisches Museum and Zentrum Paul Klee is more enjoyable when treated as two separate visits rather than rushed in one circuit. Look for views back towards the Old Town from the bridge and elevated roads, while riverside paths offer a contrasting perspective below the plateau. Museum cafés and the small commercial clusters around Thunstrasse are useful pauses, but the neighbourhood is not a continuous shopping or café district.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

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
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloGrüezi[ɡrʏət͡si]
GoodbyeAdieu[aˈdjø]
YesJa[ja]
NoNein[naɪn]
Please/You're welcomeBitte[ˈbɪtə]
Thank youDanke[ˈdaŋkə]
Excuse me/SorryEntschuldigung[ɛntˈʃʊldɪɡʊŋ]
How are you?Wie geht es Ihnen?[viː ɡeːt ɛs ˈiːnən]
Fine. And you?Gut. Und Ihnen?[ɡuːt ʊnt ˈiːnən]
Do you speak English?Sprechen Sie Englisch?[ˈʃprɛçən ziː ˈɛŋlɪʃ]
I don't understandIch verstehe nicht[ɪç fɛrˈʃteːə nɪçt]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIch möchte bitte die Speisekarte sehen[ɪç mœçtə ˈbɪtə diː ˈʃpaɪzəkartə zeːən]
I don't eat meatIch esse kein Fleisch[ɪç ˈɛsə kaɪn flaɪʃ]
Cheers!Prost![prost]
I would like to pay, pleaseIch möchte bitte zahlen[ɪç mœçtə ˈbɪtə ˈtsaːlən]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Hilfe![ˈhɪlfə]
Go away!Gehen Sie weg![ˈɡeːən ziː vɛk]
Call the Police!Rufen Sie die Polizei![ˈruːfən ziː diː pɔˈliːtsaɪ̯]
Call a doctor!Rufen Sie einen Arzt![ˈruːfən ziː ˈaɪ̯nən aʁt͡s]
I'm lostIch habe mich verloren[ɪç ˈhaːbə mɪç fɛrˈloːrən]
I'm illIch bin krank[ɪç bɪn kraŋk]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ich möchte kaufen...[ɪç mœçtə ˈkaʊ̯fən]
I'm just lookingIch schaue nur[ɪç ʃaʊ̯ə nuːr]
How much is it?Wie viel kostet es?[viː fiːl ˈkɔstət ɛs]
That's too expensiveDas ist zu teuer[das ɪst tsuː ˈtɔɪ̯ər]
Can you lower the price?Können Sie den Preis senken?[ˈkœnən ziː deːn praɪ̯s ˈzɛnkən]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Wie spät ist es?[viː ʃpɛt ɪst ɛs]
It's one o'clockEs ist ein Uhr[ɛs ɪst aɪ̯n ʊʁ]
Half past (10)Halb zehn[halb t͡seːn]
MorningMorgen[ˈmɔrɡən]
AfternoonNachmittag[ˈnaχmɪtaːk]
EveningAbend[ˈaːbənt]
YesterdayGestern[ˈɡɛstərn]
TodayHeute[ˈhɔʏ̯tə]
TomorrowMorgen[ˈmɔrɡən]
1Eins[aɪ̯ns]
2Zwei[tsvaɪ̯]
3Drei[draɪ̯]
4Vier[fiːr]
5Fünf[fʏnf]
6Sechs[zɛks]
7Sieben[ˈziːbən]
8Acht[axt]
9Neun[nɔɪ̯n]
10Zehn[t͡seːn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Wo ist ein/der...?[vo ɪst aɪ̯n/deːr]
What's the address?Was ist die Adresse?[vas ɪst diː ˈadreːsə]
Can you show me (on the map)?Können Sie mir (auf der Karte) zeigen?[ˈkœnən ziː mɪr (aʊ̯f deːr ˈkartə) ˈtsaɪ̯ɡən]
When's the next (bus)?Wann fährt der nächste (Bus)?[van fɛːrt deːr ˈnɛχstə (bʊs)]
A ticket (to ....)Eine Fahrkarte (nach ...)[ˈaɪ̯nə ˈfaːrkartə (nax ...)]

History of Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde

From Riverside Fields to Eastern Plateau

Before the modern district developed, the eastern side of Bern consisted largely of fields, estates, gardens and wooded slopes beyond the densely built Old Town. The Aare shaped the lower edge of the area, while the higher ground offered a healthier and more spacious setting outside the medieval centre. The name Schosshalde refers to this elevated landscape, historically associated with the eastern approach to Bern rather than with a single civic settlement. For centuries, access across the river and up the slopes remained more limited than it is today, and the area retained a semi-rural character close to the city.

The Kirchenfeldbrücke Changes the District

The opening of the Kirchenfeldbrücke in 1883 connected the Old Town directly with the plateau and accelerated the planned expansion of Bern towards the south-east. The bridge reduced the area’s physical separation from the centre and encouraged the construction of broad roads, villas, apartment buildings and institutional sites. Kirchenfeld developed as a prestigious residential quarter, with generous plots and tree-lined streets contrasting with the compact historic core. Its growth belongs to the wider nineteenth-century transformation of Bern into a modern administrative and cultural capital, but the bridge and the planned urban fabric gave this part of the city its particular identity.

A Museum Quarter Takes Shape

The plateau’s spacious setting made it suitable for major cultural institutions. The Bernisches Historisches Museum opened in 1894, creating a prominent architectural and educational presence near the bridge, and other museums followed in the surrounding area. The Naturhistorisches Museum Bern established its own role in the district, while the Museum of Communication later extended the neighbourhood’s cultural range into technology, media and social history. Institutional buildings, diplomatic residences and substantial villas together made Kirchenfeld one of Bern’s clearest examples of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century expansion beyond the old centre.

Schosshalde and the Contemporary Cultural Landscape

Schosshalde urbanised more gradually, retaining a looser mixture of residential streets, institutional land and open ground as Bern expanded eastwards. Its contemporary identity was strengthened by Zentrum Paul Klee, which opened in 2005 on the edge of the district. Renzo Piano’s three wave-like steel-and-glass structures introduced a major cultural destination while preserving a strong relationship with the surrounding landscape. Today, Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde brings together the planned villas and museums of the older plateau with the more open, suburban and landscape-oriented character of eastern Bern.

Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

0 / 0

Neighbourhoods near Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde

The closest neighbourhoods to Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde, if you have time for more than one stop.

Explore more

Bern
More of the region

Explore more of Bern

Bern, Switzerland, combines medieval arcades, federal history, river views and world-class museums with easy access to the Alps and local culture.

Explore Bern
The Evendo app on two phones

Your all-in-one travel companion app

Explore expert travel guides, compare and book tours, experiences, hotels, and more, all from the palm of your hand. Download now for seamless trip planning wherever your wanderlust takes you.

  • Travel guides to regions, countries, cities, landmarks and attractions worldwide
  • Photos, local tips, maps, opening hours and contact details for every place
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets and experiences
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
More about the Evendo app

Evendo is a 100% free travel guide app: plan a trip, find what is worth seeing and book it, all in one place.

  • Restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops picked for every destination
  • A "Near me" view of the attractions and amenities around you
  • History and travel essentials for each country and city

From world regions down to a single landmark, every guide brings together the places to see, where to eat and drink, and where to stay, with descriptions, photos and maps to help you plan.

No in-app purchases and no hidden costs. Download Evendo and take your guides with you wherever you travel.

Get the latest from Evendo

Hand-picked travel deals, new destination guides and trip ideas, straight to your inbox.