Switzerland's historic capital and its beautiful surroundings
A city steeped in history and legend, Bern is a beautiful time capsule dating back to the late 12th century. Flags adorned with the city’s bear fly from the great stone walls and buildings, and stories tell how the city’s founder, the Duke of Zähringen, named the city after the first animal he met on one of his hunts.
Filled with sweeping squares and bustling arcades, Bern manages to capture the beauty of its past and blend it seamlessly with modern style and glamour. Cafes, restaurants, shops and delis adorn the narrow streets that wind themselves through a maze of medieval avenues. The old town is resplendent and elegant with its sandstone structures wrapped snuggly along the meandering waters of the Aare River.
One of the most distinct components of the city are the fountains that can be found in the middle of its streets. Built around 1550, they feature ornate designs and playful statues, based on allegorical Renaissance figures. If the fountains dominate the ground, then the Münster of Bern dominates the sky. Its cathedral spire is an incredible 101 metres high, observing the people from its seat in the heavens.
Soak up the city’s dignified and tranquil atmosphere by taking a trip through the Rosengarten, and take a seat at one of its traditional taverns.
Laying just south of Bern is the Bernese Oberland, a region characterised by snow-capped mountains, glistening lakes, mountain villages and hiking trails. The contrast of jagged peaks and lush green valleys makes it one of Switzerland’s most beautiful areas and the crisp Alpine air makes it a great place for enjoying the great outdoors.
Highlights
Take in the sheer size of the Münster of Bern
Lose yourself in the labyrinthine shopping arcades that tunnel their way through the city
Set out on a hike on one of the many trails available
Dan Rhodes
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Bern and the Bernese Oberland
Why book with Jacada?
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Trip inspiration
Where else to go in Switzerland
Basel
Perched along the iconic River Rhine, Basel is a historic city home to world-class museums, galleries and some cutting-edge contemporary architecture.
Discover moreGeneva
Snow-dusted peaks and brilliant green hills reflect off the smooth surface of Lake Geneva. Small villages wait to be discovered on the shoreline, while at the southern tip of the lake, the French-speaking city of Geneva entices with a fascinating history and vibrant culture.
Discover moreGstaad
Located near the Alpine passes in one of Switzerland’s most beautiful regions, Gstaad is a small village known for its high-profile guests, luxury hotels and high-end restaurants.
Discover moreLake Lucerne
Forested slopes roll down to the still turquoise waters of Lake Lucerne, snow-capped mountains soaring towards the sky in the distance and quaint villages peppering the shoreline.
Discover moreJungfraujoch and Interlaken
Jungfraujoch is a glacial pass found between the Jungfrau and Mönch mountains in the Bernese Alps. The heights themselves are visible from far away, displaying their awesome power with snowy peaks reaching high into the skies above.
Discover moreJura and the Three Lakes
In Switzerland’s northwest, reaching out into France, the Canton of Jura is characterised by green pastures and sweeping hills and forested mountains, with winding rivers punctuated by medieval towns.
Discover moreLausanne and Montreux
Nestled on the northern banks of Lake Geneva, Lausanne is a hilly city in the canton of Vaud. Set on a series of terraces, the charming old town sits at the top with the former fishing village of Ouchy at the bottom.
Discover moreSouth Western Switzerland
South Western Switzerland is a sublime corner of the country, crowned by the Italy-bordering Matterhorn whose iconic peak towers above the town of Zermatt.
Discover moreSt. Moritz
With backdrops of breath-taking forests blanketed in snow, and dramatic peaks cutting into cobalt skies, lakeside St. Moritz is as picturesque an alpine destination as you could imagine.
Discover moreTicino
Populated by great mountains and vast blue lakes, the enduring beauty of Ticino is one of old-world charm, but it certainly isn’t lacking in modern glitz and glamour.
Discover moreZurich
This majestic city stands proudly on the lower end of Lake Zurich, decorative spires piercing the clear sky.
Discover moreMeet your Europe team
When to visit
Switzerland is a year-round destination.
In winter it is a mecca for skiiers, and there are plenty of winter hikes and snowshowing activities on offer.
In spring and summer the meadows fill with wild flowers and the lakes look exceptionally beautiful.
Sightseeing
Year round
Winter break
December - April
Hiking
April - September
Plan your trip to Bern and the Bernese Oberland
Whatever you want from your adventure in Switzerland, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Wonderful trip. Big WOW! Jacada is the best company we've ever used. Everything was scheduled and worked seemlessly. Top quality all the way. Will definitely use again.
Jacada tailored a vacation to Switzerland for us that met all of our expectations and more. Our hotels were beautiful and centrally located, our guides and excursions were all amazing, and the logistics went off pretty much without a hitch. We would definitely book another trip with Jacada.
Great customer care and personalized experiences!
Kate and the rest of the Jacada team have done a fabulous job in planning and executing our Christmas trip to Switzerland. Last year they did an extensive trip of Asia for us. No detail is to small. Each trip has special experiences. They use wonderful tour guides and provide great information prior to leaving
Really great trip and every detail was perfectly planned! Thanks!!
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If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.