Bern Cathedral (Bern Minster)

Overlooking Bern’s oldest streets, the cathedral is a stand-out stop on most city tours. Its striking façade is a great backdrop for holiday snaps, while its centuries-old architecture is a major draw for any history buff. You need around 30 minutes to explore the cathedral and climb the bell tower, leaving plenty of time to tick off other Bern attractions, such as the Clock Tower (Zytglogge) and Bear Pit. Tours typically depart central Bern, often around the main station, though day trips are available from other Swiss cities, including Zurich and Lucerne.

• Most of Bern Cathedral is wheelchair accessible, except the bell tower.
• Be prepared for a lot of climbing as there are 312 steps up the bell tower’s viewing platform.
• Admission to the main cathedral is free; there is a small charge to climb the bell tower, which is included in some tours.

Bern’s Old City is pedestrianized, so the best way to get there is on foot. From Bern’s main station, the walk is just over ten minutes. The closest tram stop is Zytglogge, which is served by trams 6, 7, 8, and 9. There are several paid parking lots available in the modern part of the city.

Bern Cathedral opens to the public daily. The tower closes a little earlier than the main cathedral, so arrive in plenty of time if you wish to climb. A small artisan market sets up in the cathedral square on the first Saturday of every month and the Bern Minster Christmas Market takes place annually over the first and third weekends of Advent.

Bern’s medieval Old City has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. A settlement since the Neolithic period, Bern was officially founded in 1191 when a duke decided to name his town after the first animal he met on his hunt, which turned out to be a bear. Learn more about Bern’s love of bears, as evidenced by its cantonal flag, on a visit to the city’s very own Bear Park or drop into the Bernese History Museum to dive further into the city’s rich history.