Bern
Capital of Switzerland
Bern is the capital of Switzerland, with a population of about 10,600 as of 2024. Visitors come to see its historic Old City and various landmarks.
What to see
The Old City is a central feature of Bern. Within this area, travellers visit the Zytglogge, a historic clock tower, and the Federal Palace of Switzerland. Another point of interest is the Bärengraben. Additional sites in the city include the Einsteinhaus and the Zentrum Paul Klee.
When to go
The city experiences cold winters with daily highs between 4 °C and 6 °C from December through February and frequent rain. Temperatures increase during the spring and reach daily highs of 23 °C in July and August. These summer months have fewer rainy days compared to May and June, which see rain on about 19 days each month.
Getting there
Bern Airport is located 6 km from the city. For international connections, the EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg is 73 km away.
Top sights in Bern
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 23 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 5 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 5 |
| Average low, °C | -3 | -3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 1 | -2 |
| Rainfall, mm | 70 | 63 | 82 | 82 | 119 | 115 | 114 | 114 | 100 | 94 | 77 | 88 |
| Rainy days | 14 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Bern (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Einsteinhaus
- Zentrum Paul Klee