Bern, Switzerland: Essential city guide

The Swiss capital, Bern, is a delightful mélange of history, politics, great coffee and ghost stories, discovers Leigh-Ann Pow. Come find out the where and how…

Out and about

One of Bern’s most famous sons, the artist Paul Klee, is feted at the Zentrum Paul Klee, an architectural masterpiece of undulating lines by Renzo Piano situated among green pastures just outside the city. The museum houses around 4000 of his works; you can also take a side trip to the nearby Schosshalde graveyard, where Klee is buried.

Albert Einstein may have been born in Germany, but he was one of Bern’s most famous residents and published his Theory of Relativity while living here. The flat he rented from 1903 to 1905 at Kramgasse 49 has been restored in the style of the period and is open to the public as the Einstein House museum.

Bern is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the country, and the Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is an absolute delight to explore. Lose yourself in its covered walkways and intricate fountains, topped with colourful figures depicting heroes and historical events of the Middle Ages, and make sure you check out the macabre Child Eater Fountain or Kindlifresserbrunnen at the Kornhausplatz. Start at the Zytglogge (clock tower) and work your way towards the river, then cross the Aare River via the Nydeggbrücke (bridge) to get a view back at its beauty.

Insider’s secret

If you are a culture vulture and plan to fill your time in Bern’s many museums, a small fee buys you a 24- or 48-hour Museum Card and thus unlimited free entry throughout the city. You can purchase these from your hotel or from Tourist Information staff at the main station; the added bonus is each card covers two children under 16 at no extra cost.

Eat streets

Altes Tramdepot has views of the Aare River and the Old Town, and its eclectic menu encompasses Swiss classics as well as French and Asian offerings. But the real appeal is in the homebrews, which are conjured up in giant copper vats in the middle of the restaurant. The spectacular Kornhauskeller, with its vaulted ceilings and frescoes in Bernese High Baroque style, is a treat as much for the eyes as it is for the belly with its menu of Mediterranean cuisine.

Retail reconnaissance

Bern is a shopping paradise come snow, rain or shine thanks to its wonderful covered arcades in the medieval Old Town. There are myriad boutiques, galleries, cafes and wine shops tucked in underneath them or intriguingly located below street level in old basements. Stroll them at a leisurely pace.

Bernese natives Nicole Verbeek-Burri and Evelyne Pfeffer, the design duo behind local fashion label PAMB, are committed to making uncomplicated fashion that can be worn from day to evening, and makes a woman feel appropriate and beautiful no matter her shape or size.

The sweetest souvenirs of the city (literally and figuratively) are Mandelbärli, little almond teddy bears reflective of the city’s ursine emblem and styled on the bear dance portrayed on the medieval bell of Bern’s Holy Spirit Church. Shop for flavours including chocolate, honey and lemon, and classic vanilla at Beck Glatz.

Caffeine hits

Beloved of local coffee aficionados, Adriano’s Cafe Bar bustles at just about every hour of the day: the coffee beans here are roasted in-house making it the perfect choice for a morning hit. At lunch there are bagels and sandwiches with a focus on organic produce and interesting combinations, and at night you can choose from one of its homebrews.

Bar Lorenzini (Hotelgasse 10) has a chic vibe, packed with locals reading papers and sipping their chosen brew. There’s a decent Italian restaurant upstairs and a lovely internal courtyard at ground level.

Stay and play

Affordable

Hotel Marthahaus Bern is located in a quiet residential area only a 10-minute walk to the centre of town, with a guest kitchen, free wi-fi and complimentary breakfast, as well as light, modern rooms.

Moderate

Located in a 500-year-old building ‘99 steps away from the clock tower’, the three-star Hotel Restaurant Goldener Schlüssel Bern has rooms decorated in modern style and a restaurant downstairs serving hearty Swiss cuisine.

Luxury

The official hotel of the Swiss government, the Bellevue Palace is classically grand, with beautifully appointed rooms and various dining options, a cigar bar and spa, all in the heart of the city.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Ultimate experience

Bern’s long history of battles and plagues and intrigues has left the city with its fair share of spooky stories; the best way to hear them is on Get Your Guide’s 90-minute tour of the spooky Bern. Taking in the Old Town at dusk, the guide tells stories of haunted houses, restless souls and the ‘legend of the white mist’. Goosebumps guaranteed.

MORE… Yoo-hoo! – the rest of Switzerland is waiting!

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.