Attractions Nearby Berne, Day Trips and Excursions

(Berne, Switzerland)

Whilst Berne may be the Swiss capital, it is only actually the fourth-largest city. Close by are many world-class attractions in larger cities, such as Geneva, which is a popular day trip and well known for being home to the United Nations' European Headquarters.

Switzerland's biggest city is Zurich and is within easy striking distance of Berne, with endless attractions including cruises along the Limmat River, ancient Roman Baths, the highly celebrated Sprüngli Chocolate Factory and the Zürichhorn Park, where the Chinese Gardens are much photographed. Other attractions nearby Berne include the cities of Basel, Lausanne and Lucerne, each of which have something quite different to offer.

Zurich

A trip to the proud Swiss city of Zurich is an absolute must and since is lies less than two hours from Berne, it often features high up on visitors' lists of things to do. There are many world-class attractions to be found within Zurich, such as the 13th-century Fraumünster (cathedral) and its splendid stained-glass windows, the Kunsthaus (Museum of Fine Arts) and the Zoo Dolder, which is located on the Zurichberg and has become one of the leading zoos in Europe.

Basel

Known throughout Switzerland for its spectacular Fasnacht springtime festival, which always attractions thousands to the city, Basel is around 98 km / 61 miles north of Berne and well worth spending a day or two visiting. Despite its location on the far northern side of Switzerland, Basel is actually amongst the country's most sunny cities and locals often choose to cool down in its fast-flowing River Rhine. The majority of the attractions in Basel lie on the southerly riverbanks, in the area known as Greater Basel (Grossbasel).

Geneva

Located around 155 km / 96 miles south-west of Berne, Geneva (Genève) is just about close enough for a day trip and perfect for a short break. Geneva is a particularly cosmopolitan city, with roughly one-third of its population of 200,000 originating from outside of the city. Many of the main attractions are based around the shoreline of Lake Geneva, such as the breathtaking Jet d'Eau fountain.

Lausanne

The hilly city of Lausanne is around 105 km / 65 miles to the south-west of Berne and can be reached in under one and a half hours by road. Lausanne enjoys a truly picturesque setting and is home to one of Switzerland's grandest cathedrals ever built. Visitors will find the winding streets around Lausanne's Old Town (Vieille Ville) an absolute treat to explore and you can easily spend an entire day just wandering around and soaking up the history.

Lucerne

Lucerne (Luzern) may be a small city, but it should not be overlooked and its proximity to Berne (120 km / 75 miles to the east), makes visiting its numerous attractions extremely easy. The city itself has grown up around the River Reuss and a number of its most appealing attractions line the riverbanks. Countless 15th-century buildings reside within the heart of the Old Town, while for some of the best views, take a stroll along the medieval city walls (Museggmauer) and climb the Schirmertum tower.