Bern, the capital of Switzerland, a city with plenty of stunning views and Instagramable places. Being surrounded by the Aare river, Bern makes one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland.

I spent a day there in January and oh my it was definitely not the ideal time to go. I would suggest every other season apart from winter since it was very cold and the views were not clear enough to see the mountains in the distance but on the good side, the streets weren’t busy!

Here is how I spent one day in Bern, which is plenty of time to see everything! Plus in this blog post, I’ll tell you my favourite photo spots and best views.

A Day in Bern

I suggest starting your day quite early, around 9-10 am, or even earlier if you have that much gusto.

The first stop if the day is the Bundeshaus, which translates in English, as the Federal Palace of Switzerland. It is basically where the Swiss government makes all its decisions.

In the summertime, there are fountains out in front of the palace, however, in the winter they’re not running so I suggest coming sometime when it’s warmer! You can even visit the Federal Palace if you are interested: More information here. I personally didn’t do so, but if you have enough time make sure to look into it.

I then recommend going to the Zytglogge (the clock tower), one of the top tourist attractions in Bern. Every hour, it offers a unique show of small figurines coming and dancing in and out of the clock. Definitely make sure to be there on time so you don’t miss it!

About a couple a minutes from the clock tower you will see the Kindlifresserbrunnen which translates to the Child Eater Fountain, dating back to the 16th century. Pretty scary right?

Its design has many origins but no one really knows the exact idea behind it…

Leaving off from that freaky fountain, it’s now time for some beautiful views!

If you head down to the Aare River, you can go onto the Kirchenfeld Bridge. As you walk across it you will have a lovely view of the Bundeshaus on your right. And, if it’s a clear day, you will be able to see the mountains in the background.

On your left, you will see the Bern Minster Church, which (fun fact) is the highest spire in all of Switzerland. It is surrounded by the river and the Old Townhouses. Definitely snap a bunch of shots here!

The Bern Minster Church is only a couple of minutes walk from the bridge so make sure to go there to enjoy its beauty from up close, as you sit on the many benches on its front plaza.

After that, you can walk down the many Old Town streets till you arrive at the Nydegg Bridge which crosses the Aare River. On your left, there will be the Nydegg Church boarded by colourful houses and on your right, you will see the Bern Minster Church in the distance.

The BEST View Spot

Head to the Rosengarten (Rose garden) which is located on top of a hill looking over the whole city. The view from the top is definitely outstanding as you can see all the main sights of Bern surrounded by the river. It’s my favourite spot for getting a shot of the entire city!

Soak up the views here as you rest after a full day of exploring the city. If you are there at the right time you can even enjoy the sunset as the city of Bern starts to light up in the dark.

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