Bern Walk, Switzerland

This is the side courtyard of the Cathedral of Bern, a quiet open space beside the cathedral overlooking the Aare River below.

An elevator nearby provides access between the upper Old Town and the lower riverside area.

From the cathedral area, I had a beautiful view of the Aare River, which curves around Bern’s historic Old Town.

The Cathedral of Bern (Bern Minster) is Switzerland’s tallest cathedral, a Gothic landmark that dominates the skyline of Bern’s historic Old Town.

This is the open area in front of the Cathedral of Bern, surrounded by historic buildings in the heart of Bern’s Old Town.

The Cathedral of Bern (Bern Minster) is the largest church in Switzerland. Construction began in 1421 on the site of an earlier church and continued for several centuries.

Originally a Roman Catholic church, it became Protestant during the Reformation in 1528. Its famous Gothic entrance depicts the Last Judgment, while its tower was finally completed in 1893, reaching about 100 meters and becoming the tallest church tower in Switzerland.

A quiet side street in Bern’s Old Town, with cobblestones, historic buildings, and the covered arcades that are characteristic of the city.

Another side street in Bern’s Old Town, leading toward Gerechtigkeitsgasse, one of the main historic streets running through the eastern Old Town.

Gerechtigkeitsgasse is one of the principal historic streets in Bern’s Old Town, forming part of the long east–west route through the medieval center. It is lined with historic buildings and Bern’s characteristic covered arcades, with shops and cafés tucked underneath.

The covered arcades along Gerechtigkeitsgasse are lined with small shops, galleries, cafés, and restaurants, allowing people to walk through Bern’s Old Town sheltered from the weather.

After walking through the covered arcades and looking at the shops, I returned to Gerechtigkeitsgasse

From Gerechtigkeitsgasse, I turned onto a narrower side street and walked toward Postgasse, another historic street in Bern’s Old Town.

On Postgasse, I continued walking east through Bern’s Old Town toward the Nydegg Bridge and the Aare River.

Along the quieter streets near Postgasse, many of the historic buildings are still used as residences, giving this part of Bern’s Old Town a more residential atmosphere.

I turned around and walked back toward the raised street on the left, continuing my exploration of this quieter residential part of Bern’s Old Town.

I walked onto the bridge, which provided a good view of the surrounding Old Town and the Aare River below.

I must have really liked this view of the Aare River and Bern’s Old Town, since I ended up taking so many pictures of it from different angles.

I made it to the end of the bridge, after enjoying several beautiful views of the Aare River and Bern’s Old Town along the way.

I then walked back across the bridge, returning to where I had started

Then I continued walking through Bern’s Old Town toward Zytglogge, the city’s famous medieval clock tower.

A view behind me

The Zytglogge (Clock Tower) is one of Bern’s best-known landmarks. Built around 1218–1220, it originally served as a city gate when Bern was much smaller. As the city expanded, the tower later served various purposes, including as a prison.

Its famous astronomical clock dates from the 16th century. A few minutes before each hour, colorful mechanical figures—including a rooster, bears, and a jester—begin moving, followed by the striking of the hour. The tower stands along Bern’s main historic east–west street and has been a prominent feature of the Old Town for centuries.

After passing through the Zytglogge, I entered the busy central part of Bern’s Old Town, with historic buildings, covered arcades, shops, cafés, and fountains lining the main street.

Then I turned left and headed south toward the Kirchenfeld Bridge, which crosses the Aare River and connects Bern’s Old Town with the Kirchenfeld district.

Near the Kirchenfeld Bridge, I passed Casino Bern. Despite its name, it is not a gambling casino but a historic concert hall and cultural venue.

I started to cross the Kirchenfeld Bridge, leaving Bern’s Old Town behind and enjoying views of the Aare River and the city from above.

As I crossed the Kirchenfeld Bridge, I had a clear view of the Cathedral of Bern rising above the Old Town and the Aare River.

At the end of the Kirchenfeld Bridge, I reached the other side of the Aare River.

At the end of the Kirchenfeld Bridge, I turned around and started walking back across the bridge toward Bern’s Old Town.

The Casino Building

The Federal Palace

The Federal Palace (Bundeshaus) in Bern is the center of Switzerland’s federal government and home of the Swiss Parliament. The main Parliament Building, with its distinctive green dome, was designed by architect Hans Wilhelm Auer, built between 1894 and 1902, and stands between two earlier federal wings. Its architecture and decoration were designed to symbolize Switzerland’s different regions and its federal unity.

I used this passageway between the Federal Palace buildings, climbing the steps to reach the city-facing side of the Federal Palace.

This is the Federal Palace from the city side, with its grand main façade facing Bundesplatz (Federal Square) in the center of Bern.

Waisenhausplatz is a spacious public square just north of Bundesplatz in central Bern. Named after the former orphanage (Waisenhaus) nearby, the square is used for markets and public events and is surrounded by historic buildings, cafés, and shops.

Next to Waisenhausplatz stands the Käfigturm, a medieval tower with a clock that once formed part of Bern’s city defenses and later served as a prison.

It was originally built in the 13th century as a city gate. The present tower dates mainly from 1641–1644, after the earlier structure was replaced. Unlike the more famous Zytglogge, its principal historical role was as a prison and city gate.

From the Käfigturm, I continued along Marktgasse, one of the main shopping streets in the center of Bern’s Old Town, lined with historic buildings, covered arcades, shops, cafés, and fountains. The street leads directly toward Zytglogge, Bern’s famous medieval clock tower.

I walked along Marktgasse for a short distance, then turned around and returned to the Käfigturm to explore the Waisenhausplatz area.

After finishing my exploration of the surrounding area, I walked back to the Käfigturm to continue my walk through Bern’s Old Town.

Then I continued west from the Käfigturm toward Bern’s main train station, reaching the western end of my walk through the Old Town.

A view behind me

I reached Bern’s main train station at the western edge of the Old Town, marking the end of this walk across central Bern.