How To Reach Bern

Bern, while being the capital of Switzerland, isn't well-connected by air. The Bern airport is a very small one which connects to a very select number of destinations. The best way to reach Bern, in fact, is to fly to Zurich and then take a train to Bern. There are other ways to get into the city as well which are outlined below. Once in Bern, the city isn't all that big, so exploring it on foot and by public transport is the best way to experience it.

Bern has a small airport located 10km away from the city centre. However, the airport caters to a very niche set of holiday destinations in Italy, Greece, France & Spain. The rest of the flights that operate from here are private ones.

While travelling from India, you can fly to Zurich or Geneva and then take a connecting Rail or Road route to Bern. Swiss Air flies directly into Zurich, while there are many more airlines that fly to either Geneva or Zurich through multiple stops. From Zurich, there are trains with direct connections that will reach you in 1 hour 15 minutes, that depart every 30 minutes. From Geneva, the distance is slightly longer and a direct train would take just a little less than 2 hours.

The Swiss Rail Network is very well connected and easy to use. Bern is well connected through this network and you can reach Bern from almost any part of Switzerland by train. From Zurich, it would take around 75 minutes and from Geneva a little under 2 hours. You can also travel to Bern from nearby European countries like Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium etc. The train station at Bern is located within the city centre and serves you very well.

Well maintained roads & highways make a road-trip into Bern a smooth and exciting ride. If you are driving down in a private vehicle, the distance from Zurich is 125km. Since parking is quite a pain within the city, Bern Tourism suggests that you use a public parking garage and explore the city on foot or use public transport wherever possible. There are also intercity buses from different parts of Switzerland that connect with Bern. The bus is more affordable and takes almost the same time as the train from Zurich. Other popular road routes are Basel to Bern (105km) and Geneva to Bern (170km).

The best way to explore the city centre is on foot. Most of the tourist spots are located in proximity to each other and the Old Town does not allow motor vehicles anyway. You can use electric scooters, bicycles or segways as they are allowed within the Old Town. The public transport systems are also very convenient to use. Buses and Trams can get you almost anywhere in the city and nearby neighbourhoods. The point to be noted is that the tickets are not sold within the bus or tram, but are sold at machines located at the stations or in Libero shops found at Bern main station. For tourists, sometimes the hotel/hostel accommodation may provide you with a free Bern Ticket that is valid on public transport, so do check with them first.