Switzerland » Entertainment in Bern

Bern has many museums, theatres, landmarks, cafés, restaurants and shops not to mention the weekly market all of which can be easily reached on foot.

Bern’s nightlife is surprisingly vibrant, with live music (contemporary and classical), dance nights, theatre, opera and film all getting a substantial look-in. Posters all over town advertise events, or otherwise you can find complete city nightlife listings in Agenda, the Thursday supplement of Berner Zeitung newspaper, available free from many cinemas. For cutting-edge news about clubs and music events (in German), pick up the free Bewegungsmelder from the tourist office and elsewhere. The free fortnightly Bern aktuell has English listings of major cultural events, but nothing out of the mainstream. You can buy tickets for most big events from Konzertkasse Casino, Herrengasse 25.

Bern also has an active cultural arts scene. The city is home to three theatre organisations. Two of these groups stage a number of performances throughout the year, and there are several performances for children, while the other offers a new Shakespeare presentation every summer.

Some of the top events of Bern are Bern Dance Days, Bern Grand-Prix, Bern Jazz Festival, Bern Onion Market, Gurten Festival and many more.

One of the famous places which should not be missed while you are in Berne is the "The Gurten". It is a lovely hill just outside the city. It features a park and great view over the city on one side and a nice panorama of the Bernese Alps on the other. The park is visited heavily by locals to play ball, to barbecue or to just lie in the sun. Tourists are not an unusual sight, though this little attraction is missed by most of the many that visit the city.

In hot summer days, let you drift for some kilometers in the river Aare. Good (and safe) stretches are between the Kornhausbridge and the public pool of the Lorraine (old fashioned swimming pool just next to the river) and between the Eichholz and the public pool of the Marzili. Other stretches such as swimming the bend around the old town (starting at the "Englische Garten" to the Lorraine) or the "Bremgartenschlaufe" are only to be done by good swimmers campaigned by experienced locals. Entrance to public pools is free of charge.