Getting There

With its central location in the northern foothills of the Swiss Alps, Bern is easily accessible by air, road, or rail.

 

By Car

Bern is connected with all major cities in Switzerland and neighboring countries by a dense network of well-developed highways and main roads.

Bern is easily reached by car. The Swiss capital has motorway links with Geneva, Zurich/Basel and the Bernese Oberland region.

Arriving in Bern, Bern Tourism recommends leaving your car in one of the multistory parking garages and exploring the city center on foot. The old town is car-free, except for deliveries.

Information about parking facilities in Bern: www.bernparking.ch

 

By train

Located in the heart of Europe, Bern can easily be reached by train. The main train station is located in the city center.

After your arrival, you will find that the main university building and the university neighborhood Länggasse are equally central and accessible. In the train station in Bern, follow the signs for Universität/Länggasse. They lead to the fourth floor, where you exit via the Grosse Schanze, a rooftop park offering a beautiful view of the mountains on clear days. The main university building and Länggasse are located across the park.

Check the timetable here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html

Tip: If you are planning a longer stay, you should consider purchasing an SBB Half-Fare Card with your very first train ticket. Cardholders travel for half price throughout the Swiss rail system. The minimum term is one year, but if you travel frequently, the card quickly pays for itself. For example, a one-year card costing 175 CHF saves 50% on each round-trip to Zürich airport.

 

By plane

If your flight lands in Zürich, Geneva, or Basel, there is excellent rail service to Bern with the Swiss rail company SBB. In both Zürich and Geneva, an SBB station is located inside the airport, allowing direct transfer to Bern.

Bern Airport
Bern Airport is just 10 km from the city center. When arriving in Bern Airport, you will reach the city center in 30 minutes. The small airport connects Bern with European cities such as London, Berlin and Munich. Thanks to its compact size, only a short time is needed for arrivals and departures. The city can be reached by public transport. The airport bus takes passengers to Belp train station. From there, you can take an S-Bahn to Bern main station. For visitors staying in Bern overnight, the journey by public transport from the airport to the city is included in the Bern Ticket.

More information: www.flughafenbern.ch

Zurich Airport
Zurich Airport is Switzerland’s largest airport. You can reach Bern main station from Zurich Airport train station in an hour and 15 mins by train. Trains with direct connections from the airport to the capital depart usually every 30 mins. Zurich Airport is the biggest airport in Switzerland with many international flights. Bern is a 75-minute train ride from Zurich Airport.

More information: www.zurich-airport.com

EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg
EuroAirport is located near the borders of Switzerland, France and Germany. Bern can be reached via Basel SBB train station in around 1 hour and 15 mins. Trains from Basel SBB to Bern depart every 30 mins. This airport is situated outside Basel and offers connection to many European destinations. From EuroAirport Basel, Bern can be reached in about 90 minutes.

More information: www.euroairport.com

Geneva Airport
Geneva Airport is also well connected to the Swiss rail network. Geneva Airport train station can be reached directly from the arrivals hall. Direct trains to Bern depart every 30 mins. The journey takes just under two hours. Direct trains from this airport to Bern are available, the ride will take about 2h 45 min.

More information: www.gva.ch