How to spend a day in Bern (Switzerland) on a budget with kids

Table of Contents

If you’re visiting Switzerland on a budget with kids, then make sure you add spending a day in the gorgeous city of Bern to your family holiday itinerary. Bern, the charming capital of Switzerland, is full of history, culture and family-friendly attractions – all within a compact area perfect for exploring on foot with the kids. You don’t need too long to explore Bern, though it would be a great base for a weekend mini-break, you can certainly see the best bits in one day. After our expensive Jungfraujoch excursion, we had to make sure the rest of our days out were cheap or free. Luckily, though Switzerland is known for being expensive, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the city of Bern with your family without breaking the bank – so here’s a budget-friendly itinerary of activities for a day of exploring with the kids.

1. Stroll through the Old Town (Altstadt)

Start your morning with a stroll through Bern’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with medieval charm. The cobblestone streets, clock towers and historical buildings are fascinating for both kids and adults, and exploring won’t cost you a penny! Don’t miss the Zytglogge – a beautiful clock tower dating back to the 13th century – it’s one of the oldest monuments in the city of Bern. Every hour, this ornate clock delights crowds with its display of rotating figures, a surefire hit with the little ones. Plan to be near the clock tower a few minutes before the hour to catch the clock’s chimes and animated figurines.

2. Head towards the Bear Park (BärenPark)

Bern’s symbol, the bear, isn’t just on their flags and souvenirs – you can actually see real bears in the BärenPark! Located along the scenic River Aare, and just a five minute walk from the Clock Tower, you’ll find the bear enclosure which is home to several bears. It’s completely free to visit, and the park’s pathways allow you to view these majestic animals up close, with excellent views from above. Have pit-stop here, as there are picnic benches with great views of the bears and the river (don’t forget your flask of coffee!) and there’s a stall nearby that sells cheap ice-lollies to keep the kids happy too.

3. Have lunch at the Rosengarten (Rose Garden)

Just a ten minute walk from the Bear Park you’ll find Bern’s Rosengarten – this park, overlooking the city, is free to enter and provides stunning views of the city of Bern. Surrounded by roses, this is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic lunch – the kids can let off some steam and play too as there’s even a small playground area. The Rose Garden is also a great place to take some family photos with the scenic views of Bern’s Old Town in the background – the perfect way to capture your day!

4. Pick an educational afternoon activity

There are a few different activities you might want to do after you’ve enjoyed your picnic lunch in the park – so here are a couple of options:

Visit Bundesplatz and the Swiss Parliament Building: Continue your exploration of the Old Town by heading to Bundesplatz, the square in front of the Swiss Parliament. If parliament is not in session, you can even take a free guided tour inside. Check in advance for tour times on the official Swiss Parliament website, as you may need to register for tours.

Visit Bern Historical Museum and Einstein Museum: The Bern Historical Museum is Switzerland’s second-largest museum and offers a wide variety of exhibits, including the Einstein Museum, which highlights the life of Albert Einstein who once lived in Bern.

5. Finish your day at Gurten Mountain Fun Park

It’s walkable but, after a busy day, it’s probably easiest to hop in the car or take a short bus ride to your final stop at Gurten Mountain just outside of the city. Bern’s local mountain, the Gurten, offers breathtaking views of the city and the Alps beyond. The funicular ride up to the top (the Gurtenbahn) is an experience in itself – though you can walk the trail if you like. Once at the top, the kids can make the most of the toboggan run, play in the playground, take a turn on the miniature cars, or even ride the miniature train ride – with each of these things only costing a few pounds. There’s also plenty of space for running around – and fountains to splash in too in the summer months – there’s loads of fun to be had at Gurten Mountain Fun Park so make sure you allow a few hours for your visit. (Sadly, we didn’t find out about Gurten Mountain until after our visit – so let me know if it’s any good!)

Is Bern worth a visit?

I can’t imagine by the end of this article that you have any doubts about visiting the city of Bern but, just in case, let me add that yes it’s totally worth a visit! We’ve been to plenty of cities in Europe, and it’s definitely one of our favourites. Bern is a very walkable city (making it fantastic for a day of exploring with kids in tow), and it offers a mix of beauty and interesting things to see and do – it’s the perfect family-friendly option for a city visit in Switzerland.

Bern vs Geneva – which should you visit?

We actually stopped off for a few hours in Geneva on our journey back home to the UK, and 100% out of the two Bern wins hands down! Though there are some stunning views to be had at Lake Geneva – where I wish we’d had time to explore – the city centre of Geneva is nothing like that, and it was our least favourite place in Switzerland. Unlike Bern which had a traditional and chilled vibe (and felt very ‘Swiss’), Geneva’s city centre felt very much more like a normal city and was busier, dirtier and quite a contrast to the other places that we visited in Switzerland. There was also less to see and do – so if you’re looking to explore a city during your trip, then Bern wins every time.

Interlaken to Bern

Interlaken is a really popular area to stay in – within easy distance of so many fabulous attractions and family days out. We stayed at Manor Farm Campsite in Bernese Oberland, Interlaken – if you’re looking for budget-friendly family accommodation I would highly recommend it – and the drive to Bern from there was about 45 minutes. If you’re travelling without a car, the train journey from Interlaken to Bern would be a similar length too, Switzerland is actually a really easy country to navigate by train, boat and bus – the public transport is great. For more information on Manor Farm Campsite, check out my review: Eurocamp Holiday Review: Manor Farm Campsite, Interlaken, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland.

Final tips for saving money in Bern:

Use a Swiss Family Card: If you’re traveling around Switzerland by train, consider a Swiss Family Card, which allows children under 16 to travel for free with a paying adult.
Bring water bottles: Bern has numerous clean water fountains around the city. Keep your water bottles filled throughout the day to avoid buying drinks.
Pack a picnic: If you have self-catering facilities at your accommodation, pack a picnic for your family (with plenty of snacks for the kids) for your day exploring Bern. If you do need some supplies, grab what you need from a bakery or supermarket to avoid expensive meals out. There’s an Aldi just a few minutes walk from the Zytglogge Clock Tower.

With a bit of planning (and a copy of this itinerary!) you can easily spend a day in capital city of Switzerland with the kids on a budget – making family memories in Bern that will last a lifetime. With beautiful views and buildings, bears, and plenty of fun to be had on Gurten Mountain – Bern is a fantastic place to visit, so make sure you do some exploring if you’re heading to Switzerland with the kids. If you’re hoping to travel on a budget then you’ll absolutely want to check out my full guide for our trip – with affordable family accommodation, things to do in Interlaken and tips for keeping costs down: Our Eurocamp Interlaken Family Holiday Guide: How to visit Switzerland on a budget with kids.

And, for even more ideas on things to do with kids in and around the Interlaken area, head to my family itinerary guide: Interlaken family holiday itinerary – the best things to see and do with kids.