7 Must-See Sites in Bern, Switzerland

The 13th-century Zytglogge once served as a guard tower, prison and now clock tower. The 179-foot tower features the great hour bell ringing by a wooden bell-striker. The tower also includes an astronomical clock, the dial of which is built in the form of an astrolabe. Guided tours are offered inside the tower. © Valeria Cantone | Dreamstime.com

Bern is often nicknamed the City of Fountains, as it holds more than 100 public fountains within its Old City alone. Explore the unique and quirky fountains found throughout the city, from the Ogre Fountain in Granary Square to the Justice Fountain in Gerechtigkeitsgasse to the Bagpiper Fountain in Spitalgasse. There’s even one called the Child Eater Fountain, and it’s just as you’d expect it to look. © Britvich | Dreamstime.com

Located on the southwestern edge of the Old City, the Federal Palace is the seat of the government of Switzerland. Built in the 19th century, the building takes on a Swiss cross layout. Still used today for government affairs, the building features a grand fountain and offers guided tours. © Justin Black | Dreamstime.com

Bern sits on the Aare, a tributary of the High Rhine. Some parts of the city perch 196 feet above the river. Many bridges cross the waterway, offering outlooks along the river. Locals in Bern often swim in the river in warmer months. © Arsty | Dreamstime.com

The Old City of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage site, its founding dating back to the 12th century. Within the Old City, you’ll find Münster Cathedral (built in the 15th century), the Zytglogge clock, the oldest bridge in Bern (1256) and countless public fountains originally built as a public water supply. Bern, Switzerland. © Sorin Colac | Dreamstime.com

In the southernmost part of the canton of Bern lies the Bernese Oberland. The Bernese Oberland constitutes the Alpine region of the canton and northern side of the Bernese Alps. Here, you’ll find Niederhorn, the peak of the Emmental Alps in the Bernese Oberland. Reachable by cable car, the peak sits 6,440 feet above sea level. Niederhorn sits a little more than an hour from Bern. © Jiri Hrebicek | Dreamstime.com

Bern is home to the Bear Pit, an enclosure of brown bears. Also known as BärenPark, the origins of bears in the city goes back to the 12th century. Today, the Bear Pit is a Swiss heritage site of national significance. © Inna Felker | Dreamstime.com