While traveling around Switzerland, chances are you are going to want to see some of the best cities Switzerland has to offer, but you probably won’t have time to see them all. This begs the question, should you visit Bern or Basel?
The two cities of Bern and Basel are delightful cities to visit. Both are home to incredible museums, have lovely old towns, and are brimming with culture, stunning architecture, and lots more.
But, one will suit you a little better than the other, so let’s dive in and find out which one suits you better, Bern or Basel. We’ll take a look at things to do in Bern or Basel, each city’s food scene, nightlife, shopping, and more.
Table of Contents
Things to See & Do
Bern
Bern is the capital Federal city of Switzerland and is home to a lot of history and culture. Sitting on the banks of the Aare River, it is a lovely city to stroll around while taking in all the stunning sights.
The Old Town
Bern’s Old Town, also referred to as the Old City, is a UNESCO World Heritage site as it is an incredibly well-preserved medieval city, perhaps one of the best preserved in Europe.
A walk around the Old Town of Bern is an absolute must while you are visiting. The charming cobbled stone streets and small alleyways will transport you back in time as you gaze upon buildings from the 12th to the 15th centuries.
The Aare river runs straight through the old town and as you wander around each corner you’ll discover little cafes, boutique shops, and lots more.
Gurten Park
When you visit Bern a trip up to Gurten Park is something you simply cannot miss. Gurten Park is a mountain park just outside the city center offering stunning views of the Bernese Alps and the Jura Mountains.
Getting there is fun too as you take the funicular up the mountain. At the top, you can access a number of hiking trails, have lunch at the mountain top restaurant, and there is a playground to keep your kids entertained too.
The Historical Museum of Bern
Bern is famous for its museums and one of the top museums to visit is the Historical Museum of Bern. The museum is huge and it hosts permanent exhibitions about the history of Bern as well as cultures from around the globe.
To give you a sense of the size of this museum, it houses more than 500,000 artifacts that span thousands of years.
The Einstein Museum
Within the Historic Museums is the Einstein Museum. One of Bern’s claims to fame is that Albert Einstein lived in the city and while living there came up with his theory of relativity. At the museum, you will learn all about Einstein, his theories, and lots more.
Rosengarten
Another highlight of Bern is the Rosengarten (Rose Garden). Sitting in the heart of the city, it is filled with colorful roses and is the perfect place to have a picnic and take a break while exploring the city.
Zytglogge
Sitting in the heart of Bern’s Old Town is the Zytglogge, a medieval clock tower from the 1400s. Chances are you will walk past it while exploring the Old Town but if you can be there on the hour, you’ll be in for a show.
Basel
Basel sits on Switzerland’s border with both Germany and France and is known as the cultural capital of Switzerland, which is hardly a surprise being a melting pot of 3 nations.
Like Bern, Basel is also a medieval town and it sits on the banks of the Rhine River. It is famous for its museums and has more than 40 along with its vibrant and artistic vibe. It is a very popular city to live in, especially for creative people. Here are some great things to see and do in Basel.
The Old Town
A stroll around the Old Town of Basel is a must during your visit. It is also a medieval old town, like Bern’s, and its top sights include Gothic cathedrals and the Town Hall built from Red Sandstone.
Make sure you visit the Basel Minster cathedral in the Old Town and climb the stairs to the top of one of the towers for incredible views over the city and the Rhine River.
The Rhine River
If you visit Basel in the summer months, then life revolves around the Rhine. You can swim in the river, sunbathe, go on cruises and lots more. At the very least, a stroll along the river bank around sunset and stopping at a bar for a cocktail is always a great experience.
Fondation Beyeler
Fondation Beyeler is the most popular art museum in Switzerland and is a place you should not miss while visiting Basel. It is home to a stunning collection of art across many time periods and is home to many famous pieces also.
The collection is valued at over a billion dollars just to give you an idea and you can see paintings by Degas, Warhol, Picasso, and Monet to name a few.
Jean Tinguely Museum
Another art museum that one should see in Basel is the Jean Tinguely Museum or Museum Tinguely as it is known. Sitting on the banks of the Rhine in a stunning building, the museum exhibits works by Swiss artist Jean Tinguely.
You will find paintings, drawings, sculptures, and interactive exhibits of machine art which are fascinating and kids love.
Basel Paper Mill
The Basel Paper Mill is one of the coolest museums in Basel in my opinion and kids love it too.
Sitting on the banks of the Rhine, the paper mill is 5 centuries old and a tour around it teaches you everything about making paper, its history, and the written word.
You can also partake in the interactive exhibits where you get to make your own paper, which is a ton of fun.
Public Transport
Bern
Bern, like all Swiss cities, has a very efficient public transport system. Being a rather small city, it does not have a metro but the trams and bus services will get you around Bern quickly and easily.
If you are staying at one of the many Bern hotels, be sure to ask for the complimentary public transport card as with this you can use the buses and trams for free during your visit.
Bern is also a very walkable city and it is possible to get around without using the public transport system at all.
Basel
Basel has the same public transportation system as Bern with trams and buses that will get you around the city very efficiently. Like Bern, Basel is also a small city and is therefore very walkable too.
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If you are staying at any of the Basel hotels, you can also ask for a complimentary public transport card so you can use the trams and buses for free.
Food
Bern
Bern is home to a large variety of restaurants and you choose to dine at local cafes overlooking the river, have a traditional Rosti that Bern is famous for, dive into world cuisine, or enjoy some fine dining at a Michelin Star restaurant.
Basel
Basel has a much more vibrant and diverse food scene than Bern. It is renowned as one of the best cities in Europe for street food and you will find trucks serving up delicious food from around the globe on the banks of the Rhine.
When it comes to restaurants, Basel also offers pretty much every dining experience from traditional Swiss dishes to world cuisines and Michelin Star.
Shopping
Bern
Bern is a wonderful place to do some shopping as it is home to boutique stores as well as markets and high-end retail establishments too.
The Old Town is where you will find small shops and markets selling unique items from Switzerland and around the globe. If you are looking for luxury items, then head to Marktgasse and Spitalgasse where you will find stores selling watches, art, jewelry, and more.
Basel
Both Basel and Bern are very similar when it comes to shopping. You can find a load of unique boutique stores and markets in Basel Old Town to search through as well as more high-end retail stores around the city.
Nightlife
Bern
Bern has a fun and lively nightlife. On the banks of the river, you’ll find a lot of bars where you can watch the sunset and enjoy a cocktail with all the locals.
There are also some fun Irish pubs that are worth checking out and if you want to dance the night away, quite a few clubs that book international DJs too.
Basel
The nightlife in Basel is also very similar to Bern. In the summer, the party starts on the banks of the Rhine at around sunset at the local bars and pubs. It then progresses to one of the many clubs where DJs play until the early hours of the morning.
Day Trips
Bern
Located in the heart of Switzerland, Bern is also a great place to base yourself during your visit to Switzerland. There are some awesome day trips from Bern that include the Bernese Alps and the Jura Mountains.
A wonderful day trip to take from Bern is to Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. Interlaken is the gateway to the Jungfrau region and a stunning city that sits between two beautiful lakes.
From Interlaken, you can also access the Lauterbrunnen Valley which is home to 72 waterfalls with stunning mountain views. Or head to Grindelwald and explore the likes of Jungfraujoch, the Aletsch Glacier, and many more mountain peaks.
Basel
Basel is also a great place to base yourself and do day trips from. The beautiful lakeside city of Lucerne is just 1 hour away by train and between its cultural sights and stunning mountains, it is a day trip of note.
Zurich is also just an hour away and is certainly worth a day trip during your visit.
Travel Cost (Which Is Cheaper?)
Bern
Bern is an expensive city on a global comparison but when you compare it to other cities in Switzerland, it comes out at about average.
When in Bern you should budget about $200 US a day and this includes everything from accommodation to having a drink by the river. Of course, you can spend a bit less or a lot more depending on your level of accommodation and the restaurants you choose to dine at.
Basel
When visiting Basel, you should budget about $180 US a day which includes accommodation, food, and fun. It is a little less expensive than Bern but not by much.
Best Time to Visit
Both Bern and Basel experience similar weather with winter being between November and March, spring in April/May, summer in June to August, and fall in September/October. The best time to visit either city comes down to good weather and fewer crowds.
Bern
The best time to visit Bern is in May/June or September/October. During these months there are fewer crowds (July & August being the busiest) and the weather is still great.
For sunny skies, warm days, and swims in the river, June and September are the best months to be in Bern. If you want to see the leaves change, October is also beautiful.
Basel
The best time to visit Basel is the same as Bern – May/June and September/October, and for the same reasons, fewer tourists and great weather. Again, June and September are the warmest/least busy months to visit.
However, in the months of February or March, Basel comes alive with Carnival Festival. The city is closed for 3 days and all the locals take to the streets to have a good time. It would be a fun thing to experience, although the weather will be chilly.
Days to Spend in the City
Bern
You can spend just one day in Bern and get a good sense of it but I would recommend 2 days and 2 nights. With this amount of time, you can see all that Bern has to offer and dive into the culture a little bit too by enjoying evenings by the river and lots more.
Basel
One day in Basel is enough to see the major sights and museums but if you want to have time to experience it all, 2 days and 2 nights are ideal. You can see everything at a leisurely pace, visit a few restaurants, get a sense of the nightlife, and more.
Basel or Bern: Which City Is Worth Visiting?
Both Basel and Bern are worth visiting, but if I had to choose between Bern or Basel, I would pick Basel, even though they are very similar.
Basel is more affordable, has a better food scene, plus it has a more fun atmosphere and diverse culture than Bern. Overall, I think that those key differences would make the trip enjoyable for me.
