Culture and Attractions
- Music Scene
- Turnhalle (Progr), Bee-Flat at Im PROGR
- Street Art
- Graffiti walls in the Reitschule area
- Cooking Classes
- Migros Klubschule Bern
- Must-See Landmarks
- Zytglogge (Clock Tower), Bärengraben (Bear Park), Bundeshaus (Parliament)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Zentrum Paul Klee, Kunstmuseum Bern (Museum of Fine Arts)
- Historical Sites
- Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage), Einstein House (Kramgasse 49)
- Religious Sites
- Berner Münster (Cathedral of St. Vincent)
- Annual Events
- Zibelemärit (Onion Market in Nov), Gurtenfestival (Music festival in July)
- Cultural Districts
- Kirchenfeld (Museum district), Matte
- Theater Venues
- Stadttheater Bern (Kornhausplatz 20)
- Local Markets
- Weekly Market at Bundesplatz and Münstergasse
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Kornfeld, Gallery Henze & Ketterer
- Historic Buildings
- Rathaus (City Hall), Erlacherhof
- Local Heritage
- The Bear symbol (found on flags, fountains, and in the Bear Park)
Essentials
- Population
- Approx. 134,000 (400,000 in metropolitan area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber options up to 10 Gbps via Swisscom)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 CHF ≈ 1.14 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.88 CHF
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high-quality Alpine water from public fountains
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type J (3-pin) and Type C (2-pin)
- SIM Card
- Swisscom (Best coverage), Sunrise, Salt (Budget option: approx. CHF 20/month for unlimited data)
- Banking for Expats
- PostFinance, Neon (Digital bank), Revolut, UBS
- Accommodation
- Apartments via Comparis.ch, Airbnb (High demand, approx. CHF 1,800 - 2,500/month)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and TWINT (local mobile payment) accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, City Pop (Micro-apartments near Bern Station), VISIONAPARTMENTS
- Budget Accommodation
- Bern Backpackers Hotel Glocke (CHF 45-60/night for dorms), Youth Hostel Bern
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Altstadt (Old Town - UNESCO site), Matte (River district)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Länggasse (University district, cafes), Breitenrain (Hip, residential neighborhood)
- City
- Bern, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Impact Hub Bern (Spitalgasse 28, Day pass approx. CHF 35), Effinger (Effingerstrasse 10)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Adriano’s Bar & Café (Theaterplatz 2), Café Federeer (Länggassstrasse 47)
- Networking Events
- Bern Digital Nomads Meetup, Startup Weekend Bern, Impact Hub Community Breakfasts
- Social Events for Expats
- Bern Expats Facebook Group, InterNations Bern, Friday night drinks at Klösterlistutz
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (Moderately available), Bären Taxi (Call +41 31 371 11 11)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- PubliBike (Bike sharing, CHF 3 per 30 mins), Tier E-scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Marzili (River swimming in the Aare), Eichholz (Gravel beach on the river)
- Top Regional Airline
- SkyWork Airlines (defunct), now served by Helvetic Airways via Zurich/Basel
- Top International Airline
- SWISS International Air Lines, Lufthansa
- Highway Access
- A1 (East-West), A6, and A12 highways intersect at Bern
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Bern Hauptbahnhof (Major hub for SBB/CFF/FFS)
- Public Transport Passes
- Libero Zone passes (CHF 79/month for Zone 100/101), Swiss Half Fare Card (CHF 185/year)
- Regional Travel
- SBB Trains (Bern to Zurich: 1h, Bern to Interlaken: 50m)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Inselspital University Hospital (Freiburgstrasse 18)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Open Yoga (Kramgasse 68), Bernaqua (Water park & Spa at Westside Shopping Center)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Update Fitness (Neuengasse 30), Luxor Fitness (Aarbergergasse 5)
- Laundry Services
- Jet Wasch (Laundromat, Muesmattstrasse 22), Terlinden (Dry cleaning)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Just Eat, UberEats, Eat.ch
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Berner Platte (Hearty meat platter), Rösti (Fried potato pancake)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Tibits (Gurtengasse 4), Hiltl (Plant-based buffet in various locations)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Confiserie Tschirren (Kramgasse 73), Gelateria di Berna (Marzili/Breitenrain)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aldi Suisse, Lidl, Denner (Budget supermarkets)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Galaxus.ch, Digitec.ch, Amazon.de (with shipping limitations)
- Grocery Delivery
- Coop.ch, Migros Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Aarbergergasse and historical cellars in the Altstadt
- Local Brewery
- Altes Tramdepot (Am Bärengraben), Felsenau Brewery
- Wine Bars
- Vue (Bellevue Palace), Volver (Rathausplatz 8)
- Street Food Stalls
- Lunch stalls at Bundesplatz (Market Tues/Sat)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Namaste India (Indian), Da Bucolo (Italian)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Gurten Mountain (Local hill accessible by funicular), Rosengarten (Rose Garden)
- National Parks Nearby
- Gantrisch Nature Park (25km away), UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Aare River Loop (Walking Path alongside the river)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Rose Garden (View of Old Town), Cathedral Tower
- Birdwatching Locations
- Wohlensee (Lake/Reservoir nearby)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ spots along the Aare river at Eichholz
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Die Post (Swiss Post), DHL, DPD
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Store (Westside), Revendo (Postgasse 64)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Monbijou Park and Rosengarten
- Language Classes
- Flying Teachers Bern, Migros Klubschule
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Bibliothek Münstergasse, National Library of Switzerland
- Community Centers
- Gaskessel (Youth/Culture center), Reitschule
- Gaming Lounges
- E-Sports Bar Bern (at various event pop-ups)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Grand Casino Bern (Kornhausstrasse 3)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CHF 14,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = CHF 560,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CHF 10,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = CHF 420,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CHF 13,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = CHF 810,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CHF 9,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = CHF 588,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CHF 12,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = CHF 1,000,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CHF 9,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = CHF 736,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 12% - 13% (Combined Federal, Cantonal, and Communal)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 35% (reclaimable for residents and via tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 41% (Combined Federal and Cantonal)
- VAT
- 8.1% (Standard rate), 2.6% (Reduced rate for essentials)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None (Switzerland generally does not have CFC rules)
- Property Tax
- Yes, Cantonal property tax approx. 1 to 1.5 per mille of taxable value
- Property Transaction Tax
- 1.8% (Handänderungssteuer) in Canton Bern
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard Swiss residency rules apply (L/B Permits)