Bern Cathedral (Bern Minster)
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Bern Cathedral (Bern Minster)
Bern Cathedral (Bern Minster)

Bern Cathedral (Bern Minster)

Free admission
Vary
Münsterplatz 1, Bern, Bern, 3000

The basics

Overlooking Bern’s oldest streets, the cathedral is a stand-out stop on most city tours. Its striking façade is a great backdrop for holiday snaps, while its centuries-old architecture is a major draw for any history buff. You need around 30 minutes to explore the cathedral and climb the bell tower, leaving plenty of time to tick off other Bern attractions, such as the Clock Tower (Zytglogge) and Bear Pit. Tours typically depart central Bern, often around the main station, though day trips are available from other Swiss cities, including Zurich and Lucerne.

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Bern Capital City Private Tour
Bern Capital City Private Tour
star-4.5
$229.45 per adult
Traveler Favorite
Perfect
Peter was great!! We wanted to see scenic spots to take nice photos and he showed us so many beautiful spots. He went through alley ways and little lanes and the river view with the bridge was amazing! Felt like we knew Bern after the tour
Peter_W, Mar 2023

Recent reviews from experiences in Bern

Old Town Bern
star-4
Old Town Bern
Tim_K, May 2023
Best Intro Tour of Bern with a Local
All of the fountains of old Town Bern were interesting because our guide provided their background. Our guide provided a good history of Bern and Swiss government.
good local experience
star-5
good local experience
arthur_m, Mar 2023
Bern Capital City Private Tour
The tour gave us a good overview. We were also in a neighborhood where there were no tourists. All in all it was cozy and interesting. Can recommend the tour, the tour guide was friendly and competent and he is from Berne.
Bern tour with our local guide
star-5
Bern tour with our local guide
Leah_E, Mar 2023
Bern Capital City Private Tour
We had a great time with Maya! She crafted the tour around our interests and shared historical and cultural information easily and helped us with ideas and recommendations for what to do during our stay. She is really local and that's what we liked. I have to say, that we had three different tours now with this company and always had a local Swiss guide. This is how it should be.
110% recommend!
star-5
110% recommend!
Emily_T, Dec 2022
Explore Bern in 1 hour with a Local
Jonas was so great! He was very communicative, flexible, and knowledgeable. My mom and I were staying in Lucerne, but decided to take a day trip to visit Bern. We took a train into Bern in the morning and Jonas picked us up at the station. He started the tour from a vantage point that allowed us to see the whole city of Bern while Jonas explained the history and gave us a preview of each section we would walk through. Our tour was only supposed to be 1 hour, but we (and Jonas) were happy to continue on for a total of almost 2 hours. We could have listened to him talk all day!
Private tour of Bern - 2 hours
star-5
Private tour of Bern - 2 hours
Katherine_A, Oct 2022
Explore Bern in 1 hour with a Local
Beautiful capital city with a great of history, nature, architecture, shopping and food. Alicia was a very knowledgeable tour guide.
Vacation
star-5
Vacation
Alejandro_S, Oct 2021
Best Intro Tour of Bern with a Local
Great experience to know better the city with all the explanations. It was a great experience with o e of the local.
our capital tour
star-5
our capital tour
Samina_A, Mar 2023
Bern Capital City Private Tour
The guide, Mike, met my wife and me on time at the hotel. He was very knowledgable of the Bern history and buildings (much more than the tour description suggested). We walked through the old part of the city and he pointed out and explained various sites. It was great having a personal guide that we could ask questions and converse with. At the end of the tour, he suggested a few other things to do including where to eat. Overall, an excellent tour that I would highly recommend and well worth the money.
Great short experience for visitors!
star-5
Great short experience for visitors!
Chelsea_S, Jul 2022
Explore Bern in 1 hour with a Local
Very knowledgeable guide who was willing to wait for us to take photos and ask plenty of questions. We really enjoyed seeing the church, the river, and of course the bears! Highly recommend for a great tour experience.
Could not have asked for better!
star-5
Could not have asked for better!
Lyndsay_E, May 2022
Explore Bern in 1 hour with a Local
My son & I enjoyed this tour so much! We were able to fit in all the major sights of the city & our guide had tons of historical info he shared with us the whole time. From before we even met for our tour, our guide was incredibly friendly & flexible so we could make the most of our tour. Highly recommend Stanko (our guide) to anyone looking for a wealth of knowledge and an all around pleasant experience!
we loved it!
star-5
we loved it!
EuropeTravel_T, Apr 2022
Bern Capital City Private Tour
We were picked up at the hotel and, despite the bad weather, we were able to walk under the arcades of Bern without any umbrella. Mike was our tour guide and he told us a lot of everyday-things about Bern. We really enjoyed getting a few insights away from the main road. All in all a leisurely walk.
nice walk through the capital
star-5
nice walk through the capital
Andrea_B, Apr 2022
Bern Capital City Private Tour
Thanks to Mike for this very relaxing walking tour. We have seen different spots away from the crowd and you told as exciting things about the live in Bern. Enjoyed it with you
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Things to know before you go

  • Most of Bern Cathedral is wheelchair accessible, except the bell tower.
  • Be prepared for a lot of climbing as there are 312 steps up the bell tower’s viewing platform.
  • Admission to the main cathedral is free; there is a small charge to climb the bell tower, which is included in some tours.
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How to get there

Bern’s Old City is pedestrianized, so the best way to get there is on foot. From Bern’s main station, the walk is just over ten minutes. The closest tram stop is Zytglogge, which is served by trams 6, 7, 8, and 9. There are several paid parking lots available in the modern part of the city.

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When to get there

Bern Cathedral opens to the public daily. The tower closes a little earlier than the main cathedral, so arrive in plenty of time if you wish to climb. A small artisan market sets up in the cathedral square on the first Saturday of every month and the Bern Minster Christmas Market takes place annually over the first and third weekends of Advent.

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UNESCO-listed Bern and its Bears

Bern’s medieval Old City has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. A settlement since the Neolithic period, Bern was officially founded in 1191 when a duke decided to name his town after the first animal he met on his hunt, which turned out to be a bear. Learn more about Bern’s love of bears, as evidenced by its cantonal flag, on a visit to the city’s very own Bear Park or drop into the Bernese History Museum to dive further into the city’s rich history.

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Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What are the nearest attractions to Bern Cathedral (Bern Minster)?
A:
Attractions near Bern Cathedral (Bern Minster):