Bern

Bern is Switzerland’s federal capital, though it governs with a modesty unusual for a seat of national government. The old town sits on a sandstone peninsula almost entirely encircled by a tight loop of the Aare River, giving it a natural defensive form that explains why it was founded here in 1191. The UNESCO World Heritage designation it received in 1983 covers the medieval arcaded streets — the Lauben — which run for six kilometres through the old town, sheltering pedestrians from rain and snow under continuous covered walkways that have been here, in various forms, since the 13th century.

The Zytglogge, the astronomical clock tower at the western end of the main arcaded street, has been marking the time since 1530 and drawing crowds to watch its mechanical figures perform on the hour since the 16th century. The Minster — the Gothic cathedral on the Munsterplatz — has the tallest church tower in Switzerland at 100 metres and took over 500 years to complete, from 1421 to 1893. The Bundesplatz, the federal square in front of the Parliament building, hosts a popular fountain installation in summer. The Bärenpark on the banks of the Aare, where the city’s heraldic bears are kept in an open riverside enclosure, has been a fixture of Bern since the 16th century.

Bern is a city that functions well as both a destination and a transit point. It sits centrally within the Swiss rail network — Zurich is 55 minutes east, Geneva 105 minutes west, Interlaken 50 minutes southeast. The Rose Garden above the old town gives the most complete view of the peninsula and the river below. Halal dining options are available in the city, concentrated in the areas around the main station and the multicultural Brengyässchen quarter. Bern is quieter and less visited than Zurich or Lucerne, which makes it easier to move through slowly and on your own terms.