Gurten, Bern (must see)
Gurten, the scenic mountain located just south of Bern, stands at an elevation of 858 meters (2,815 feet) and offers panoramic views encompassing the city of Bern, the Jura mountains, and the Alps. This local gem is not only a natural retreat but also a hub of leisure activities and cultural events.
The mountain is equipped with various facilities to enhance visitor experiences. These include a hotel, multiple restaurants, a 25-meter-high viewing tower for expansive scenic views, and a playground for children. In winter, it transforms into a winter sports destination with available facilities catering to seasonal activities.
One of the mountain's most celebrated attractions is the annual Gurtenfestival, a music festival held every July since 1977, which attracts top international and Swiss musicians, creating a unique atmosphere above the city.
Accessibility to Gurten is straightforward via the Gurten Funicular from Wabern, a locality well-connected to central Bern by tram, train, or car. The proximity of Wabern bei Bern station and the Gurtenbahn tram stop ensures that access to the funicular is convenient for all visitors.
Beyond its natural beauty, Gurten offers a range of activities. It hosts a vibrant open-air theatre during summer and provides opportunities for tobogganing in winter. For those seeking adventure, there is a 2 kilometers-long biker trail, a summer toboggan run, and a miniature railway. The summit's viewing platform offers a stunning overview of the surrounding landscape, perfect for photographers and sightseers alike.
The Gurten also features a large play area for children, with 22 different attractions, including a 300-meter-long ball run and a climbing tunnel, ensuring that younger visitors are well entertained.
Why You Should Visit:
The park offers many possibilities to keep kids and families busy – 22 activities, to be exact and 20 of them are free of charge.
You can also enjoy various walking trails of different lengths with picturesque rolling fields, woods, and the Alps in the background.
Otherwise, plenty of open space to run, read a book, or have a picnic, and there are designated BBQ areas with installed grills.
Tip:
Try and avoid Sundays as it can get very busy up there.
Restaurants at the top with toilets. For eating, you can decide on the upper-class menu or the self-service "food court".
The best views are from the tower near the hotel/restaurants, or the Ostsignal on the other side of the summit plateau.
The mountain is equipped with various facilities to enhance visitor experiences. These include a hotel, multiple restaurants, a 25-meter-high viewing tower for expansive scenic views, and a playground for children. In winter, it transforms into a winter sports destination with available facilities catering to seasonal activities.
One of the mountain's most celebrated attractions is the annual Gurtenfestival, a music festival held every July since 1977, which attracts top international and Swiss musicians, creating a unique atmosphere above the city.
Accessibility to Gurten is straightforward via the Gurten Funicular from Wabern, a locality well-connected to central Bern by tram, train, or car. The proximity of Wabern bei Bern station and the Gurtenbahn tram stop ensures that access to the funicular is convenient for all visitors.
Beyond its natural beauty, Gurten offers a range of activities. It hosts a vibrant open-air theatre during summer and provides opportunities for tobogganing in winter. For those seeking adventure, there is a 2 kilometers-long biker trail, a summer toboggan run, and a miniature railway. The summit's viewing platform offers a stunning overview of the surrounding landscape, perfect for photographers and sightseers alike.
The Gurten also features a large play area for children, with 22 different attractions, including a 300-meter-long ball run and a climbing tunnel, ensuring that younger visitors are well entertained.
Why You Should Visit:
The park offers many possibilities to keep kids and families busy – 22 activities, to be exact and 20 of them are free of charge.
You can also enjoy various walking trails of different lengths with picturesque rolling fields, woods, and the Alps in the background.
Otherwise, plenty of open space to run, read a book, or have a picnic, and there are designated BBQ areas with installed grills.
Tip:
Try and avoid Sundays as it can get very busy up there.
Restaurants at the top with toilets. For eating, you can decide on the upper-class menu or the self-service "food court".
The best views are from the tower near the hotel/restaurants, or the Ostsignal on the other side of the summit plateau.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bern. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
Gurten on Map
Sight Name: Gurten
Sight Location: Bern, Switzerland (See walking tours in Bern)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Bern, Switzerland (See walking tours in Bern)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Bern, Switzerland
Create Your Own Walk in Bern
Creating your own self-guided walk in Bern is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Bern's Historical Churches
They say architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness. While the outside appearances of historical churches in Bern beckon seekers of beauty and tranquility, the ethereal atmosphere within embraces the visitor with a sense of timeless serenity.
Enveloped within Bern's historic old town, the Church of the Holy Ghost (Heiliggeistkirche) is one of the largest... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Enveloped within Bern's historic old town, the Church of the Holy Ghost (Heiliggeistkirche) is one of the largest... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Fountains and Statues Walking Tour
With over 100 public fountains in the Old Town alone, Bern has a well-deserved reputation as the "City of Fountains". During medieval times, local life revolved around fountains as they provided water for residents and served as locations for news exchange and social gatherings.
Throughout history, Bernese residents have cherished their fountains and decorated them with elaborate... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Throughout history, Bernese residents have cherished their fountains and decorated them with elaborate... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Bern Introduction Walking Tour
The de facto capital of Switzerland, Bern is commonly referred to by the Swiss as the "federal city". Built around a crook in the Aare River, it traces its origins back to the 12th century. According to the local legend, Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, founder of Bern, vowed to name the city after the first animal he would kill on the hunt. That animal happened to be a bear, hence the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Swiss Sweets and Pastries
Among other things that make Switzerland popular around the world, chocolate is definitely the one. Still, chocolate isn't the only Swiss-made sweet deserving attention, as there are plenty of baked products, such as Magenbrot, Vermicelles, and Biberli, to mention but a few, that are well worth...