Bern and Lucerne are two classic examples of Swiss cities, both known for their old towns and scenery. They are two of the most popular cities to visit before exploring the Swiss Alps. If you are trying to decide between visiting Bern or Lucerne, this is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city you should visit.
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Bern or Lucerne Overview
Bern
Bern is considered the capital of Switzerland even though there is no official capital city. It is the 5th largest city in the country with 140,000 residents. The historic Old Town of Bern was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bern is 542 meters above sea level making it the 3rd highest capital city in Europe.
The Aare River winds its way through the city, adding to the beautiful landscape that the city was built on. Bern is known as the “City of Fountains” because of the vast amount of fountains scattered throughout the city. Einstein also used to call Bern home.
Lucerne
Lucerne is a smaller city but is still the 7th largest city in Switzerland, with a population of 82,000 people. The city sits in the center of the country, making it easily accessible from other parts of Switzerland. It is known for its well-preserved medieval architecture found throughout the city.
It is also considered, by many, to be the most beautiful city in Switzerland and one of the most beautiful in all of Europe. It has a stunning setting, sitting next to Lake Lucerne with mountain-top vistas in the distance. Lucerne is basically the quintessential Swiss city.
Places to See
Bern
The Old Town of Bern has the river winding around it making it quite beautiful.
Zytglogge is a medieval tower built in the 13th century.
The Bern Cathedral is a Gothic-style cathedral in the center of the city. Construction started in 1421 but was not completed until 1893.
Bundeshaus, or The Federal Palace, is a massive palace that is home to the Federal Assembly and Federal Council.
The Rosengarten is a park across the river from the Old Town that has panoramic views of the city.
Lucerne
Chapel Bridge, or The Kapellbrücke, is the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe. It is one of the most iconic structures in Switzerland.
Museggmauer is the old city wall that has nine towers. Three of the towers are open to the public.
The Jesuit Church was consecrated in 1677 but was not completed until 1893.
Lake Lucerne is an incredible lake to explore the coastline.
The Church of St. Leodegar is a Catholic church that is home to a large art collection.
Getting Around
Bern
The Old Town in Bern is not very big so you can easily explore it on foot. If you book any accommodation within the city of Bern, you will automatically have access to the Bern Ticket. The Bern Ticket gives you free access to the public transportation network in Bern. Once you check into the place you are staying you have to open the Bern App and use your booking confirmation number to get your Bern Ticket. You can also use the bike-sharing system and E-bike sharing.
Lucerne
The center of the city, the riverfront, and the lakefront areas are excellent parts of the city to explore on foot. You should receive a Visitor Card when you check into your choice of lodging. The Visitor Card will give you free access to public transportation. Places like the Glacier Garden are a little out of the way so you should use public transportation. Another fun way to see the city is to take a lake cruise and see the city from Lake Lucerne.
Nightlife
Bern
Bern is not known for its nightlife. There are quite a few bars you could choose from in the center of the city. There are dozens of bars in the Old Town that you can go bar hopping to. If you want a night out, you can still have a good time in Bern but don’t expect it to be as crazy as cities like Zurich.
Lucerne
For a city of under 100,000 people, Lucerne definitely holds its own in regard to nightlife. It may not be to the caliber of Zurich but you will enjoy your time out in Lucerne. The center of the city has an abundance of bars, pubs, and clubs, especially the areas just to the north and south of the Chapel Bridge. There are quite a few clubs to choose from if you want to continue partying late into the night. Some of the best nightclubs in Lucerne, like VEGAS Dance Club, are located outside of the city center so you will want to plan your night out accordingly.
Day Trips
Bern
Chateau de Chillon is a castle located on a small island in the eastern part of Lake Geneva.
Interlaken is a popular tourist destination because it is considered to be the gateway to the Swiss Alps.
Lauterbrunnen is one of the most picturesque villages in all of Europe. It is one of the main tourist destinations in Switzerland.
Lucerne
Mount Pilatus is just to the south of Lucerne. You can take a cable car to the top of the mountain.
Interlaken is the gateway to some of Switzerland’s most iconic mountain towns like Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland.
If you find the time to visit other major Swiss cities, you may want to consider making the short journey up to Basel, Zurich, or even the longer trip to Geneva.
Food
Bern
Rosti is a potato pancake-like dish that is considered a national dish. Rosti originated as a dish the farmers outside of Bern would eat and it has become a dish famous around the world. Tartiflette is another potato dish that originated in Switzerland. It is a dish consisting of potatoes, A LOT of cheese, and strips of meat (typically lardons). If you walk through the Old Town, you will find many chocolate shops where you can get some authentic Swiss chocolate.
Lucerne
The food scene in Bern is similar to Lucerne. Many natives consider the national dish of Switzerland to be a delicious side known as rosti. This dish is also known as a potato pancake, and it is made from shredded and fried potatoes formed into a disc. Farmers began making the dish as breakfast before working the fields. It is occasionally served with other ingredients such as apples or cheese. While you’d be hard-pressed to find a Swiss restaurant that doesn’t serve this dish, some of the best rosti can be found in Lucerne, particularly in a restaurant called Wirtshaus Taube.
Overall
Bern and Lucerne are perfect examples of classic Swiss cities. Both cities are known for being easily explored and for being close to the Alps. If you are planning on heading into the Alps to see places like Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, or Grindelwald, Bern is slightly closer but most people would agree that the trip from Lucerne is much more scenic.
Both cities are incredibly beautiful so you can rest assured knowing you will enjoy either city. If you are someone who values visiting capital cities, then you should visit Bern but if you want to see one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, then you should visit Lucerne.