Zurich and Bern are two of the most important cities in Switzerland. Zurich is known for being the financial center and the largest city in the country. Bern is known for being the capital city but yet having a small-town feel to it. If you are having a hard time deciding between Zurich or Bern, here is the ultimate guide to which city you should visit.
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Zurich or Bern Overview
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland with 435,000 residents. The city has been around since 15 BC when the Romans founded it. The main language spoken here is German but most of the locals speak multiple languages including French, Italian, and English. In recent years, Zurich has been ranked as having the highest quality of living in the world. They have also been ranked as the happiest people in the world, in years passed. Zurich is one of the world’s largest centers for finance. Every August, Zurich hosts the Street Parade which is Europe’s largest techno parade and one incredible party.
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.
Places to See
Zurich
Lake Zurich is a large lake that has the city sitting on its northern banks.
Grossmünster is a Protestant church that was built in 1100.
Bahnhofstrasse is the main street in Zurich. It is one of the world’s most expensive shopping avenues in the world.
Altstadt is the Old Town of Zurich.
The Zurich Opera House has been open since 1891. It was the first theater in Europe with electrical lighting.
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.
Food
Zurich
Fondue originated in Switzerland and the earliest accounts of it came from Zurich so you need to try some fondue when you visit its birthplace. There are many places to find fondue but Le Dézaley and Swiss Chuchi Restaurant are great places to get some. Zopf is a type of braided bread that is traditionally eaten on Sunday mornings but has become popular throughout the week.
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.
Getting Around
Zurich
Most of the major sights in the city are able to be seen on foot. The furthest the major attractions get from each other is less than 2km which can easily be walked if took your time. If you want to see some of the attractions outside of the city center, like the Zurich Zoo or Le Corbusier House, you will want to use public transportation. If you buy the Zurich Card you will have access to all public transportation, free exhibitions, and you can get special treatment at certain restaurants.
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.
Nightlife
Zurich
The nightlife in Zurich is one of the best in Europe which seems to surprise people. Zurich has more bars per capita than anywhere else in Europe. Niederdorf in the old town and Zurich West are the best places to find nightlife in Zurich. With a vast number of bars, there is also a ton of nightclubs you can choose from. Langstrasse is a street that is sometimes regarded as Zurich’s red-light district. Frieda’s Büxe, Hive, Supermarket, and Space Monki are some of the best clubs in the city but most of the clubs here are a good time regardless of the one you choose. Since you’re in Switzerland, you can expect prices to be rather high during your night out.
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 London or Barcelona.
Day Trips
Zurich
Jungfraujoch is part of the Bernese Alps that connects the peak of Jungfrau and Monch. The Sphinx Observatory, one of the world’s highest observatories, is located here.
Lucerne is one of the most visited cities in Switzerland. It sits on the banks of Lake Lucerne.
Liechtenstein is a small country to the east of Switzerland. It is one of the smallest countries in the world.
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 sits between Bern and Zurich so you should consider visiting regardless of which city you visit.
Overall
Zurich and Bern are two of the most important cities in Switzerland. Bern is the capital city and Zurich is the financial center of the country. If you want good nightlife, you should definitely choose Zurich. If you want a bigger city that has a small-town feel, then you should go explore Bern. Bern is also closer to the Swiss Alps and Interlaken.
Many people choose Bern to be their base city when they visit Switzerland because of its central location and its close proximity to the Alps. If you’re trying to decide between Zurich or Bern, you need to know what aspects of a city are most attractive because that will ultimately lead you to your answer.