It's only 1 hour and 10 minutes by train from Lausanne and 1 hour and 45 minutes from Geneva so if you're staying in the Geneva region, Bern makes a wonderful day out.

Most part of the old city is only for pedestrians with an arcade which protects you when it rains - you can walk "unger de loube" as we say in Swiss German.

Bern by night - Switzerland!

The rich history and culture of Bern means there are lots of museums and historical sites for visitors. The Bern Historical Museum, Switzerland's second largest museum, features the country's most important ethnographic collections as well as Bernese historical collections dating from prehistory to present day. The Kunstmuseum, the Museum of Fine Arts, is renowned for its collections of paintings by artists such as Paul Klee, Ferdinand Hodler, Meret Oppenheim, and Pablo Picasso.

Other sites in Bern Switzerland, that shouldn't be missed include Einsteinhaus, which is the small flat Albert Einstein rented with his wife while he worked in a Swiss patent office. It offers glimpses into Einstein's personal and scientific lives with photos and original documents from Einstein's life, work, and speeches.

The city is not only indoor activities, though. Tierpark Dahlhoelzi (Zoo) is a great outdoor attraction for families. The zoo is located along the Aare river, and many of the outdoor habitats incorporate the river.

And about 1/2 drive you can visit the castle of Burgdorf

Here a link to get a lot of informations about the fabulous "Emmental" Region - Where the Emmental Cheese was born

Art lovers should also be sure to visit the Paul Klee Museum.

A center that showcases the world's most important collection of his works in a modern, wave-shaped building.

Only recently, the city sold 11,620 cobblestones to private persons and enterprises to finance a new pathway in the new Baerenpark ("bear park"). The legend says that Duke Berchtold V von Zahringen named the city after the first animal to be caught here, which was a bear.

For those who want to be more active in their visit, the Gurten is a wonderful option. The hill is located just outside the city, and is home to a park with a view of the city on one side and the Bernese alps on the other. There are hiking paths, a playground for children, and a wooden lookout tower for a better view.

Also I should not forget to mention for the music friends the famous Open Air Gurtenfestival which will take place in 2012 from the 12 - 15 july.

Another legend, popular among Swiss outside the Bern canton, is that people from the canton of Bern (like me!) are slow in about everything: speaking, eating and so on. But most don't know that we are slow because we have to wait for the others, otherwise they can't follow us!

Aare River - Oldest bridge in Bern, "Untertorbrücke"

Finally, Bern Switzerland, wouldn't be complete without a summer swim in the river Aare. There is a variety of areas for swimming, though some are only recommended for experienced swimmer accompanied by locals.

Anyone considering a visit to Switzerland should look into the quaint city of Bern. Its attraction range from historical to outdoors and everything you can do in the city gives you a taste of the rich history and culture of the city.

Regardless of where else you may visit in this country,Bern Switzerland, would be a place that would not easily be forgotten!

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Here is the official website. Bern Switzerland,