Bern

It is the capital of Switzerland and also the capital of the Canton of Bern. The population of the city is about 128,000 people. It is the fourth most populous city in the country (after Zürich, Geneva and Basel).

Read the whole Bern Guide.

Celebrities

The celebrities of the city include the reformer Albrecht von Haller, the poet Albert Bitzius, the painters Hans Fries, Ferdinand Hodler and Paul Klee and also Mani Matter, the songwriter who performs in Bernese German. It is also here that Albert Einstein worked out the theory of relativity.

The Sights

The medieval architecture makes the city centre very beautiful. The old town has been recognised by UNESCO as a Cultural World Heritage Site. The Zytglogge clock tower is one of the symbols of Bern. The Münster, a 15th century Gothic cathedral, is also one of the popular sights. Tourists often visit the bear pit (the city has had it since the 16th century). Dating from 1902, the Federal Building (Bundeshaus) is also worth visiting. It houses Parliament and part of the federal administration. The tourist attractions of the city also include the set of fountains in front of the Bundeshaus, the Garden of Roses (Rosengarten) and other sights.

Theatres

You can also visit the theatres of Bern. These are the following: the City Theatre, Schlachthaus-theater, Tojo Theater, the Theatre on the Effinger-Street, Narrenpack Theater Bern and Theater Szene. There are also many cinemas in Bern showing films in their original language.

Museums

There is quite a lot to see in the museums of the city as well. These include the Museum of Arts, the Art-Hall, the Museum of Communication, the Psychiatry Museum, the Historic Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Alpine Museum, the Einstein House, the Marksmen Museum, Zentrum Paul Klee and others.

Nightclubs

The nightlife of the city is also interesting to explore. You can do it at Reithalle (a meeting place for the alternative scene), Wasserwerk (a club close to the river Aar), Bierhübeli, Marians Jazzroom (the club hosting the International Jazz Festival), the Dead End, Gaskessel, the Mahogany Hall, Dampfzentrale and others. There are also many festivals taking place in Bern.

Zürich

Zürich is the largest city in Switzerland with a population of about 371,800 inhabitants. It is also the capital of the canton of Zürich. The city is a financial and cultural centre located at the northwestern end of Lake Zürich.

Read the whole Zürich Guide.

Events

The important annual festivals include the Sechseläuten, a spring festival of the guilds, and the Knabenschiessen, a folk festival including a sharpshooting contest.

The Zürcher Theater Spektakel is an international theatre festival which is one of the most important European festivals of this kind.

Kunst Zürich is an international contemporary art fair which attracts numerous visitors and promotes contemporary art.

Zürifäscht is the largest public festival in Switzerland. It is a triennial event featuring music, fireworks and other attractions. The next festival will be held in 2010.

Weltklasse Zürich, a prestigious track and field event, is held every August.

freestyle.ch is also an important sport event taking place in Zürich.

The Street Parade in Zürich is comparable to Berlin’s Love Parade. It is one of the most popular technoparades in Europe.

Theatres

The most famous theatres are Zürcher Opernhaus (the Zürich Opera’s home since 1891) and Schauspielhaus Zürich (the main theatre complex of the city). Theater am Neumarkt is one of the oldest theatres of Zürich. Theater Gessnerallee is a young theatre which is considered to be the most experimental stage in the city. Theater an der Sihl is the official theater of the Zürich Academy of Dance and Theatre. Rote Fabrik Theater offers avant-garde theatrical performances, concerts and discos. You can also visit a number of other theatres located in Zürich.

Sightseeing in Zürich

Churches. The main churches of Zürich include Grossmünster (the place where the Swiss Protestant Reformation was initiated by Zwingli in 1519), Fraumünster (founded in 853), St. Peter (it has the biggest clock face in Europe) and Predigerkirche (founded in 1231).

Museums. You can also visit the museums of Zürich: the Swiss National Museum, Museum Bärengasse, Kunsthaus Zürich, Museum Rietberg, Museum Bellerive, Migros Museum and many others.

Nightlife. Zürich offers a great opportunity to have fun in its clubs. The city is one of the European capitals of electronic music. There are also many other kinds of clubs.

Geneva

It is the capital of the Canton of Geneva and also the second most populous city in Switzerland with a population of about 185,600 people. It is a global city in which numerous offices of international organizations are located. In the 16th century the city was the centre of the Calvinist Reformation and is also referred to as the "Protestant Rome".

Read the whole Geneva Guide.

Sights

Geneva is considered to be one of the greenest cities in Europe. There are more than 20 parks in the city centre.

Saint Pierre Cathedral is located in the heart of the city. It is the oldest and the most impressive building in Geneva.

The Old Town is the historical centre of the city including many popular sights. Sightseeing tours around Geneva often include the Reformation Wall, the Plainpalais Cemetery, Place Neuve, the European Headquarters of the United Nations, the Schtrumpfs Building, the Paquis and many other sights.

Lake Geneva is also one of the popular tourist attractions of the city.

There are also many museums and theatres in Geneva, which makes it an important cultural centre.

Other Cities

When you come to Switzerland, you should also visit Basel, its third most populous city and one of the most important cultural cities in Europe. Davos is also famous all over the world as the host to the anual meetings of global political and business elites. It is a popular ski resort. There are many other winter sports areas and other beautiful cities in Switzerland, so we hope you won’t miss your chance to see the ones you like most.