Tram Nr. 8 Bern
Go West!
Sebastian from Bern
A tramride can be a great way to look behind the postcard face of a city. My recommendation is Line 8 to "Brünnen". Hop in at Bern main station for a 25min ride through the post-war urban planning history of Bern.
The ride gets interesting around Europaplatz with its unique "Haus der Religionen" where 8 world religions pray under one roof. After that, the tram enters the diverse Bethlehem quarter (the origin of the name ist still disputed), where you will notice that the passengers change from white families and single businesspeople to elderly couples, students and foreign-looking families.
My favourite stop is called Tscharnegut. On the right side of the road you will notice the bourgeois two-story houses of Bethlehemacker with its well-maintained private lawns and impressive collections of garden gnomes (see image). It was built in WW2, when food was scarce and self-supply was a necessity. On the other side of the road, there's Tscharnergut, the first high-rise quarter of the country built after the war. In that era, cheap housing was the dominant need.
Still, the city planners of that time built Tscharnergut as a social space with playgrounds, community centers and green spaces. When the tram ride's on, those social infrastructures start to disappear - and re-appear in the post-millennial quarters around the last stops. The end of the trip marks the Westside shopping centre with its multiplex cinemas, plastic food and throw-away fashion. This seems to be the dominant need of our time...
Bern Spotter Sebastian
About this spot
Tscharnergut
CHF
no-price
Our Bern City Guide
Find your way with 72 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Loved it? Join us!
Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!
Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:
Discover all other hidden gems in Bern
Burrito Bandito
L.A. street food in Bern
The owner (from California) wanted to bring yummy, healthy Californian-Mexican soul food from back home to Switzerland. And let me tell you, he did!
by
Nathalie
Röllin
Bursting Tree Mural
Reclaim The City
Nature is claiming back the city - a powerful image. The mural was painted by Paul Stämpfli in 1987, way before the world was discussing climate change.
by
Sebastian
Meier
Kopflos
Mind the step
"Kopflos" ('headless') at Casinoplatz in Bern is my favourite piece of art in the city's public space. I love its four fingers!
by
Sebastian
Meier
Wabräu
Mighty Micro Brewery
Founded by a couple of friends over two decades ago, Wabräu has managed to build a respectable crowd of regular customers...
by
Sebastian
Meier
Chindlifresser
Free drinks
"Chindlifresser" in Bern is a gruesome 500-year-old statue of a 'child-eater', but it's also one of my favorite cold-water providers in the whole city!
by
Sebastian
Meier
Zytglogge-Pissoir
One for the boys
"Zytglogge-Pissoir" in Bern is a place for gents to pee around the clock on the medieval watchtower. Where else can you pee on a 500-y.o UNESCO site?
by
Sebastian
Meier
La Chouette
Crèpe-a-porter
"La Chouette" Bern is a small, cozy, woody restaurant that makes the best crepes around! Make sure to try both sweet & salty! Open until late on weekends.
by
Sebastian
Meier
Ô Capitaine
Best brunch spot in town
Who doesn't love brunch? At Ô Capitaine in Bern you'll find everything your heart desires and more! I really like the variety of the food here...
by
Sarah
Dennler
Kreissaal
Late Night Cocktails
Their house specialties "Black Cuban" (a rum coffee cocktail) and "Fado" (port wine and whiskey) are worth spoiling yourself for.
by
Sebastian
Meier
Trallala
Where The Wild Wines Are
I especially like that they have about a dozen bottles by the glass and that they offer you to try several wines before you settle for a good drop.
by
Sebastian
Meier
Jusq‘a
Enjoy the best coffee in town
"Jusq‘a" in Bern makes hands-down the best coffee in town. The personal and simple atmosphere just makes it for me...
by
Sarah
Dennler
Heading to Bern?
72 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
... for just €9.99
Heading to Bern?
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 72 Insider Tips
✓ Escape the Crowds
✓ Find Spots nearby
✓ Authentic Stories
... for just €9.99
City guides by those who know the city in and out!
Our Locals' Favorite Art & culture
Our team loves Bern
Get to know our other Spotters from Bern
As featured on:
