Our first time in Bern – meeting our Spotters

View over Bern

After launching Spotted by Locals Bern earlier this year, we finally had a chance to visit the capital of Switzerland. Our high expectations were definitely surpassed! Most people know that it’s a very beautiful city (the old town is UNESCO World Heritage), but there is much more!

Life is good in Bern, whose citizens are pride to live slow in the “capital of leisure”. There are forests and hiking trails all around the city and many people swim home from work here! We also have seen more picnic spots, benches and chairs than in any other city we visited…

Bogen 17 Bern (by Sebastian Meier)

Reitschule skating

It was surprising to us to find out that there’s a very happening alternative and volunteer scene (check for example the Reitschule and Heitere Fahne articles).If this all doesn’t convince you to give this city a chance: where else can you piss against a 500 year UNESCO World Heritage site?

We highly recommend visiting Bern as an alternative city trip. It’s an hour by train from Zurich. Our Spotters have done a really awesome job writing about and photographing their favorite spots. Even if you’re not planning on going, give it a read!

Meeting the Bern dream team in Altes Tramdepot Bern

This trip was made possible by 🚆 Interrail – the pass that allows you to travel on almost all trains in Europe

And 🛌 Hostelworld.com – the place to book hostels. In Bern we stayed at Bern Backpackers Hostel