City Guide
Bern is the Swiss capital: smaller and calmer than Zurich, with a UNESCO-listed medieval old town, long arcades and the turquoise Aare river running around it. The Bernese Oberland and its mountains are about an hour away.
Best for
Remote workers who want a quiet city and mountain weekends
Best months
May to September
Cost per day
Roughly €190–€300 including a mid-range hotel
Internet
Excellent, both WiFi and mobile internet
Less suited if you want a lively big city, or you are on a budget.
Switzerland has excellent WiFi and mobile internet. It is not in the EU, so check whether your mobile plan includes Switzerland; a European eSIM that covers Switzerland is an easy solution.
Impact Hub Bern
The main coworking space in the city, with a day rate of around CHF 45.
Bern is small, so you are never far from your coworking space, a café or the river.
Old town (Altstadt)
In or near the old town, close to the Aare and the arcades. Beautiful, but hotels are limited.
Länggasse
A relaxed university area close to the station, with cafés and parks.
Wankdorf
A modern area in the north, with newer hotels and apartments and a direct train to the centre.
Stays I list in Bern:
A rough week for one person with a mid-range hotel, excluding travel:
Stay
€850–€1,400
For a hotel room or aparthotel with a desk
Food
€280–€420
Supermarkets help
Coworking
Around CHF 225
For five day passes
Transport
€30–€50
The centre is walkable
May–Jun
Green and warm, with long evenings
Jul–Aug
The best time to swim in the Aare
Sep
Clear days, perfect for mountain trips
Oct–Apr
Cool and grey in town; Christmas markets in December
Most visitors fly to Zurich or Geneva and take the train: Zurich Airport to Bern takes about an hour and a quarter. Trains to Zurich take about an hour.
Bern’s centre is walkable, with trams and buses for the rest. Trains to Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland take about an hour.
Switzerland is not in the EU but is part of Schengen. EU citizens only need a valid ID card or passport for a visit. If you work remotely for an employer in an EU country, check your social security position with your employer.
Float down the Aare in summer, as the locals do
Walk through the arcades of the old town to the Zytglogge clock tower
Watch the sunset from the Rose Garden above the old town
Take a weekend trip to Interlaken, Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen
Visit the Zentrum Paul Klee
Yes. It is calm, safe and efficient, with excellent internet and mountains close by.
Bern for a smaller, calmer base close to the mountains; Zurich for a bigger, more international city.
Bern is part of my Switzerland guide, next to Zurich. Compare it with other cities in my Europe guide.
