The Canton of Bern is Switzerland's second-largest canton, stretching from the UNESCO-listed medieval capital city to the dramatic peaks of the Bernese Oberland. Home to the federal capital of Switzerland, picturesque alpine lakes, and world-class ski resorts, Bern blends political significance with breathtaking natural beauty.
- Public
- One of Europe's best public transport systems—punctual, clean, comprehensive, and integrated across trains, trams, buses, cable cars, and boats
- Taxi
- Available via apps and taxi ranks; high quality but expensive at CHF 3.90/km; useful late at night
- Rental
- Useful for rural Bern Canton exploration; not needed in the city; major companies at Bern station and BRN airport
- Walking
- Old Town is best explored on foot; flat riverside areas and the Münsterplattform offer excellent pedestrian routes
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- CHF 30-45, 20 min to Bern city centre from BRN Airport
- Taxi Info
- Fixed rate available; book in advance or use the taxi rank at the terminal
- Shuttle
- CHF 3.80 per person, Airport bus route 160
- Shuttle Info
- Bus 160 connects Bern Airport directly to Bern train station every 30 minutes
- Bus
- CHF 3.80, route 160 to Bern Bahnhof
- Bus Info
- Bus 160 from airport terminal; journey 30 minutes to Bern main station
- Private
- CHF 40-60 pre-booked private transfer
- Private Info
- Various private transfer companies serve BRN; book online in advance
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
City buses and trams serve all Bern neighbourhoods; CHF 3.80 per single ride; day pass CHF 12.40
Alternatives
S-Bahn regional rail, Funicular to Gurten, Funicular to Marzili, PubliBike bicycle sharing
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- CHF 6.80 base fare + CHF 3.90/km during the day; CHF 4.20/km at night and weekends
- Apps
- Uber, Bolt, TaxiBe
- App Names
- Uber, Bolt, TaxiBe (Swiss local app)
- Typical Fare
- CHF 12-18 for an average city trip; CHF 30-45 to/from Bern Airport
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
Long-distance Flixbus and PostBus services from CHF 9; PostBus extensive rural network
Shared
Shared taxi services available to remote Bernese Oberland villages not on rail network
Flights
Bern Airport (BRN) serves seasonal European routes; Zurich (ZRH) is main international hub 1h 10min by train
Private
Private car hire from CHF 60-120/day at Bern station; Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Swiss car2go available
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Bern and the Canton of Bern are served by one of Europe's finest public transport networks. The city runs on an integrated tram, bus, and S-Bahn system, while the Bernese Oberland is linked by an extraordinary network of trains, cogwheel railways, cable cars, and gondolas. Hotel guests receive the Bern Ticket for free city transport.
Airports
Bern Airport (Flughafen Bern-Belp)
Zurich Airport (Flughafen Zürich)
Geneva Airport (Aéroport de Genève)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
SBB Mobile
Official Swiss Federal Railways app—buy tickets, plan journeys, real-time departures for all of Switzerland
PubliBike
Bern city bike sharing app—find and unlock bicycles at 80+ stations across Bern
Uber
Available in Bern; useful late at night or with luggage
BLS App
BLS regional rail tickets for Bernese Oberland journeys including Lake Thun boats
SBB Preview
Real-time train tracking and Swiss rail network maps
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Always validate your ticket before boarding—Swiss transport inspectors are thorough and fines are CHF 100+
The Bern Ticket (free with accommodation) covers city zones 100/101 including to/from Bern Airport
Swiss Half-Fare Card (CHF 120/month) gives 50% off almost all public transport—excellent value for longer stays
Swiss Travel Pass (1-15 days) provides unlimited travel on trains, buses, boats, and many mountain railways
Book Jungfraujoch and popular mountain rail journeys online at least 2-3 days ahead in summer
The 'Supersaver' advance tickets on SBB website offer up to 70% off regular rail fares
BLS network covers all of Bern Canton including Lake Thun boats and the Bernese Oberland rail routes
Night buses (N-lines) run Fri-Sat until around 04:00 when regular services stop