Things to Do in Bern

Switzerland's capital is compact enough to see on foot in a day, and its sandstone Altstadt is a genuine UNESCO World Heritage site rather than a marketing label. The Zytglogge, a 13th-century clock tower, puts on a small mechanical show four minutes before every hour; arrive early since the performance itself is over in seconds. The bear pits (Bärengraben), across the Nydeggbrücke, have kept live bears as a civic symbol since the 16th century, now in a more open enclosure by the River Aare. On hot days, locals swim the Aare itself, letting the current carry them downstream from the Marzili baths, a local habit worth trying if you can swim reasonably well. Bern is about an hour from Zurich HB by direct train, making it an easy day trip.