Old City of Bern & Arcades
Altstadt / Lauben
A medieval old town encircled by the Aare River. Roughly 6 km of stone arcades form Europe's longest covered shopping street, and it was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1983.
Bern's Old Town sits on a peninsula within the U-shaped bend of the Aare River. It was founded in the 12th century by the Dukes of Zähringen and rebuilt in sandstone after a fire in 1405, and it still preserves its medieval street layout. Marktgasse, Kramgasse, and Gerechtigkeitsgasse form the main axis, with shops and cafés under the arcades on both sides. Sloping openings in the sidewalk lead down to cellar shops and bars. From the train station, it takes about 20 minutes on foot along the main street east to Bear Park, and you can enjoy fountains and the clock tower along the way.
Opening hours
All day (shops approx. 09:00–18:30)
Nearby sights
- Einsteinhaus
- Bern Minster
- Zytglogge
- Kindlifresserbrunnen & Old Town Fountains
- Kirchenfeldbrücke
- Kornhaus & Kornhauskeller
- Swiss Alpine Museum
- Bern Historical Museum & Einstein Museum