Bern Old Town Self Guided Audio Tour

1 h 30 min – 2 hours Free cancellation Private tour

Bern Old Town Self Guided Audio Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Explore Bern's medieval old town at your own pace, guided entirely by your smartphone. This self-guided walking tour follows the arcaded sandstone spine of the UNESCO-listed centre, from the Federal Square in front of Parliament to the bears that give the city its name. At each of the 8 stops an audio story plays while you stand in front of the landmark: the Kaefigturm, the Child Eater Fountain, the Zytglogge astronomical clock, the flat where Einstein reimagined time, the cathedral with Switzerland's tallest spire, and Justice Lane. An interactive quiz at every stop turns the walk into a game you can play solo or with friends. No app to download, no guide to follow, no fixed departure time. Open the tour on your phone, start whenever you like, pause for coffee, and pick up where you left off. A smart map shows you exactly where to go next. Audio and text are available in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Moderate

At a glance

Duration: 1 h 30 min – 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: German, Portuguese, English, Chinese, Italian, French, Spanish
Written guide: German, Portuguese, English, Chinese, Italian, French, Spanish
Operated by: Ciceru

Ages: Adults (1–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Self-guided tour on your smartphone, APP not needed!
Included: Audioguide with quizzes about each point of interest along the tour

Not included

Not included: A physical guide (the tour is accessible on your smartphone)
Not included: Access offline. Internet needed on your phone

Itinerary

Parliament Square

Passing by

The open square in front of the Swiss Federal Palace, where parliament sits. Your audio guide explains the building's role in Swiss federal politics and the 26 water jets set into the paving, one for each canton.
Kafigturm (Prison Tower)

Passing by

A medieval gate tower that later served as the city prison, which is how it got its German name. Standing beneath the arch, the audio guide covers how Bern's walls moved outward as the city grew.
Child Eater Fountain (Kindlifresserbrunnen)

Passing by

One of Bern's 16th-century painted fountains, topped by an ogre figure devouring a child. The audio guide walks through the competing theories about what the statue was meant to represent, none of them confirmed.
Clock Tower - Zytglogge

Passing by

Bern's oldest tower and its astronomical clock, which still puts on a short mechanical show a few minutes before every hour. The audio guide explains the dial's calendar and zodiac faces and why the tower once marked the western city gate.
Einstein House (Einsteinhaus)

Passing by

The second-floor apartment on Kramgasse where Albert Einstein lived while working at the Bern patent office and published his 1905 papers, including special relativity. You view the building from the arcade outside.
Berner Munster

Passing by

Bern's late-Gothic cathedral, whose spire is the tallest in Switzerland. From the terrace outside you look down over the Aare and the rooftops of the old town while the audio guide covers the Last Judgement carving above the main portal.
Stop 7

Passing by

The arcaded lane running down towards the river, named after its Justice Fountain, where a blindfolded figure of Justice stands over four defeated rulers. The audio guide explains what the arrangement was meant to say to Bern's citizens.
Barenpark

Passing by

The open riverside enclosure across the Nydegg bridge where Bern's bears live, the animal that gives the city its name and appears on its coat of arms. The final chapter of the audio guide closes the walk here.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Start your self-guided tour on Bundesplatz, the square in front of the Federal Palace. Open your Ciceru experience nearby and follow the route on your smartphone.

End point

The tour ends at the BarenPark bear enclosure on the Aare. Take a moment to watch the bears and enjoy the riverside before finishing your walk.

Using your ticket

No app needed, start your Ciceru experience right from your smartphone! Your ticket is valid for 1 year, or 4 months once activated. For any issue, please contact [email protected] and we'll help you out!