Switzerland Guide
Bern
Accommodation
1 City Bahnhofplatz 
031 311 53 77 
www.fhotels.ch Geared towards a business clientele, with slick designer interiors. Seconds from the train station and not at all bad; a sound choice for facilities and location. Street-side rooms are marginally noisier. Price: Fr.150–250
2 Goldener Schlüssel Rathausgasse 72 031 311 02 16 www.goldener-schluessel.ch Comfortable place on a quiet Old Town street, with efficient, pleasant service. Simple, spacious rooms are clean and mostly ensuite, with some cheaper shared-bath rooms up under the eaves. Price: Fr.100–200
3 
Landhaus Altenbergstrasse 4 031 331 41 66 www.landhausbern.ch The most attractive budget rooms in town, in an historic, renovated building (with spiralling wooden stairs but no lift) overlooking a curve in the river. Spacious, modern design prevails throughout, with ensuite or shared facilities, and some rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and balcony. Bus #12 to Bärengraben (direction Schosshalde). Price: Fr.100–200
4 Marthahaus Wyttenbachstrasse 22a 031 332 41 35 www.marthahaus.ch Excellent value. A characterful hotel-pension on a quiet cul-de-sac a few minutes out of the Old Town, friendly, well run and cosy. Most rooms are ensuite, and are spotless, fresh and airy. Bus #20 to Gewerbeschule (direction Wyler). Price: Fr.100-150
5 National Hirschengraben 24 031 381 19 88 www.nationalbern.ch Something of an institution, with a restaurant, theatre and – up above – a hotel occupying a lovely old building on an atmospheric tree- and tram-lined street. The ancient wooden lift rattles you up to characterful, renovated rooms with big windows and wood floors; some are ensuite, all have modern facilities. Price: Fr.100–200
6 Allegro In the Kursaal, Kornhausstrasse 3 031 339 55 00 www.allegro-hotel.ch Innovative business hotel set in the ultra-modern renovated Kursaal building (which also boasts a large casino). Super-slick postmodern design swishes you into stylish rooms – go for the Warhol ones – featuring widescreen TVs, video games, Internet and more. Top-floor balconies with Alpine vistas cost more. Weekend discounts can make this the best-value, and least traditional, top-end accommodation in the city. Tram #9 (direction Guisanplatz). Price: Fr.250-300
7 Bellevue Palace Kochergasse 3 031 320 45 45 www.bellevue-palace.ch Top hotel in the city, right beside the Bundeshaus. This is the haunt of presidents, diplomats and billionaires, with as much palatial grandeur as you'd expect plus the added bonus of views of the river winding far below the hotel walls and, in the distance, the snow-capped Alps. Rooms are spacious, sumptuous, traditionally styled and horribly expensive. Price: Fr.400
8 Innere Enge Engestrasse 54 031 309 61 11 www.zghotels.ch Lovely choice, well out of the city on the edge of open parkland but only five minutes by bus from the centre. This fine old building, which hosted Empress Josephine in 1810, features superb Art Nouveau styling throughout; the 26 rooms are characterful and quiet, many with expansive views of the Alps. Breakfast – which is optional – is served in the octagonal Park Pavilion, while the intimate Marian's Jazzroom in the basement (closed July & Aug) hosts top international jazz performers. Free parking. Bus #21 (direction Bremgarten). Price: Fr.250-300
9 Bern Backpackers/Hotel Glocke (SB hostel) Rathausgasse 75 031 311 37 71 www.bernbackpackers.com Old Town fixture benefiting from a perfect central location and excellent dorms and facilities, with some pleasant, bargain-priced singles and doubles too. Dorm beds are Fr.31. Price: Fr.100-150
10 Jugendherberge (HI hostel) Weihergasse 4 031 311 63 16 www.youthhostel.ch www.jugibern.ch Well-run place, with good facilities and a nice riverside location in Marzili – it's regularly chock-full. Dorm beds are Fr.31, and they do good solid lunches and evening meals for around Fr.12. Walk down from the Bundesterrace, or take the funicular and then the lowest of three left-hand streets when you emerge. Price: Up to Fr.100
11 Landhaus (SB hostel) Altenbergstrasse 4 031 331 41 66 www.landhausbern.ch Attractive building in an old part of town by the river, with beds in quiet, super-clean partitioned dorms for Fr.30; you can use the kitchen for free, and there's a café downstairs. Bus #12 to Bärengraben (direction Schosshalde). Price: Fr.100-150
12 Eichholz Strandweg 49 031 961 26 02 www.campingeichholz.ch Decent site on the riverbank in Wabern, a few minutes south of the city by tram #9 (to Gurten). Opening time: Mid-April to Sept