Switzerland Guide
Bern
Getting around
Bern's city centre is small enough that you can easily walk everywhere. Walking is the only way you're going to be able to get a sense of the atmosphere of the arcades – and it's the principal delight of Bern – but a close second-best comes in the form of horse-drawn carriages, which ply for trade in the central squares during the summer months.
Bern's network of buses and trams ( 
www.bernmobil.ch ) is comprehensive. Pretty much all lines run through Bahnhofplatz, which is bedecked with directional signs. Swiss Pass holders travel free; otherwise a fare for up to six stops is Fr.1.90 (valid 30min), for seven or more stops Fr.3.20 (valid 1hr), while a Tageskarte (Fr.12) is valid all day, all buyable from the machines at every stop.
Bern's taxis are vying to be the most expensive in Europe: with a Fr.6.80 flagfall, plus Fr.3.40 per kilometre (more at nights and Sundays), they're about twice as pricey as London's. There are public ranks at the train station, Casinoplatz and Waisenhausplatz; two companies are Bären ( 
031 371 11 11) and Nova ( 031 331 33 13).