By the Where to Stay in Switzerland editorial team · Updated November 5, 2026
The Short Answer
Stay in the upper Old Town, between the station and the Zytglogge clock tower. You can walk to the trains in a few minutes, and the arcaded streets, the Federal Palace and the cathedral are all close. Our pick is the Hotel Schweizerhof, opposite the station, with a spa and a rooftop bar.
Stay in the lower Old Town, toward the Nydegg bridge and the Bear Park, for quieter streets and small hotels. Stay across the Aare at the Kursaal if you are driving, or in Marzili by the river for the youth hostel and summer swimming in the Aare.
Bern's Areas Compared
| Area | Best for | To the station | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Old Town | Short stays, day trips by train | 2–5 min walk | Busier, with more traffic |
| Lower Old Town | Quiet lanes, the Bear Park, small hotels | Longer walk, or bus | Further from the trains |
| Kursaal (across the Aare) | Drivers, views back over the city | Tram | Not in the Old Town itself |
| Marzili (by the river) | Budget stays, summer swims | Funicular and a short walk | Below the Old Town; uphill to everything |
Map of Bern Hotels
The station is at the west end of the Old Town; the loop of the Aare wraps around it to the south and east, with the Bear Park at the far eastern tip.
Map prices come from Booking.com and other partners through Stay22. Enter your dates on the map to see live rates.
Search all Bern stays →Best Splurge Hotels
Bern's two grand hotels, one by the station and one next to the Federal Palace.
Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa
Bahnhofplatz, opposite the station, Bern
Our top pick: opposite the station, with a spa and pool, a rooftop bar and the Old Town outside the door.
Best for: Train travelers wanting a spa
- Opposite Bern station
- Spa with heated pool
- Rooftop Sky Terrace bar
More about this hotel
A 99-room hotel on the station square, with the Old Town starting outside the door and a rooftop bar, the Sky Terrace. Its spa has a heated pool, sauna and steam bath, plus a 24-hour gym.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: AnBuKu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bellevue Palace
Kochergasse, next to the Federal Palace, Bern
The government's guesthouse next to the Federal Palace, with Alps views.
Best for: Classic grand hotel
- Next to the Federal Palace
- Bernese Alps views
- Public transport ticket on arrival day
More about this hotel
The Swiss government's official guesthouse, next to the Federal Palace on the edge of the Old Town, with views of the Bernese Alps. It has a French brasserie, a bar and cigar lounge, a gym and a sauna.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Sandstein, Public domain
Best Mid-Range Hotels
Three in the Old Town and one across the river with parking.
Boutique Hotel Belle Époque
Gerechtigkeitsgasse, lower Old Town, Bern
A small Art Nouveau hotel in the lower Old Town, near the Bear Park.
Best for: Design lovers
- Art Nouveau interiors
- Bar terrace under the arcades
- Family suite for two adults and two children
More about this hotel
A 17-room hotel in the lower Old Town furnished with Art Nouveau pieces, including Klimt etchings and a Mucha mosaic at the bar. It is at the far end of the Old Town from the station, close to the Bear Park.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: August Geyler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hotel Savoy Bern
Neuengasse, 2 minutes from the station, Bern
Two minutes from the station, with the Bern Ticket and a family offer.
Best for: Short city breaks
- 2 minutes from the station
- Bern Ticket for free local transport
- Kids up to 16 free on its family offer
More about this hotel
A 64-room hotel two minutes' walk from Bern station and about 300 meters from the Federal Palace. Guests get the Bern Ticket at check-in, which covers city buses and trams, the Gurten and Marzili funiculars and the airport transfer.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Smiley.toerist, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hotel Goldener Schlüssel
Rathausgasse, near the Zytglogge, Bern
A simple inn from 1508 near the Zytglogge clock tower.
Best for: Staying inside the Old Town
- Old Town, near the Zytglogge
- Family room and triple room
- Wood-vaulted restaurant
More about this hotel
An inn dating to 1508 in the arcaded Old Town near the Zytglogge clock tower, with 34 simple rooms, each with its own shower and WC. Most rooms face the courtyard rather than the street.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: JoachimKohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swissôtel Kursaal Bern
Kornhausstrasse, across the Aare from the Old Town, Bern
City and mountain views across the river, with parking, one tram stop from the Old Town.
Best for: Drivers and families
- City and mountain views
- One tram stop to the Old Town
- 24-hour gym and underground parking
More about this hotel
The former Hotel Allegro: a 163-room hotel in the Kursaal congress and casino complex, on the hill across the Kornhaus bridge from the Old Town, with views over the city to the mountains. The Old Town is one tram stop away.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Riccardo Speziari, CC BY-SA 4.0
Best Budget Base
Budget in Bern means the youth hostel, which has family rooms as well as dorms.
Bern Youth Hostel
Marzili, on the Aare, Bern
The budget choice, on the Aare below the Federal Palace.
Best for: Budget travelers and families
- On the river below the Federal Palace
- Family rooms
- 24-hour reception
More about this hotel
A listed building with a modern extension on the bank of the Aare below the Federal Palace, with multi-bed, double and family rooms and 24-hour reception. The Marzilibahn funicular saves you the climb up to the Old Town.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: August Geyler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bern Hotels at a Glance
Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.
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Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & SpaBahnhofplatz, opposite the station, Bern · SplurgeTrain travelers wanting a spaCheck prices -
Bellevue PalaceKochergasse, next to the Federal Palace, Bern · SplurgeClassic grand hotelCheck prices -
Boutique Hotel Belle ÉpoqueGerechtigkeitsgasse, lower Old Town, Bern · Mid-rangeDesign loversCheck prices -
Hotel Savoy BernNeuengasse, 2 minutes from the station, Bern · Mid-rangeShort city breaksCheck prices -
Hotel Goldener SchlüsselRathausgasse, near the Zytglogge, Bern · Mid-rangeStaying inside the Old TownCheck prices -
Swissôtel Kursaal BernKornhausstrasse, across the Aare from the Old Town, Bern · Mid-rangeDrivers and familiesCheck prices -
| Hotel | Location | Price level | Best for | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa
City hotel and spa
|
Bahnhofplatz, opposite the station, Bern | Splurge | Train travelers wanting a spa | Check prices |
|
|
Bellevue Palace
Grand hotel
|
Kochergasse, next to the Federal Palace, Bern | Splurge | Classic grand hotel | Check prices |
|
|
Boutique Hotel Belle Époque
Art Nouveau boutique
|
Gerechtigkeitsgasse, lower Old Town, Bern | Mid-range | Design lovers | Check prices |
|
|
Hotel Savoy Bern
City hotel
|
Neuengasse, 2 minutes from the station, Bern | Mid-range | Short city breaks | Check prices |
|
|
Hotel Goldener Schlüssel
Historic inn
|
Rathausgasse, near the Zytglogge, Bern | Mid-range | Staying inside the Old Town | Check prices |
|
|
Swissôtel Kursaal Bern
Large city hotel
|
Kornhausstrasse, across the Aare from the Old Town, Bern | Mid-range | Drivers and families | Check prices |
|
|
Bern Youth Hostel
Hostel
|
Marzili, on the Aare, Bern | Budget | Budget travelers and families | Check prices |
Hotel details checked on November 5, 2026.
Getting to Bern
- From Zurich: about 1 hour by train. See where to stay in Zurich.
- From Geneva: about 2 hours. See where to stay in Geneva.
- To the mountains: about 1 hour to Interlaken, about 1 hour to Lucerne and about 2¼ hours to Zermatt. That makes Bern a good base for day trips if you would rather stay put.
- The Bern Ticket: hotel guests get it free for their stay. It covers city buses and trams, the Gurten and Marzili funiculars, the Münster platform lift and the transfer from Bern airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.