What's on in Bern, Switzerland through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Munsterplatz bell-ringing (31 Dec – 1 Jan)

Busy — Berner Fasnacht, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Berner Fasnacht

  19–21 FebCarnivalCrowded

  Three days from the Thursday after Ash Wednesday: the bear is let out of its cellar at eight in the evening, then guggenmusik cliques and a Saturday parade through the arcades. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Berner Fasnacht (19–21 Feb)

Busy — Easter holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Graniummarit (Geranium Market)

  20–30 Apr · usuallyMajor festival

  The oldest and only market of its kind in Switzerland, a single spring day when Bundesplatz fills with geranium and balcony-plant stalls timed to the traditional post-frost planting weekend. Source ↗

Busy — Spring holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Aare swimming season

  20 May – 15 Sep · usuallySummer season opens

  The city swims in the river, not a pool: in at Eichholz, out at the Marzili, and the current does the work. The Aare stays glacier-cold well into June and the exit steps are the whole skill.

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Aare swimming season (20 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Gurtenfestival, Summer holidays in Switzerland

• Festival

  Gurtenfestival

  15–18 JulMusic festivalCrowdedBook early

  Four days on the hill above the city, reached by the funicular, which means the crowd is with you on the way up and again at midnight on the way down. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Swiss National Day

  1 AugNational holidayClosuresCrowded

  1 August is a public holiday nationwide. Towns and villages hold speeches, lantern walks and bonfires, fireworks go up after dark unless a dry summer brings a ban, and most shops close. Source ↗

Still on: Aare swimming season (20 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Swiss National Day, Buskers Bern

• Festival

  Buskers Bern

  6–8 AugArts festivalCrowded

  Street performers take over the old town lanes for three evenings on a hat-money basis. The arcades funnel the crowds, so the centre is slow going after seven. Source ↗

Still on: Aare swimming season (20 May – 15 Sep (usually)), Swiss National Day (1 Aug)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Aare swimming season (20 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — Autumn holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Rendez-vous Bundesplatz

  17 Oct – 21 NovLights & fire

  A free projection show on the parliament building, three times a night for about five weeks. It is the reason the square is busy on a cold Tuesday in November. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Zibelemarit onion market, Christmas markets

• Festival

  Zibelemarit onion market

  23 NovMajor festivalCrowded

  On the fourth Monday of November the old town becomes a market of onion braids from four in the morning, with confetti, onion tart and mulled wine. It is over by six in the evening. Source ↗

• Festival

  Christmas markets

  28 Nov – 24 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Two markets, on the Waisenhausplatz and under the Munster, both small enough to walk in twenty minutes. The arcades keep the rain off, which is more useful here than the size. Source ↗

Still on: Rendez-vous Bundesplatz (17 Oct – 21 Nov)

Peak crowds — Christmas markets, Christmas holidays in Switzerland

• Festival

  Munsterplatz bell-ringing

  31 Dec – 1 JanChristmas & New Year

  Locals gather outside the cathedral with their own glasses as the tower keeper strikes the 700-year-old bell twelve times, then rings the rare full chime for fifteen minutes to welcome the new year. Source ↗

Still on: Christmas markets (28 Nov – 24 Dec)