Bern Christmas Market 2026

On arrival, begin your festive shopping at one of Bern’s three Christmas markets, starting with Waisenhausplatz in the heart of the Old Town. Part of Bern’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, this traditional market has decades of history. Rows of festively decorated wooden stalls glow with lights and garlands, offering candied almonds, star -shaped ornaments, cookie cutters, and other charming gifts and souvenirs. The aroma of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts fills the air.

Bern’s Old Town is elegant, atmospheric, and remarkably well preserved, defined by sandstone buildings, medieval towers, and six kilometres of covered arcades - the longest in Europe. You will find boutiques, cafés, and historic cellars. Cobblestone streets wind past colourful fountains, while the Aare River curves around the city, giving Bern a timeless, lived - in charm, especially magical in winter, instantly creating Christmas spirit.

Gurten is Bern’s local mountain and can be visited free with your Bern Ticket. This lush green setting features a miniature railway, a restaurant, and breathtaking views of the Alps. Less than an hour from Bern, Gantrisch Nature Park is ideal for scenic walks, while the Kambly Experience offers a delicious insight into over 100 years of Swiss biscuit-making tradition. Don’t stop here – there is so much to see and do, why not head on the Lötschberg Regio Express, a scenic rail journey with its impressive view of the Rhone Valley to Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland and take in this picture-perfect alpine village.

Return to Bern in the early evening and wander through the Münsterplatz Christmas Market, set against the impressive Bern Minster with Switzerland’s highest steeple at 100.6 metres. Be sure to try the mulled wine at the 'Märitbeizli', rumoured to be the best in town.

If you have a later flight home, there’s still time to explore this historic city. Visit the former home of Albert Einstein, now a museum, and see the Zytglogge, a focal point for visitors - an ornate clock dating back to 1530 that still chimes on the hour.

Head down to the Aare River for a scenic stroll and photo opportunities, then pick up last-minute souvenirs at the Sterenmarkt beside the impressive Bundeshaus Parliament Building. Here, you’ll also find a display of 26 fountains representing the Swiss cantons. If time allows, enjoy lunch at the Fondue Chalet for a traditional Swiss experience.