Lived-in History: UNESCO only made Bern a World Heritage Site in 1983 but the city's cobblestone arcades and clock towers have been beautifully preserved since the 1400s.
Feats of Klee: The spectacular Zentrum named for Paul Klee -- the whimsical painter artist who hopscotched across art -- is a tour de force of vibrant creativity.
Undercover Shopping: Bern's got it all -- from couture fashion to artisan chocolatiers -- and, thanks to those famous arcaded streets, you can even enjoy window shopping in rainy weather.
The Ziebelemärit: Think of an object -- a train car, an alarm clock, a teddy bear -- and you will likely see it rendered in onion at November's city-wide celebration of the humble veg.
Those Sunbathing Swiss: Warm summer days lure swimmers to the Marzili's sweeping lawns and swift, icy stretch of river below the Federal parliament building.