I like to get some input and advice on some day trips from Bern. I'll be staying there for 4 nights. I know that we'll spend one day in Bern, but I'd like some good day trips for the other days. I've been told to go to Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg, Grindewald and Manlichen. I've also been told that you can walk/hike between several of these places. But I'd like to know how to organize all of this. Where do I train to from Bern to begin, and which of these can be combined into individual day trips? I know we'll want to do a couple of the trips up the mountains which I've heard can be very expensive - any recommendations on perhaps the best two?

Purchase a Swiss Half Fare Card for one month to keep the costs lower. This gives you reductions of 50% on the fares for public transportation (bus, train, cable cars).

4 nights means you will have 3 days, one of them for Bern. 2 excursions then.

A recommended (long) hike would be Schynige Platte to First. Train Bern - Interlaken-Ost, change to the train to Grindelwald there, but get off at Wilderswil. Take the cog-railway from there to Schynige Platte. From First take the gondola down to Grindelwald and like described before back to Bern.

Just a small thought about staying in Bern. I've done one night in Bern and it was actually enough. There's nothing really to see and do for more than a day. Are there anything more to see and do in the other areas you're planning to daytrip? Maybe basing yourself at one of those places instead would be better than Bern.

I understand Francophile03 - but fortunately, or unfortunately, I've got a free place to stay in Bern for 4 nights. I was hoping to see enough of the area around there, as my first trip to Switzerland, to make it worth it. I'm not opposed to booking one of those nights in another town if that makes more sense to see some of these areas - would it make sense to spend one night in Interlaken?

I have spent five consecutive nights in Bern three years ago and found enough things to do there. If you are not only focused on the Alps you may consider day trips to the vineyards and villages of Lake Biel or the picturesque small town of Murten as well.

In any case I would not stay in Interlaken but Wengen or Mürren for a night. Much better views and "real" mountain feeling.

I enjoyed coming back to Bern after the day trips and strolling through the old town at night, very lively with lots of cafes, bars etc. Or go up on the Gurten hill (funicular) to have a dinner with view of the lit up city.

The hike suggested by Ingo, from Wilderwil to First (which is the top station of the gondola to Grindelwald) is fairly long and you have to move along to make connections with the last valley run of the day from First at 6 pm, 18:00.

That means a very early start from Bern to get to Interlaken OST where you change to the BOB train to Wilderswil (1 stop) and change again for the
Schynige Platte train.

The first train up is at 7:45, arriving about 55 minutes later. The last train down is 17:57, but that schedule on weekends often is off a little because of the crowds.

It is glorious hike.
From Bern you can also visit some of the area between Bern and Geneva.
Switzerland has beautiful lakes as well as the grand high Alps.

I'm a fan of Bern. There are some museums worth a visit. We especially enjoyed the Alpine Museum (emphasis on touring/hiking in the Alps) and the Art Museum (emphasis on homeboy Paul Klee). We took tours of the Swiss Parliament, which is loosely based on the U.S. Congress, and the Clock Tower (reservations required for both but easy to obtain).

The town has World Heritage status because of its surviving old architecture. The cathedral is beautiful, and searching for all the theme fountains scattered around the town is fun.

I wholeheartedly agree with Ingo that Bern is a graceful, lovely old city of arcaded streets and the dandiest collection of painted fountains I've ever seen in one place. And as for a daytrip base, it's wonderful! Good grief! (Assuming, of course, that you like riding trains.) You can not only reach the lake towns on Thun's lake and Brienzersee, and the Oberland mountain villages, but you can also daytrip to Lausanne, Lac Leman, Murten (Yes, Ingo!), Biel, and Avenches (Roman ruins if you're so inclined)! And if you have a free place to stay? -- well don't give a second thought to staying anywhere else! You're so lucky! J.

Good morning, there is also a pretty good but short hike and that is from the top of the Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidigg, takes about an hour and a half with about 2,000 difference in altitude. would cass moderate...In Bern, many years ago had a very enjoyable dinner at the KORNHAUSKELLER
which has Swiss food and entertainment.
Wonder if it has lasted over the years.
Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..