Hi,

I'm taking the train from Montreux to Zurich on May 10th and Bern is one of the stops along the way. I was wondering if it would be worth stopping over in Bern for a few hours to just get a "taste" of it...? I'm assuming I can store my luggage at the train station. Are there interesting places to walk and eat around that area? Would it be a waste of time to only spend a few hours?

I'm also staying in Lucerne prior to Montreux and would have the option of checking Bern out for the day--it's about a 90 minute train ride each way. I'll be in Lucerne two full days, so I might want to maximize my time there by staying in town.

As always, I value the wonderful advice from Fodor's people!

John- I posted the question about left luggage in Bern a while back, and someone answered me that there is a left luggage place on the second floor of the train station.

I have spent a few hours there before and it is nice to visit and easy to get into the historic area. I will be stopping for a quick visit and lunch on my way from Paris to Kandersteg (July).

The old town is pretty to walk through. On your way to the old town area, there;s a nice big town square (near the famous clock tower) with lots of restaurants and seating in the middle of the square for all the restaurants- fun people watching too.

I think it is a nice break, though the famous 'bear pit' was a bit of a pitiful sight to me (at the end of the old town main street, near the river).

I don't know if I would go out of my way to get there, but I'm sure some other fodorites know more about Bern than I do(hard not to).

Have a nice trip.

I think it is, as long as it's not a Sunday, when most everything is closed. Skip the bear pit. It <b>is</b> pitiful.

I really enjoyed Bern, and you could see most of the highlights in one day. Great views from the top of the cathedral, the Clock Tower (fascinating on the inside too) and from the Rose Garden which is at the opposite end of the historical center from the train station, across the river and up a small hill. Paul Klee Museum (new last year) and the Alpine Museum are interesting. A tour of the Swiss Parliament (reservation needed) is fascinating. Charming fountains (each with their own theme) are scattered throughout the town.

How could I forget Einstein's House? Not a lot to see, but we loved the experience of walking around the small apartment where he thought Big Thoughts.

For a few hours, I guess it is worth it particularly if the day is very wet and the mountains are socked in.

I was not as taken with the city as some others seem to have been.

I suppose if I lived there I might think it was grand. Just driving around the area caused me to think it is one city I could live in and be happy -- if I spoke the languages better.

Thanks everyone! I'll see how it goes and I may try a stop over there. If not, then I'll check it out on my next trip.

Hmmm... when I was there, Einstein house only had an outside plaque and nobody was allowed inside. Is this a museum now?

Don't miss the rose garden, it's on a hill with a great view of the city, ponds and benches. And not only roses.

Agree w/Ilana: the bear pit is not worth a stop. Better walk around the clock tower area.

I've never gone out of my way to see it on the advise of my Swiss friends who call Bern &quot;boring&quot;. This is not meant to be a recommendation or not. They don't care for Geneva either &quot;city without a soul&quot;. So take it with a grain of salt.

Yes, Einstein's House is now a museum, although as I said above there's not much to see. It's very modest digs (he worked in the patent office at the time) and overlooks the main street.