11 Best Hotels in Bern, Switzerland

A pretension-free mix of belle époque elegance and contemporary ease defines this impeccable hotel, built in 1913 to accommodate government visitors. The stately property, next to the Bundeshaus, features intricate moldings, golden-beige brocade, crystal chandeliers, and art nouveau stained glass. Guest rooms are outfitted with modern amenities like granite bathrooms with heated floors and classic touches like Louis XV–style bergère chairs. Rooms on the fifth floor have sleek modern lines, glass showers, and sloped ceilings. The elegant main restaurant, VUE, uses seasonal ingredients to create artful dishes and menus, while the more contemporary Noumi offers eclectic small plates and interesting cocktails. An attractive gym with separate saunas for men and women beckons from the top floor.

Occupying much of a city block between the Hauptbahnhof and the Bundeshaus, this comfortable hotel is perfectly placed at the heart of Bern's commercial district. The guest rooms range from very small to quite roomy and are clean, modern, and functional, outfitted with wood furniture, desks, and starched white duvets. Good-size family rooms include an extra bed or can connect to another room if you need more space. 

Luxurious yet practically appointed, this hotel's rooms feature sophisticated yet neutral tones that appeal to both business and leisure travelers, while its renowned restaurant and a rooftop terrace offer stunning views of the city and the Alps. You can enjoy drinks and nibbles on the panoramic Sky Terrace when the weather's nice (with raclette and fondue in winter), or afternoon tea in the winter and cocktails year-round in the cozy Lobby Lounge Bar. If you overdo it while exploring the city, treat yourself to a massage in the small but well-appointed spa, or try out the 24-hour fitness room.

Stepping inside this energetic property with an imposing facade, you may be pleasantly surprised to find a modern, stylish interior, making for a fantastic juxtaposition of old and new. Contemporary rooms have sleek wood floors, curved light fixtures, oversize chairs, writing desks, and the occasional architectural flourish such as rounded windows or sloping eaves. Some rooms include small balconies. Shiny black-and-white bathrooms feature Rituals products. The well-regarded in-house restaurant, Volkshaus 1914, serves lunch and dinner in atmospheric surroundings, and the rooftop Attika bar is open six evenings a week for a nightcap.

This compact, charming hotel on one of Bern's main shopping streets has plenty of late 19th-century French flair, with cozy art nouveau guest rooms and Moulin Rouge posters in the breakfast area. Rooms are simply furnished but comfortable, with triple-glazed windows and coffee and tea makers. You can enjoy drinks or breakfast on the bustling front terrace when the weather's fine.

This 500-year-old property—the oldest in Bern—is within earshot of the Zytglogge bells; rooms are small and basic but nicely conceived, with dark parquet floors, modular furniture, white pillows and duvet covers, and flat-screen TVs. All rooms have showers. The top floors offer medieval-rooftop views. The hotel's solidly popular restaurant serves a mix of rib-sticking favorites like bratwurst with Rösti and an authentic Wiener schnitzel. The service is friendly and enthusiastic.

Decorated in soft, mainly neutral colors, this tastefully appointed hotel offers a range of room types with some fun and unexpected touches, like giant maps of Bern on the walls. Its central location is ideal for exploring the city, but those sensitive to street and plaza noise should ask for a courtyard-facing room. The roof deck offers wonderful city views, and the small fitness center is a bit dated but has all the equipment you need.

This neatly tailored hotel is just minutes from the main train station, as well as the city's markets and arcaded shopping streets. Across from the Stauffacher bookstore, it features pale wooden furniture, earth-toned textiles, and modern bathrooms with walk-in showers. The fourth and fifth floors have rooftop views, and suites have extra seating areas. Rooms facing the Hof (inner courtyard) are the quieter option.

Nicely appointed and located just west of the Hauptbahnhof, this boxy hotel is a good deal if you're price conscious but still want something with a bit of style. The stone lobby sparkles, and vending machines on each level replace in-room refrigerators. Rooms have modular furniture, dark parquet floors, and white-tile baths; they are also designed for wheelchair use. The menu includes fair trade coffee, free-range eggs, local meat and produce, and sustainable seafood.

Renovated in 2020, this bright, contemporary hotel boasts spacious guest rooms, some with Alpine views; Italian and Asian restaurants (plus a rooftop grill during the summer); and a slightly removed but still convenient location within walking distance of the Altstadt. Guest rooms, designed in neutral colors and soft pastels, use sustainable materials and include large desks; some have small balconies. All bathrooms feature walk-in rain showers. There's also a cocktail bar and casino on-site.

Art nouveau accents, pristine Alpine views, exposed beams, and jazz memorabilia from greats like Lionel Hampton, John Lewis, Hazy Osterwald, and Clark Terry punctuate the spacious, sunny rooms in this half-timbered inn that dates to the early 1700s. The parklike setting, five minutes by bus from the Hauptbahnhof, provides a tranquil alternative to city streets; Marian's Jazzroom warms things up in the basement during the school year. Napoléon's beloved Josephine once had lunch in the Park Pavilion.