Finding a good hotel to stay in Bern may seem easy at first glance, as it is a relatively small city and its tourist attractions are quite close to each other, but this is not always the case, especially if you are visiting for the first time.
To make this process much easier and quicker, in this post you will find a brief explanation of the structure of the city and how it is divided into districts and neighbourhoods, as well as a selection of the best places to stay and the best hotels to stay in Bern, always highlighting their value for money.
One important thing to bear in mind is that many travellers only spend a day in Bern, so whenever you can, it's important to choose a central place to stay in Bern to make the most of your time.
Based on the several times we've visited the city, most recently on the Swiss Travel Pass Swiss Train Tour, which we included in the Switzerland guide, here's a selection of places to stay in Bern and the best neighbourhoods and hotels. Let's get started!
Where to stay in Bern
Although as we said before the city is relatively small, it is important to know how it is distributed to select those areas that are closer to the tourist attractions, which are the best to sleep in Bern.
Bern is divided into six districts, also known as stadtteile, which are Innere Stadt, the historic city centre, Länggasse-Felsenau, Mattenhof-Weissenbühl, Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde, Breitenrain-Lorraine and Bümpliz-Oberbottigen, which are in turn divided into quartiers.
The districts we will focus on as the best places to stay in Bern are Innere Stadt, which is divided into the Schwarzes, Weisses, Grünes, Gelbes and Rotes quarters; Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde, which is district IV and is divided into the Kirchenfeld, Gryphenhübeli, Brunnadern, Murifeld, Schosshalde and Beundenfeld quarters; and Mattenhof-Weissenbühl, which is district III.
1. The historic centre, the best place to sleep in Bern
Innere Stadt, known as District I, corresponds to the historic centre of the city, making it the best place to stay in Bern, as you'll be close to most of the city's tourist attractions and there's a wide range of restaurants and bars.
The only downside to staying here is that hotel prices tend to be a bit higher than in the rest of the city, but given that most travellers are only in town for a day, we think it's justifiable to pay a bit more to be close to everything.
The price of accommodation in the historic centre is usually 150 euros, although there are offers that sometimes go as low as 100 euros.
Recommended hotels in the Historic Centre
Here are the most recommended options we have found to stay in the Historic Centre, taking into account the quality/price ratio:
Old Town, the best place to sleep in Bern
Mattenhof-Weissenbühl, near the train station, another of the best options for a hotel in Bern.
This is district III, located in the southwest area of the city and is another of the best places to stay in Bern as it is next to the train station.
Apart from the location, which is perfect if you're touring Switzerland by train, there are plenty of accommodation and dining options in this area at prices a little more affordable than in the city centre.
Accommodation in Mattenhof-Weissenbühl usually costs around 100 euros.
Recommended hotels in Mattenhof-Weissenbühl
Here is our selection of hotels in this area of Bern, all of which are excellent value for money:
3. Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde, another good place to stay in Bern
Known as district IV and located in the southern part of the Innere Stadt, this is the best option to sleep in Bern if you can't find accommodation in the historic centre, as well as being relatively close to most of the tourist attractions, it also has some hotels and restaurants, although to a lesser extent than the centre.
It is also home to the Bern Historical Museum, the Bern Museum of Communication, the Swiss Alpine Museum and some of the city's important embassies and schools.
The price of accommodation in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde is usually around 120 euros.
Recommended hotels in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde
We leave you a list of the best places to stay in Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde:
Our recommended places to stay in Bern
In case you're on a tighter budget when staying in Bern, we recommend looking at the Ibis budget Bern Expo hotel, which is located about a 20-minute walk from the city centre and has a tram stop in front of it that you can use for free with the Bern Ticket. This pass is given to you at the hotel and allows you to use public transport for free, as well as other benefits such as discounts.
Best places to stay in Bern
Best Hotels in Bern
In addition to all the accommodations where to stay in Bern that we have recommended in this post, if you want to enjoy an unforgettable stay in the city and treat yourself, these options we believe are the best to enjoy a few unique days in the city.
Tips for finding cheap accommodation in Bern
Although we believe that everything we have already mentioned is the most important thing to keep in mind when looking for where to stay in Bern, we believe that if you are on a tight budget, it is also important to take into account other tips and recommendations.
An important thing to consider is that if you are only staying one night in the city, whether it is worth paying a little less but being away from the tourist attractions. Sometimes the savings are minimal and a lot of time is lost in transfers.
Another important thing to remember is that hotels in Bern are not cheap , so it is worth booking as far in advance as possible to have more options and offers.
Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate, we recommend you use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free and will save you a lot of money.
Once you've found the ideal place to stay in Bern, you can organise your routes around the city with the following guides and posts:
10 must-see places to visit in Bern
Where to eat in Bern: recommended restaurants
Switzerland Guide
The 10 most beautiful cities in Switzerland
Switzerland by train with the Swiss Travel Pass
Scenic train route through Switzerland
10 must-visit Switzerland travel tips
