Discover Bern, Understand Switzerland Walking Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours

Mobile ticket

See beyond the monuments and discover how this country really works.

This isn’t a dry history walk. It’s a journey through Bern’s Old Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site where medieval streets, legends, local stories, politics and real Swiss life come together.

But this tour is more than sightseeing. It helps you understand Switzerland — its mentality, neutrality, direct democracy, money culture and everyday life.

You’ll hear stories about Napoleon, the Swiss army, Einstein, local legends and Bern’s famous bear.

We’ll explore Bern’s highlights, including Zytglogge, the Federal Palace, Bern Cathedral, the Matte Quarter and views along the Aare River.

You’ll also get practical local tips, honest recommendations and insights beyond the guidebooks.

Ideal for travelers who want more than just sightseeing.

By the end, you won’t just know Bern — you’ll understand Switzerland, with surprising facts and stories you won’t find in guidebooks.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

Parliament Square

Discover the heart of Swiss democracy, explore its historic details and understand how the system works and the mindset behind it.

20 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Discover how Switzerland’s military past shaped both the city and the country — and how its influence can still be seen today.

20 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Honest local recommendations on where to eat, drink, explore or simply relax

Not wheelchair accessible

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Options

Privat Tour

Public

Reviews

5.00

13 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

A fascinating insight into Switzerland and the Swiss
Jet19530172560,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our tour guide was a lovely man called Bartos (GoBartosTours) who was clearly very enthusiastic about the culture, the customs, the oddities, the laws and rules, and the mentality of the Swiss. He really told us a great deal about this country, not just Bern. I have a new respect for Referendi now (after our disastrous UK Referendum on Brexit!!). Bartos was articulate, spoke clearly, kept up a good pace and kept us all engaged, despite a quite heavy downpour at one point. Luckily we all had umbrellas. He also recommended a really good place to eat that evening. I can highly recommend Bartos if you have at least one day to spend in Bern, which is a lovely historic city. We booked through Get Your Guide.
Bern Sightseeing and Guided Tours
imS8254IU,May 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Bern is a small town and at first I thought I could explore it on my own. But I decided to book this tour because I didn’t want to miss out on the experience. The guide was very friendly and his explanations were easy to follow. Thanks to the occasional jokes he included, it was much easier to remember the historical background that I would normally have overlooked. It was a very hot day but Bartos was well prepared — he even lent me an umbrella and had sunscreen available. I really appreciated those little details! The time flew by. His tour is a great way to get a taste of Switzerland’s history, culture, politics and everyday life in a very engaging and easy-to-understand way. I highly recommend it.
This IS the tour you must do if you want to learn about Bern!!
Diana L,May 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Barthos is the best guide you can have! Knowledgeable, funny, considerate! He even brought umbrellas and sunblock for us since it’s a sunny day! In a short 2 hours, we learned so much about the history, religion, politics and military. Very good!
Bern
T2638ZBbarbarab,May 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent tour with a mix of history, local culture, fascinating stories and insights about Switzerland. Bartos explains everything in a very clear, friendly and engaging way which made the whole experience both enjoyable and informative. The tour helped me better understand not only Bern but also Swiss mentality and everyday life. One of the highlights of my trip. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Bern. Thank you, Bartos!
Bern tour with Bartos!
Lisa S,May 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Bartos was a fabulous guide and really taught us a lot about Switzerland and its history. Bern is a beautiful old city and easy to walk around. Easy train ride from Lucerne. Bartos was our first tour of a 2 week trip with my family and he set the bar very high!! Highly recommend Bartos and tour of Bern!
Iman
Pioneer59883690798,May 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Bartos was very nice and knowledgeable! He made sure everyone was involved during the tour. The information and stories were interesting and captivating. We got lots of good tips. Would highly recommend this tour. Thank you!
Fantastic tour
mpsegan53,May 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was without doubt our best tour since we left Australia for Europe. Our tour guide was better than any other we had in France, his level of knowledge of Bern was amazing, he talked non-stop, he answered questions, he stimulated the group, and his English was very, very good. This man clearly is an exceptional guide and we can't commend him enough!
A must do!
920jakeh,May 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour with Bartos was a great choice! The experience was interesting from beginning to end and offered many fascinating insights into Bern's history, Swiss culture and everyday life in Switzerland. Bartos was approachable, entertaining and created a very comfortable atmosphere. He has a unique way of telling stories and communicating in a very clear and engaging way. Well worth the time and money - excellent value overall.
A very pleasant tour experience !
Companion06789692110,May 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Really informative, friendly and fun guide. It was a pleasure to listen to Bartos' stories. He is passionate and has a great sense of humor. The tour was engaging from beginning to end and gave me a much better understanding of Switzerland and life in Bern while exploring the city's main highlights. I also appreciated all the tips and recommendations. 10/10!
Bartos is a great tour...
Anonymous,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Bartos is a great tour guide. He explains everything in a clear and engaging way. He is very friendly, easy to talk to and creates a relaxed atmosphere during the tour. You can tell he knows a lot about Bern and Switzerland in general and he shares it with passion. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Bern. Thank you, Bartos, for an excellent experience!

From CHF 25.00

5.00

(13 reviews)

Free cancellation

Check availability

Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour

Related Experiences

Operated by GoBartos Tours

Discover Bern, Understand Switzerland Walking Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours

Mobile ticket

See beyond the monuments and discover how this country really works.

But this tour is more than sightseeing. It helps you understand Switzerland — its mentality, neutrality, direct democracy, money culture and everyday life.

You’ll hear stories about Napoleon, the Swiss army, Einstein, local legends and Bern’s famous bear.

We’ll explore Bern’s highlights, including Zytglogge, the Federal Palace, Bern Cathedral, the Matte Quarter and views along the Aare River.

You’ll also get practical local tips, honest recommendations and insights beyond the guidebooks.

Ideal for travelers who want more than just sightseeing.

By the end, you won’t just know Bern — you’ll understand Switzerland, with surprising facts and stories you won’t find in guidebooks.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

Parliament Square

Discover the heart of Swiss democracy, explore its historic details and understand how the system works and the mindset behind it.

20 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Discover how Switzerland’s military past shaped both the city and the country — and how its influence can still be seen today.

20 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Honest local recommendations on where to eat, drink, explore or simply relax

Not wheelchair accessible

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Options

Privat Tour

Public

Reviews

5.00

13 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

A fascinating insight into Switzerland and the Swiss
Jet19530172560,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our tour guide was a lovely man called Bartos (GoBartosTours) who was clearly very enthusiastic about the culture, the customs, the oddities, the laws and rules, and the mentality of the Swiss. He really told us a great deal about this country, not just Bern. I have a new respect for Referendi now (after our disastrous UK Referendum on Brexit!!). Bartos was articulate, spoke clearly, kept up a good pace and kept us all engaged, despite a quite heavy downpour at one point. Luckily we all had umbrellas. He also recommended a really good place to eat that evening. I can highly recommend Bartos if you have at least one day to spend in Bern, which is a lovely historic city. We booked through Get Your Guide.
Bern Sightseeing and Guided Tours
imS8254IU,May 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Bern is a small town and at first I thought I could explore it on my own. But I decided to book this tour because I didn’t want to miss out on the experience. The guide was very friendly and his explanations were easy to follow. Thanks to the occasional jokes he included, it was much easier to remember the historical background that I would normally have overlooked. It was a very hot day but Bartos was well prepared — he even lent me an umbrella and had sunscreen available. I really appreciated those little details! The time flew by. His tour is a great way to get a taste of Switzerland’s history, culture, politics and everyday life in a very engaging and easy-to-understand way. I highly recommend it.
This IS the tour you must do if you want to learn about Bern!!
Diana L,May 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Barthos is the best guide you can have! Knowledgeable, funny, considerate! He even brought umbrellas and sunblock for us since it’s a sunny day! In a short 2 hours, we learned so much about the history, religion, politics and military. Very good!
Bern
T2638ZBbarbarab,May 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent tour with a mix of history, local culture, fascinating stories and insights about Switzerland. Bartos explains everything in a very clear, friendly and engaging way which made the whole experience both enjoyable and informative. The tour helped me better understand not only Bern but also Swiss mentality and everyday life. One of the highlights of my trip. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Bern. Thank you, Bartos!
Bern tour with Bartos!
Lisa S,May 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Bartos was a fabulous guide and really taught us a lot about Switzerland and its history. Bern is a beautiful old city and easy to walk around. Easy train ride from Lucerne. Bartos was our first tour of a 2 week trip with my family and he set the bar very high!! Highly recommend Bartos and tour of Bern!
Iman
Pioneer59883690798,May 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Bartos was very nice and knowledgeable! He made sure everyone was involved during the tour. The information and stories were interesting and captivating. We got lots of good tips. Would highly recommend this tour. Thank you!
Fantastic tour
mpsegan53,May 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was without doubt our best tour since we left Australia for Europe. Our tour guide was better than any other we had in France, his level of knowledge of Bern was amazing, he talked non-stop, he answered questions, he stimulated the group, and his English was very, very good. This man clearly is an exceptional guide and we can't commend him enough!
A must do!
920jakeh,May 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour with Bartos was a great choice! The experience was interesting from beginning to end and offered many fascinating insights into Bern's history, Swiss culture and everyday life in Switzerland. Bartos was approachable, entertaining and created a very comfortable atmosphere. He has a unique way of telling stories and communicating in a very clear and engaging way. Well worth the time and money - excellent value overall.
A very pleasant tour experience !
Companion06789692110,May 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Really informative, friendly and fun guide. It was a pleasure to listen to Bartos' stories. He is passionate and has a great sense of humor. The tour was engaging from beginning to end and gave me a much better understanding of Switzerland and life in Bern while exploring the city's main highlights. I also appreciated all the tips and recommendations. 10/10!
Bartos is a great tour...
Anonymous,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Bartos is a great tour guide. He explains everything in a clear and engaging way. He is very friendly, easy to talk to and creates a relaxed atmosphere during the tour. You can tell he knows a lot about Bern and Switzerland in general and he shares it with passion. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Bern. Thank you, Bartos, for an excellent experience!