Bern Old Town Self Guided Audio Tour
Explore Bern's medieval old town at your own pace, guided entirely by your smartphone. This self-guided walking tour follows the arcaded sandstone spine of the UNESCO-listed centre, from the Federal Square in front of Parliament to the bears that give the city its name. At each of the 8 stops an audio story plays while you stand in front of the landmark: the Kaefigturm, the Child Eater Fountain, the Zytglogge astronomical clock, the flat where Einstein reimagined time, the cathedral with Switzerland's tallest spire, and Justice Lane. An interactive quiz at every stop turns the walk into a game you can play solo or with friends. No app to download, no guide to follow, no fixed departure time. Open the tour on your phone, start whenever you like, pause for coffee, and pick up where you left off. A smart map shows you exactly where to go next. Audio and text are available in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.
Your experience
Stop 1
The open square in front of the Swiss Federal Palace, where parliament sits. Your audio guide explains the building's role in Swiss federal politics and the 26 water jets set into the paving, one for each canton.
Stop 2
A medieval gate tower that later served as the city prison, which is how it got its German name. Standing beneath the arch, the audio guide covers how Bern's walls moved outward as the city grew.
Stop 3
One of Bern's 16th-century painted fountains, topped by an ogre figure devouring a child. The audio guide walks through the competing theories about what the statue was meant to represent, none of them confirmed.
Stop 4
Bern's oldest tower and its astronomical clock, which still puts on a short mechanical show a few minutes before every hour. The audio guide explains the dial's calendar and zodiac faces and why the tower once marked the western city gate.
Stop 5
The second-floor apartment on Kramgasse where Albert Einstein lived while working at the Bern patent office and published his 1905 papers, including special relativity. You view the building from the arcade outside.
Stop 6
Bern's late-Gothic cathedral, whose spire is the tallest in Switzerland. From the terrace outside you look down over the Aare and the rooftops of the old town while the audio guide covers the Last Judgement carving above the main portal.
Stop 7
The arcaded lane running down towards the river, named after its Justice Fountain, where a blindfolded figure of Justice stands over four defeated rulers. The audio guide explains what the arrangement was meant to say to Bern's citizens.
Stop 8
The open riverside enclosure across the Nydegg bridge where Bern's bears live, the animal that gives the city its name and appears on its coat of arms. The final chapter of the audio guide closes the walk here.
What’s included
- Self-guided tour on your smartphone, APP not needed!
- Audioguide with quizzes about each point of interest along the tour
Not included
- A physical guide (the tour is accessible on your smartphone)
- Access offline. Internet needed on your phone
Meeting and pickup
Start your self-guided tour on Bundesplatz, the square in front of the Federal Palace. Open your Ciceru experience nearby and follow the route on your smartphone.
Before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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