Day trips from Bern
18 hidden towns and nature spots within 150 km of Bern, picked by Europe Revealed. Sorted from nearest to furthest.
45 km01 · Nature spotLake Brienz (Iseltwald)A tiny village on the turquoise shore of Lake Brienz.
Buses and lake boats run from Interlaken.
50 km02 · Hidden townGruyèresA hilltop castle village famous for its cheese.
Trains run to Gruyères station, then a short walk up the hill.
55 km03 · Nature spotLauterbrunnenA valley of 72 waterfalls between towering cliffs.
Trains from Interlaken take 20 minutes. Lauterbrunnen is the gateway to Wengen and Mürren, which are car-free.
55 km04 · Nature spotOeschinenseeA turquoise mountain lake below glaciers above Kandersteg.
Trains run to Kandersteg, then a gondola and a short walk.
60 km05 · Nature spotGrindelwaldA mountain village below the north face of the Eiger.
Trains from Interlaken take about 35 minutes.
75 km06 · Hidden townLavauxTerraced vineyards dropping steeply to Lake Geneva.
Local trains between Lausanne and Vevey stop at the villages, such as Cully and Epesses.
80 km07 · Nature spotAletsch GlacierThe longest glacier in the Alps, seen from car-free mountain villages.
Trains run to Mörel, Betten or Fiesch, then cable cars up to the car-free villages of Riederalp and Bettmeralp.
80 km08 · Nature spotRigiThe 'Queen of the Mountains', with views over a dozen lakes.
Rack railways climb from Vitznau and Arth-Goldau. A cable car runs from Weggis.
105 km09 · Popular townZermattA car-free mountain village below the Matterhorn.
Zermatt is car-free: park in Täsch and take the shuttle train, or come by train all the way.
105 km10 · Hidden town · FranceYvoireA medieval village covered in flowers on the shore of Lake Geneva.
Boats cross Lake Geneva from Nyon in Switzerland in summer. By car it's about 40 minutes from Geneva.
120 km11 · Nature spot · GermanyTitiseeA glacial lake surrounded by the forests of the Black Forest.
Trains from Freiburg take about 40 minutes through the Höllental valley.
120 km12 · Nature spotRhine FallsEurope's most powerful waterfall by volume.
Trains run to Neuhausen or Schloss Laufen, near Schaffhausen.
120 km13 · Nature spot · FranceChamonixAn alpine valley below Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe.
Trains run from Saint-Gervais. Buses run from Geneva airport, about 1.5 hours.
125 km14 · Popular town · FranceColmarColourful half-timbered houses along little canals in the heart of Alsace.
Trains from Strasbourg take 30 minutes. The old town is compact and best on foot.
130 km15 · Nature spotVerzasca ValleyEmerald water flowing under an old double-arched stone bridge.
Buses run from Locarno and Tenero, about 45 minutes.
130 km16 · Nature spot · FranceVosges (Gérardmer)A lake town surrounded by the forested Vosges mountains.
Buses run from Épinal and Remiremont. Easiest by car.
135 km17 · Hidden townStein am RheinPainted medieval facades on a tiny square by the Rhine.
Trains run from Schaffhausen and Winterthur.
135 km18 · Hidden town · FranceKaysersbergA flower-filled Alsace village below a castle ruin and vineyards.
Buses run from Colmar, about 30 minutes. Easiest by car.Questions
Day trips from Bern: good to know
What are the best day trips from Bern?
Our favourite hidden places near Bern are Lake Brienz (45 km), Gruyères (50 km), Lauterbrunnen (55 km) and Oeschinensee (55 km). All 18 are on this page, sorted by distance.
How far are these places from Bern?
All of them are within about 150 km of Bern in a straight line, close enough for a day trip by car, and many by train or bus too. Check each place for how to get there.