Christmas gift guide: from Bern with love

All year round, the shop window of this jeweller on Marktgasse shines and sparkles like the most beautiful Christmas tree. From exclusive watches to a comprehensive selection of wedding rings to individual pieces made to order: at the traditional watch and jewellery boutique and goldsmith you’ll find gifts made for eternity.

The scent “Aarewasser”, created by Bernese perfume maker Brigitte Witschi, is evocative of the freshness of Bern’s Aare River. Its special ingredient Hedione is known for having a positive, mood-boosting effect on the wearer. Now if that isn’t the perfect gift for the cold and dark season!

Decorative objects, vases, candlesticks – the ceramics from Linck are the perfect gifts for any design enthusiast. They are produced in Worblaufen near Bern and available for purchase in various boutiques and shops in Bern’s old town. The exquisite pieces are also exhibited in designer shops in Milan, Tokyo and Dublin, among others.

The perfect gift for coffee connoisseurs and caffeine addicts: Blaser Café’s blends “Elfenau”, “Lorraine” and “Marzili” are made in the in-house coffee roastery and named after some of the city’s neighbourhoods. We recommend combining the gift with a trip to Rösterei to let the recipient taste test and choose their favourite blend while also getting to spend some quality time with you.

“Langatun” is the Celtic name of the town of Langenthal. The brewery of the Baumberger family does not quite date back to that time, but it has been around for a while, cultivating the traditions of brewing and distilling since 1857. Their legendary Langatun whisky is carefully produced and has been distributed worldwide since 2017. That’s what we call high-quality, bottled Christmas spirit(s).

Summer may not be around the corner, but it never hurts to be prepared! Whether you’re gifting the set “Marzilian”, consisting of an Aare bag and a microfibre towel, or separate items: our online store and the Tourist Information in the main station have the perfect equipment for all Aare adventures. Do as the locals do and swim the river in style!

Is there anything better than spending time with a loved one? If you love active relaxation and the great outdoors, we recommend a trip together to the beautiful Emmental. Its snow-covered hills are perfect for a romantic snowshoe excursion or some leisurely cross-country skiing.

Who hasn’t fantasised about travelling to the moon and marvelling at distant galaxies? The Space Eye allows us to peek into the great unknown that is outer space. The new observatory is impressive both inside and out, having been designed by star architect Mario Botta.

The perfect gift for railroad enthusiasts: the depot of the BLS (Bern and Central Switzerland regional trains) Foundation in Burgdorf has a train simulator inside a detached driver’s cab that allows amateurs to try their hand at driving a train on a BLS RegioExpress route. Certified train drivers offer insights into their profession and assist the visitors as they attempt to drive the train through the landscape captured in real-life images.

After late evenings at Bern’s Christmas markets and the usual marathon of office parties and Christmas dinners, a day at the spa is just the thing to unwind and reset. Bern offers everything from a traditional oriental bath ritual at the hammam to Switzerland’s largest natural brine bath in Schönbühl to the Bernaqua Water Park.

What better gift for a culture vulture than an evening together at Bühnen Bern? In addition to famous classics, the multi-genre performance venue also stages contemporary productions. The splendid lighting in the theatre’s magnificent hall and the world-class performance art are sure to impress the audiences.

How does the intricate clock mechanism of Bern’s famous landmark work? Who makes sure the Zytglogge rooster crows on time? Find out on the tour of the centuries-old Zytglogge, the perfect activity for fans of technical masterpieces and history buffs alike. Added bonus: from inside the tower, visitors have a beautiful and surprising view over Bern’s UNESCO-listed old town.

A voucher for a museum is always a good idea. But which one of Bern’s many museums shall it be? Modern art, history, science – how could we possibly pick just one? Fortunately, the Museumsquartier-Pass (Museum Quarter Pass) is here to save the day: culture fans benefit from discounted admission to the exhibitions of the seven participating institutions. The pass is valid for five months and entitles the holder to one visit per museum.

Be it a romantic candlelight dinner or a relaxed “Znacht” (supper) with a friend, enjoying a meal at a restaurant together is always a wonderful idea for a gift. And there are many extraordinary venues to choose from in Bern. During the winter season, Landhaus Liebefeld offers a multi-course meal in the elegant le caveau, for example. Under the motto “gourmet goes vegan”, the restaurant serves six vegan dishes cooked to the highest standards.

Stroll through Switzerland’s beer capital listening to fun and interesting facts and anecdotes from experienced beer connoisseurs and discover Bernese breweries and iconic pubs known for their selection of craft beers. This beer tour is guaranteed to be a hit with anyone who enjoys a nice cold one.

Spending time with each other, “käfele” (drinking coffee), “plöiderle” (chatting), “schlemme” (indulging) – is there anything better than starting the day with a relaxed brunch? Luckily, there are countless cosy brunch places in Bern. We are happy to share our favourites with you. And once you’ve found the one, all that’s left to do is to make a voucher or go right ahead and book a table.

The Bernese chocolate manufactory Casa Nobile offers several sweet gift options – how about a one-year subscription for delicious tartufi, caramelli and more or a voucher for one of their chocolate workshops, for example? Melted chocolate, a table full of ingredients and an “artista del cioccolato” await, all you need to bring are creative ideas (and a sweet tooth doesn’t hurt).

Do you want to play a game? In Mastermind Bern’s escape rooms, players have 60 minutes to get out of a locked room. There are different themes to choose from: Harry Potter fans can try to find a way out of Diagon Alley, while those who prefer something a little bit more sinister can try to escape from a mental hospital.

The Emmental valley is the home of arguably the most famous cheese in the world, Emmental AOP. To learn more about the fragrant speciality, we recommend the Königsweg indoor experience at the Emmental Show Dairy, where cute puppets and figurines as well as stage sets illustrate how some 8,000 litres of milk are turned into cheese every day. And: in addition to learning interesting facts and figures and all about the history of this traditional Swiss product, you also have the opportunity to actually make cheese.

Is there anything more fun for kids than spending an afternoon with a paintbrush in hand and all the colours of the rainbow at their disposal? During a workshop at Zentrum Paul Klee’s Creaviva, they have the opportunity to learn and try out different techniques. The workshops are centred around a different topic each month. Added bonus for the parents: they’re not the ones who have to clean up afterwards.

We’ve got the perfect gift for all animal lovers: a kids sleepover at Dählhölzli! The children spend the evening in the animal park before heading into the jungle at the Vivarium for the night. They can witness the day come to an end and the night come to life, until only the sounds of the nocturnal animals (and some occasional giggles) remain. For once, the entire animal park belongs only to the children and the animals.

If you would like to explore the city of Bern together, we recommend the children’s tour, devised specifically for our young visitors. Along with the classics of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll also stop at ornate fountains with interesting figurines and at Bern’s haunted house.