New Year’s Eve in Bern

As the year slowly winds down outside, an evening of elegance and flavour begins at Casino Bern. On 31 December, there’s only one thing on the menu: the exclusive New Year’s Eve dinner, a masterfully crafted multi-course experience designed to surprise, delight and spark excitement for the year ahead. Each course is a highlight, each sip a small new beginning. This is how Bern celebrates the turn of the year: with glamour and generous servings.

Toi et moi – could there be a more perfect name for a restaurant? The six-course menu alone is something special, offered in both classic and vegetarian versions. The talented kitchen team at toi et moi creates dishes that feel as thoughtful as the beautifully detailed interior around you. And when you’ve eaten so well you can hardly move, the station’s just a short stroll away. Toi et moi – you and me. Here’s to a beautiful new year together!

With its rolling hills, world-famous cheese and sweeping views of the Bernese Alps, Emmental sets the perfect scene for a peaceful New Year’s escape at the Hotel Hirschen Eggiwil. Check in from 2 p.m. and start the day with some quiet time in the hotel’s wellness oasis before the celebrations begin. At 6 p.m., a six-course gala dinner awaits – carefully composed and served in elegant surroundings. If you’d like to welcome the new year surrounded by nature, comfort and calm, Emmental is the perfect place to do it in style.

The last night of the year turns into a real party at Restaurant Du Nord in Bern’s Lorraine neighbourhood, hosted by the local disco collective Helga. It’s worth stopping by for dinner beforehand at Du Nord, Eiger or Le Beizli. Guests dining at any of these three restaurants can book their ticket for Helga’s New Year’s Eve party at half price. All menus are available with or without meat. Attention quiz fans: alongside a delicious four-course menu, thrilling quiz rounds await between courses.

A legendary party high above Bern: at Kulturschür Uptown on the Gurten, DJs Michel Schlelker and Nik Thomi from Radio Energy Bern set the mood with hits from the Backstreet Boys and Black Eyed Peas to Shakira. The 40-franc ticket includes a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Here’s a little insider tip: if you enjoy your New Year’s Eve dinner in one of the Gurten restaurants before the party, you can get into the party for only 10 francs.

“United by Love” brings an unforgettable New Year’s Eve to the brand-new Festhalle Bern – a night of pulsing beats, dazzling visuals and pure energy that lasts well into the early hours. Four of Switzerland’s biggest psytrance collectives join forces for this spectacular party in Wankdorf. “United by Love” promises musical euphoria, visual highlights and a dancefloor that keeps moving until 8 a.m. A special highlight: a 150-square-metre LED wall combines with powerful sound for an immersive, high-energy experience. “Super Early Bird” tickets have already sold out, so don’t wait too long to join this electrifying crowd.

Not your classic New Year’s Eve celebration, but a guaranteed cheerful start to the year. From 10:30 p.m., Burgdorf’s Kulturhalle Sägegass fills with laughter, dancing and the clink of Prosecco glasses. DJ duo Circolo per Danza Gestuale sets the tone until 1 a.m. with their love of Italo disco and 80s sounds, bringing nostalgic vibes and full dancefloors. After that, the band “Bitte keine Haftung an der Garderobe” takes over, keeping spirits high and hips moving until 3:30 a.m. with a set of danceable crowd favourites. Entry to the “Jahreswächslete” (New Year’s changeover) costs just a “Schnägg” – five francs – and promises a night that’s anything but ordinary.

The countdown to midnight at the renowned Bierhübeli concert and party venue is legendary. This year’s New Year’s bash goes “Back to the Future” with a soundtrack that takes you from the 80s to the 2010s. Expect all your favourites, from timeless dancefloor anthems to the guilty pleasures you can’t help but sing along to. Between nostalgia and new beginnings, guests will laugh, dance and celebrate until 2026 begins – loud, bright and full of stories. A little warning: tickets for this party are limited and sell out quickly.

On New Year’s Eve, the dance school right by Bern’s main station transforms into a disco for everyone aged 40 and over, for a night that’s fun, easy-going and full of good vibes. Whether you come alone, with friends or as a couple, you’re sure to feel welcome. On the dancefloor or at the bar with a drink in hand, the atmosphere is relaxed and the music irresistible. A line-up of DJs plays a mix of disco hits to suit every taste. It’s a night for everyone who loves to dance, no matter the decade

One last perfect strike before the year ends, but not just on the bowling lanes. Here, fun and flavour come together. From 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., guests can enjoy an evening that starts with great foods and ends under blacklights. The buffet, served from 6:30 p.m., brings American diner flair to Bern: fresh salads, crispy chicken wings, burgers and build-your-own hot dogs, chips, onion rings – everything your heart desires. And yes, there’s vegetarian options too! From 10 p.m., sweet dreams do come true with pancakes, brownies, tiramisu and more with a dessert buffet that is almost too good to be true. Later, it’s time to move: backlights, music, bowling balls – anyone sitting down only has themselves to blame. A round of bowling is included in the price and can be played before or after dinner.

Alongside festive food, a bit of fun is a must. And Bern even has a game of its own: The “Bärner Brättschpiu” (“Bern’s board game”) is perfect for some friendly competition for two. Everything, from the board to the box, is 100 percent made in Bern. Inside, you’ll also find a poster from Bern, three comic postcards and a carefully curated collection of swear words in the Bern’s dialect – ideal for the losers of the game.

A true Bernese tradition: for more than twenty years, locals have gathered on Münsterplatz at midnight to welcome the new year together. As the final quarter-hour of the old year rings out, the tower keeper strikes the 700-year-old Burgerglocke bell twelve times with an iron hammer at midnight. Then the rare full chime sounds for fifteen minutes, while friends, families and strangers alike raise their glasses and toast to the year ahead. Everyone brings their own glasses and whatever they’d like to fill them with.

For the 102^nd time, the traditional Achetringele parade takes place in the quiet town of Laupen. With loud noises and fearsome masks, locals drive away the evil spirits before the new year begins. The procession starts at 8 p.m. at Laupen Castle. From there, the Bäsemanne (broom men) in wooden masks, the white-clad Glöggeler with bells and the Blaateremannli carrying air-filled pig bladders parade through the old town. If you’d like to end the old year surrounded by living culture and community spirit, a trip to Laupen is well worth it.

Once the invitations for the cosy get-together on New Year’s Eve are out, the actual stress usually begins: shopping, planning the menu, decorating ... To make your life easier, the restaurant Steinhalle in Bern (17 GaultMillau points) has created a gourmet takeout menu. The best thing about it? You can pick it up in the afternoon and then prepare it in your own kitchen within 30 minutes. It goes without saying that this offer should also be pre-booked sooner rather than later.

A festive meal deserves the right drinks to go with it. If you’ve had enough of the classic glass of bubbly, now’s the perfect time to discover Bern’s very own twist: the Ingwerer Spritz, a refreshing ginger-based drink from Ingwerer, Bern’s cult favourite liqueur brand. It’s easy to mix and even easier to enjoy.

Not a fan of parties? That’s no reason to miss out on Bern’s music! We’ve put together a “z Bärn daheim” (at home in Bern) playlist on Spotify, and we’ve been playing it on repeat ever since. Let the rhythm loosen your hips, joints and bones, because honestly, what’s better than an impromptu dance party with the people you love? And by the way: to support Bern’s vibrant music scene and its artists, it’s worth buying your favourite albums now and then, just like in the good old days. Or head out to one of Bern’s many live venues and enjoy a concert in person.