Road Bike Routes in Bern
“Gümmele” (riding a road bike) seems to be the natives’ new favourite hobby on a nice day: everywhere we look, we see them whizzing past. Here are the best and prettiest routes in and around Bern.
UNESCO Tour
A relaxed tour for urban nature lovers. It begins in Bern’s UNESCO-listed Old City and takes cyclists up to the Rosengarten, the famous selfie spot with its breathtaking views. The route then continues through the suburbs to Brünnen Westside and then to Riedbach, where the surroundings start to get more rural. The town of Laupen has plenty of restaurants and cafés and is perfect for a pit stop. Then you’ll follow the river Saane through little villages until you reach another highlight of the route: Lake Wohlen. On the way back to the city, the route leads through the lush greenery of the Bremgarten forest.
Tour d’Emmental
This challenging tour begins in Burgdorf and starts with a steep climb to the Lueg scenic point. It then continues on past the Emmental Show Dairy, where you can take a quick break to refill your bottle at the fountain, to the next scenic point on Schonegg hill. When the air is clear, you have a wonderful view of the entire Bernese Alps. The next few kilometres up Lüderenalp are no walk in the park, but the view from the top makes up for it. After the descent into the town of Trubschachen and maybe a break at the Kambly cookie manufactory, the route takes you through the hills and over the Rämmisgummen. In Röthenbach, you’ll pass the famous Würzbrunnen chapel, then the ride continues over the hill to Signau and Langnau, where a climb to the Moosegg scenic point awaits. Then you’ll be on your way back to Burgdorf, downhill by way of Arni.
“Tales of the Gantrisch” Route
The “Tales of the Gantrisch” is actually intended as an e-bike route, but if you’ve got the stamina and the muscle power, you can also do the 64-kilometre tour on a road bike. You’ll ride through enchanted forests and mystical gorges, traverse pre-alpine terrain and come across regional features such as the Riggisberg Castle Gardens or the ruins of the Rüeggisberg monastery. But: don’t underestimate the 1,350 metres of altitude. If you need a well-deserved break to recharge your batteries, there are plenty of opportunities to do so: charming farm shops and restaurants await along the way.