+41 31 328 66 66
+41 31 328 66 66
At the popular Dählhölzli Zoo, wildlife fans can marvel at some 200 different species of animals in a beautiful setting. The zoo is open 365 days a year and is a classic day out for families with children in Bern, featuring a vivarium, petting zoo, barbecue area and family-friendly restaurant.
If you want to get to know Bern's "Mutzen", the heraldic animals of the Swiss capital, you can take a walk downriver along the Aare to the BearPark. The park is free to visit and is home to three brown bears that live in a 5,000-square-metre enclosure, offering visitors an extra special glimpse of the wild the whole year round.
Good to know: During the winter months from November to March, the bears hibernate and can be observed via a web cam.
Bern has plenty of play areas for children. The play area on the nearby mountain, the Gurten, boasts a 300-metre-long marble run, a miniature railway, a summer paddling pool and a mini ski lift in winter. More than 20 attractions, most of which are free of charge, offer families the chance to play, relax and have fun. You can get to the Gurten play area easily on the red Gurtenbahn funicular – as a guest at the Hotel Savoy you can travel free of charge on the Bern Ticket which is available from our hotel!
Elfenau play area is one of the most appealing playgrounds and the perfect place for a day out with kids in Bern. Situated near the Luternauweg bus stop, it's a real highlight for children with its water channel, slides, "beaver dam", swings and giant sand pit. In summer, you can stop off for some pasta, salad, cake or ice-cream at the Parkcafé.
Bern is one of the greenest cities in the world, so it's no surprise that it has plenty to offer outdoor enthusiasts.
Eichholz, for example, is around 30 minutes' walk from the city centre and is Bern's most popular campsite. On hot days, the numerous fire pits are busy with people roasting vegetables, campfire bread and tasty cervelat sausages – the large area is ideal for leisurely barbecues. Firewood is even provided in small huts. After enjoying your food, you can work off some energy on the beach volleyball court or football pitch.
An action-packed destination for children awaits you at the end of Länggasse: The shady play area near Halenbrunnen water fountain at the entrance to the woods offers adventurous kids a pump track, a dinosaur skeleton, little hidden play houses and a barbecue area. If you feel like a spur-of-the-moment barbecue, you'll find everything you need at the nearby Aperto store, even in the evenings and on Sundays.
Good to know: Bremgarten forest is also ideal for easygoing cycle rides with young children.
Bern's multitude of museums offer families with children exciting insights into a wide range of topics.
Classics include the Natural History Museum with a golden elephant on its roof. Delve into a fascinating world of minerals, animals and plants, with everything from stuffed animals to huge crystals and a gigantic skeleton of a fin whale. The stuffed specimen of Barry the Saint Bernard is a special highlight: This famous search and rescue dog lived in a hospice at the Great St Bernard Pass over 200 years ago and became a legend in his own lifetime, reportedly saving some 40 lives.
The Museum of Communication is all about touching and interacting. Whether you want to re-enact scenes in the film studio or explore the entertaining exhibitions, the 2019 Museum of the Year is always well worth a visit.