Bern - The Capital of Switzerland

Population
133,883
Language
German
Continent
Europe
Since
1848
Eco Ranking
9/195

Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.

About Bern

Bern occupies an unusual position in international political geography: Switzerland has no constitutionally designated capital city. Bern is referred to as the Bundesstadt, the 'federal city', a deliberate terminological choice that reflects the country's commitment to decentralized federalism. The Federal Council (the seven-member executive), the Federal Assembly (parliament), and the Federal Chancellery are all headquartered in Bern, making it the de facto seat of government. The arrangement dates to the founding of the modern Swiss federal state in 1848, when Bern was chosen as the federal city over rivals Zurich and Lucerne, partly for its central location and partly as a political compromise between Protestant and Catholic cantons. The Federal Palace, completed in 1902, is the seat of both the legislature and the Federal Council. Switzerland's highest court, however, sits in Lausanne, not Bern, a further expression of the deliberate distribution of state functions across cantons. Bern is also the capital of the Canton of Bern, one of Switzerland's largest cantons by area. The city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 for its medieval arcaded old town.

About Switzerland

Switzerland is a federal republic of 26 cantons, governed by a Federal Council of seven members who collectively serve as the executive, there is no single president in the conventional sense, as the presidency rotates annually among the councillors. Switzerland's model of direct democracy allows citizens to challenge federal laws and propose constitutional amendments through referendums, making it one of the most participatory political systems in the world.

View Bern on the map

View Bern - The Capital of Switzerland on the map

Flight time from Bern to other capitals

CityDistance (km)Flight Time
Paris4000h 28m
London7000h 49m
Rome7000h 49m
Abu Dhabi48005h 39m
Washington, D.C.66007h 46m
Cape Town910010h 42m
Tokyo970011h 25m
Singapore1040012h 14m
Buenos Aires1120013h 11m
Canberra1660019h 32m

Capitals with similar population to Bern

CityPopulation
Port Louis149,194
Gitega135,467
Bern133,883
Reykjavik131,136
Luxembourg City128,514
Georgetown118,363
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte115,826

Capitals with similar eco ranking to Bern

CityEco Rank
London5
Stockholm6
Oslo7
Vienna8
Bern9
Copenhagen11
Athens12

Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is Bern officially the capital of Switzerland?

    No. Switzerland has no constitutionally designated capital city. Bern is designated the Bundesstadt, or 'federal city,' and serves as the seat of the Federal Council, the Federal Assembly, and most federal administration, but it does not hold the legal status of capital. This reflects Switzerland's constitutional commitment to federalism and the dispersal of state power.

  • Why was Bern chosen as Switzerland's federal city?

    When the modern Swiss Confederation was established in 1848, Bern was selected as the federal city over competing cities such as Zurich and Lucerne. Its central geographic location and its status as a political compromise between the dominant Protestant and Catholic cantons made it an acceptable choice for all parties.

  • Where is Switzerland's Supreme Court located?

    Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court is located in Lausanne, not in Bern. This separation of judicial authority from the legislative and executive seat in Bern reflects Switzerland's principle of distributing state functions across different cities and cantons rather than concentrating them in a single capital.

  • How long has Bern been the seat of the Swiss federal government?

    Bern has been the seat of the Swiss federal government since 1848, when the modern Swiss Confederation was founded. The Federal Palace, which houses both the parliament and the Federal Council, was completed in 1902 and has been the center of Swiss federal governance since then.

  • What is the population of Bern compared to other Swiss cities?

    Bern has a city-proper population of around 134,000, making it Switzerland's fourth-largest city. Zurich, with around 430,000 residents, is significantly larger, as is Geneva. This is itself notable: Switzerland's de facto capital is not its largest or most economically prominent city, consistent with the country's dispersal of political and economic weight.

Sights and landmarks

The Berner Altstadt, the medieval centre located in a loop of the Aare, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983 and is characterised by 6 kilometres of arcades (Lauben), the longest covered shopping promenade in Europe. The Zytglogge, a 13th-century clock tower with an astronomical mechanism, served as the city's eastern gate until 1798. Albert Einstein lived at Kramgasse 49 from 1903 to 1905 and formulated his special theory of relativity there; the apartment is now the Einstein-Haus museum. The Berner Münster, a late Gothic cathedral from 1421 with a 100-metre spire (only completed in 1893), is the tallest church building in Switzerland. The Bärenpark on the Aare houses the city's heraldic bears.

Climate and best time to visit

Bern has an oceanic climate (Cfb) with considerable continental influences due to its location at 540 metres on the Swiss Plateau. Summers are warm with July temperatures between 13 and 24 degrees Celsius; brief heat waves occur. Winters are cool and damp with January between -3 and 4 degrees, and regular snowfall. Annual rainfall totals around 1,060 millimetres, making it one of the wetter European capitals. The föhn wind from the Alps can suddenly bring warm, dry air in spring and autumn. The best time to visit runs from May to September; in July local residents can float down the Aare, a tradition in which people swim with the current through the city centre.

Economy

Bern is a typical administrative capital, meaning the economy depends heavily on government sectors. The federal administration, the Swiss National Bank (since 1907), Swiss Post and SBB railways are among the city's largest employers. The Universal Postal Union (UPU), founded in 1874 and the oldest UN specialised agency, is headquartered in Bern. The city is also the headquarters of pharmaceutical giant CSL Behring and telecoms group Swisscom. Unlike Zurich and Geneva, Bern is not strong in the financial sector. The University of Bern and the Inselspital university hospital are additional core components of the city's economy.
Bern, capital of Switzerland
Bern, capital of Switzerland

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