The best museums to visit in the city of Bern

A stagecoach, microchip implants or an original getaway car used in the robbery of the century? The new core exhibition examines all forms of communication, which has always connected human beings. But why do we communicate? And who do we communicate with? What is required for us to understand each other? The exhibition explores these fundamental questions in a playful manner whilst calling on its visitors to contribute their expert thoughts.

Numerous newly developed points of adventure await you. You can take part in a game of film karaoke and re-enact famous scenes, you can breach your opponent’s firewall in a hacking game or you can have a go at seeing through the data octopus’s game – you can try something different every time you visit the museum. At some point in the 2000 square metres of the exhibition you will surely meet one of our communicators. They will make each visit a personal and individual experience.

The Einstein House is located in the center of the Old City at Kramgasse 49, just some 200 meters from the Clock Tower (Zytglogge). It is open for the public.

Albert Einstein rented the flat from 1903 to 1905 and lived there with his wife Mileva and son Hans Albert. The second-floor residence features furnishings from that time period as well as photos and texts presented in a modern exhibition system.

The exhibition gives an impression of how Albert Einstein might have lived and in which environment he has developed his most important scientific work.

Furthermore, various publications, books and postcards are for sale.

A refreshing summer climate, mountain farmers, climate change, the dwindling of the glaciers, tourism and the building of second homes - the Alps and their mountain world are a hot topic in art, literature, society, economics and politics.
The Swiss Alpine Museum offers unconventional exhibitions about current topics pertaining to the world’s mountains. Visitors get to enjoy a museum that is an interactive platform for posing questions and discussing issues. The attractions include the experimental bivouac, the museum shop and the alpine cuisine of the museum’s restaurant «las alps».

Special exhibits and a thematically broad event and education program give visitors the chance to make new discoveries. Recommended for 'mountain climbers' of all ages.

The Kunsthalle has become renowned worldwide for its special exhibitions of artists such as Klee, Giacometti, Moore, Johns, Lewitt, Nauman and Buren and with themed exhibitions such as Harald Szeemann's "When Attitudes Become Form". The Kunsthalle Bern sees itself as a place for artistic debate and critical questioning of the phenomena of our times.

In its permanent exhibition, the "Bernisches Historisches Museum" shows highlights from the fields of history, prehistory, early history and ethnography through a diverse, multi-media approach. The objects on display range from the Stone Age to the present, from cultures of all continents.

The integrated Einstein Museum presents a powerful presentation of the life and work of Albert Einstein and places it in the context of world history. Animated films and experiments illustrate the pioneering theories of this genius. An AudioGuide in nine languages as well as an induction headset and a VideoGuide for deaf and hearing-impaired persons makes the Einstein Museum accessible to a wide audience.

The temporary exhibition hall's 1,200m2 of space are used to present innovative, changing shows that deal with historical, archaeological or ethnographic subjects on a revolving basis.

Bern’s oldest museum has made a name for itself in recent years by holding attractive thematic exhibitions, such as the new exhibition “Apocalypse – End Without End”. One of the museum’s best-known exhibits is Barry, the world-famous rescue dog, a St. Bernard who recently had an entire exhibition dedicated to him. The giant Planggenstock crystals now permanently on display are another highlight. The NMBE is a family museum and runs numerous activities for families and children. It also hosts unusual events for visitors of all ages such as a “The bar of dead animals”, which is part of a programme series entitled “Help, it lives!”.

The museum holds over 3,000 paintings and sculptures and approximately 48,000 drawings, prints, photographs, videos and films. Works from Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Ferdinand Hodler and Meret Oppenheim have given Bern‘s art museum a world-class reputation.

The collection comprises art from the Italian Trecento (Duccio, Fra Angelico), Swiss art since the 15th century (Niklaus Manuel, Albert Anker, Ferdinand Hodler, Cuno Amiet), international painting from the 19th and early 20th centuries (Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism, Blauer Reiter, Surrealism), with particular focus on Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky and Pablo Picasso. Both national art trends (Meret Oppenheim, Franz Gertsch, Markus Raetz) and international ones from Jackson Pollock to the present are also represented.

Highlights