Bern, Switzerland — Activities
Bern Culture
The big hall at the Kultur-Casino Bern, Herrengasse 25 (tel: (031) 328 0228; www.kultur-casino.ch), is home to Bern Symphony Orchestra (tel: (031) 328 2424; www.bernersymphonieorchester.ch). The Stadttheater Bern, Kornhausplatz 20 (tel: (031) 329 5111; www.stadttheaterbern.ch), is another top venue for classical music, opera, theater and dance.
La Capella, Allmendstrasse 24 (tel: (031) 332 8022; www.la-cappella.ch), is popular for cabaret, song and theater. Das Theater an der Effingerstrasse, Effingerstrasse 14 (tel: (031) 382 7272; www.dastheater-effingerstr.ch), is a smaller theater that nonetheless manages to combine artistic ambition with popularity. The Berner Puppen Theater, Gerechtigkeitsgasse 31 (tel: (031) 311 9585; www.berner-puppentheater.ch) is a must for puppet enthusiasts young and old.
The Kulturhallen Dampfzentrale, Marzilistrasse 47 (tel: (031) 310 0540; www.dampfzentrale.ch) is a center for contemporary music and dance. It is the main venue during the annual Bern Dance Days festival.
Most cinemas in Bern screen mainstream movies and blockbusters. However, the Cinématte, Wasserwerkgasse 7 (tel: (031) 312 2122; www.cinematte.ch), the Kellerkino, Kramgasse 26 (tel: (031) 311 3805; www.kellerkino.ch), and the cinema in the Fine Arts Museum, Hodlerstrasse 8 (tel: (031) 328 0999; www.kinokunstmuseum.ch), are independent cinemas screening art film and global film releases. During the summer months (mid July to August), the OrangeCinema (an open-air cinema, www.orangecinema.ch) is held on the Grosse Schanze.
Bern Tours
The tourist office and its guides offer a variety of tours. Guided walking tours through the Old Town are available every Saturday from November to March and daily from April to November. They include all the tourist sights as well as lesser-known jewels throughout the city's UNESCO World Heritage site.
There are also daily guided tours of Bern's famous clock tower throughout the summer season (April-October). They give a fascinating insight into 16th-century technology and are highly recommended.
Group tours are available upon request and include a bus tour of the city and river trips in inflatable boats. An iPod audioguide is also available.
For more information, contact the Tourist Information Center, Bahnhofplatz 10A, at the railway station (tel: (031) 328 1212; www.berninfo.com). For a short introduction to Bern's history, visit the information center beside the Bear Pits, where the BernShow (a 20-minute 3D presentation) will give you a snapshot of the city's past and present.
