Museums & galleries
Historical Museum of Bern
What It Is
Built in 1894 and expanded in 2009, the Historical Museum of Bern is Switzerland's second-largest history museum. It houses extensive collections of historical and cultural artifacts spanning multiple eras, providing a direct look into the heritage and civic development of the region.
How to Get There
The site is located just south of the Old Town across the Kirchenfeld Bridge. From Bern's city centre or central railway station, you can take a tram or walk in approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Travelers arriving via Zurich Airport (ZRH) can reach the city via direct train service before continuing to the museum.
Time to Allow
Allow between 2 and 3 hours to view the permanent collection. Visitors who plan to view temporary exhibitions or examine archival objects in depth should set aside half a day.
When to Go
Weekday mornings typically see fewer visitors and provide a calmer visit. The exhibition spaces become significantly more crowded on weekends, during school vacations, and on rainy days.
Nearby Attractions
Located in the Kirchenfeld museum cluster, the site can be easily combined with other institutions in the immediate vicinity:
- Natural History Museum of Bern (0.1km)
- Museum of Communication (0.1km)
- Kunsthalle Bern (0.1km)
- ALPS (0.2km)
Updated September 8, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
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