A summer fairy tale: Bern!

To be a host at Stay KooooK Bern Wankdorf means to us to work where others spend their holidays. Especially in summer, Bern is irresistible, and we certainly don’t go anywhere during the hot months. We would miss the most fantastic time of the year…

We would then have to do without THE summer symbol – when, towards the end of the day, the people of Bern stick their bath towel under their arm and set off for the “Aareschwumm,” aka. swim in the Aare. On hot days there is hardly a better way to freshen up. The starting point is either the Bernese river baths or any point along the Aare. Entry and exit points are marked with a red bar or steps. But before you dive into the water: make sure you get used to the somewhat freshwater temperatures. Therefore visitors should wet or better “aanetzen” themselves before diving in. If one of the three main routes is not exciting enough for you, we recommend the “extended version”: you take a rubber boat, a paddle, and travel from Thun via Bern to Wohlensee. Attention there is a short interruption at the Schwellenmätteli . The best place to re-enter is at Altenbergsteg or the Lorrainebad. The route is even known among international tourists. The expression for it will surely cause some difficulties for some people – because the magic word is “Gumminbööötlen”. Anyone whose head is spinning can look forward to another refreshment.

At least as fabulous as the Aare are the best “glacés in Switzerland” in the Gelateria Di Berna – that’s what the SonntagsZeitung thinks. Now we are not talking about pure ice cream on a stick. We Bernese celebrate our ice cream culture. Our gelatieri learned their craft in the Italian cradle and would almost like to claim that they have even refined it!… We add a little bit of coziness that you can’t get anywhere else.

What one also does not get often is a free visit to the museum. In Bern, 19 museums, castles, parks, and gardens have teamed up and offer free admission every Saturday in August. This is a special goody on hot days, as Bern is home to some of the most important museums and galleries in Switzerland.

The sunset in the Rose Garden is as picturesque as it is painted. Either you take it like the Bernese and sit on the wall with a “Bärner Müntschi”  – a typical Berner beer – and let your feet dangle, or you book a table at the Rosengarten Restaurant for a romantic dinner or a special celebration.

A date that all Swiss celebrate is August 1st. This national holiday is celebrated all day long, especially in the capital. Swiss flags, fireworks, and alpine bonfires are only the first signs of this. This day is like a fairy tale!