Bern is situated in the west Switzerland, approximately a 90 minute drive from Zurich. The population of Bern is over 130,000 and is the fourth largest city in Switzerland. The most widely spoken language is Bernese German, a Swiss German dialect, but the official language is German.
The city hosts many popular attractions including the Bern Cathedral, Bernisches Historisches Museum and a bear farm. The construction of Bern Cathedral first started in 1421 and was not completed until 450 years later. It now stands as the largest and tallest Cathedral in Switzerland. Bern is also famous for being the home of Albert Einstein between 1903 and 1905. During this time, he rented a flat, which has now been restored in the style of the period to reflect Einstein’s life in Berne. His flat is open to visitors throughout the year. Other notable features and activities in Bern are St. Beatus Caves which offer the Swiss cave experience, The Grand Casino and the Clock Tower.
The city is served by Bern Airport, which is situated just outside of the city and flies to several European cities. The railway station connects to both national and international railways networks. Bern is also connected to the motorway systems of Switzerland.
