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What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Bern

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  • Jose Carreira

    Living in Bern, the tiny capital city of Switzerland, felt very hemmed in at first. But through InterNations I met the expat community and many nice locals.

Relocating to Bern

The surrounding alpine scenery, varied flora and fauna (the city itself is home to 130 parks), and fresh mountain air make it a popular place for families, who also benefit from a top education system, first-class sporting facilities and excellent employment prospects. German is the main language spoken in Bern, though Italian, French and Romansh are also official languages. Many local residents speak English but expats looking to move to Bern should have a good grasp of German and be prepared to learn the local dialect, known as Bernese German.

About the City

Bern is the country’s Bundesstadt, or federal city, home to the national parliament and the capital of the canton (region), also called Bern. It has a population of about 139.000, making it the fourth most populous in the country. The city is situated in the west of Switzerland, 19 kilometers north of the Bernese Alps and on a bend of the River Aare. It is well connected to the neighboring countries of France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Italy and Austria, and has excellent transport links to places further afield. Bern has a thriving economy and a very low rate of unemployment – 3.3% as of April 2015 – one of the lowest in Europe.

The Climate in Bern

Bern’s western location in Switzerland means it has higher than average rainfall, which sweeps in from the Atlantic. It enjoys warm and often sunny weather in the spring and summer, and mild winters, when sports enthusiasts make the most of snow-covered mountains and crisp sunny days. The average temperature in July is 72°F (22°C) and in December 37°F (3°C), falling to 26°F (-3°C) at night.

Visas for Switzerland

No visa is required for citizens of EU (European Union) or EEA (European Economic Area) countries, except Croatia. Expats residing in Bern must register at the city’s migration office within 14 days of arrival, with a residence permit application, passport, confirmation of address or tenancy agreement, passport photos and marriage certificate, if applicable. Citizens from non-EU and non-EEA countries and Croatia should enquire about visa regulations at the Swiss embassy in their home country. Swiss embassies are located across the world and there is a full list here.

Hi Wine Friends! ACTIVITY UPDATED. – On Wednesday, 20 March you are invited to taste over 50 wines from first-class international wineries, and get to know the people behind them personally. – In addi
Hi wine friends! Ciao amici del vino! Let's expand our taste buds and discover our favourite wine(s)! – This time we'll taste wines from a Sicilian family wineries with over 150 years of experience in
Mar 22, 2024, 6:30 PM
9 attendees
You would like to enjoy young talents playing jazz classics as well as their own compositions? Come the the International Jazz Festival at Innere Enge (Jazz Tent) https://www.mariansjazzroom.ch/jazzfe
Apr 19, 2024, 6:30 PM
16 attendees
Hey there, marvelous sidekick! Brace yourself for the April extravaganza happening at the Grosse Schanze – because ordinary rendezvous spots are for the faint of heart!

See all upcoming events for expats in Bern

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  • Jose Carreira

    Living in Bern, the tiny capital city of Switzerland, felt very hemmed in at first. But through InterNations I met the expat community and many nice locals.

  • Marina Salgado

    I was amazed by the variety of people that I got to meet through InterNations Bern: diplomats, CEOs, artists and expats from all nations.

Our Global Partners

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