What to explore in Switzerland - areas around Berne?

Four places I would recommend for their absolutely unique world-class beauty or interest:
- Jungfraujoch Railway from Interlaken - railway route to the highest railway station in Europe (over 4000 m high) - quite expensive though
- Meiringen and Reichenbachfall (beautiful waterfall where Sherlock Holmes is supposed to have died, there is also a museum devoted to him in the town),
- Erich von Daniken's Mystery-Park in Interlaken - theme park opened in 2003 and exploring his ideas about possible visits to the Earth by aliens
- Grand Hotel near Giessbachfall - fantastically elegant and picturesque place for lunch, dinner, afternoon tea or accommodation: www.giessbach.ch. One of the best known hotels in Switzerland.

Also interesting places (if you go other directions) are:
- exceptionally well preserved medieval town of Murten
- Fribourg (very similar layout to Berne - also on a river bend)

A bit further towards Lausanne:
- the village of Gruyeres - hailed as the most beautiful village in Europe, famous for its cheese (the classic fondue cheese) with a medieval castle and (surprisingly) Museum of Giger (the artist who designed the Alien for Hollywood). There is also a very famous Callier-Nestle chocolate factory nearby with 5 minute tours ending in a free Eat As Much As You Like (and Stay As Long As You Like) tasting at the end.

For affordable accommodation check out: www.bnb.ch. Hope it helps.

Berne itself is a great place to explore. then go to thun, berniese oberland in general. it is absolutely a great place!
go for a trainride from berne to lucerne. go to the french part of switzerland. it's all so close together, that you can stay around berne every night and take daytrips to different places.

You'll want to check the Switzerland travelogues on our non-commercial web site for ideas for your trip: http://www.thetravelzine.com

Have a GREAT trip!

Have been to Bern this summer and i agree, a lot to explore. In Bern don't miss this historical centre (large and beautiful enough to take the best part of a day), the Zentrum Paul Klee ( the museum is an art work in itself, plus the Klee collection -- take the 5 tram to Ostring, then walk a little to reach it), Kustmuseum Bern, the History Museum (the last one in Helvetiaplatz - you should manage to find them). Then, around Bern, go to the Alps- the Bernese Oberland. Through Thun to Interlaken, then i recommend you go further to one of the resorts. I've been to Grindelwald, which is just great! So are Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Gimmelwald ..etc. You can take the mountain trains to higher destinations (there are scores of them) or hike. Grindelwald-Maenlichen is the longest cable car in the world. You could also stay in Interlaken and take a tour of the 2 lakes. If you're into mountaineering, the possibilities are limitless.:) Enjoy your trip, it's a very beautiful place.

No bad ideas so far; the Aareschlucht (Aare gorge) is amazing. It's a couple hours from Bern by train.

You could go to a cheese factory and see how they make Emmentaler Cheese (North Americans call it Swiss cheese). From Bern you can head into the Alps by train via Interlaken and Murrin. You can visit places like Thun along the way.