Switzerland
Bern in December
🧥 WinterCold and some showers.
🎒 Pack: winter coat, gloves & hat
Why December scores 7.9What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort6.3
- !Cold (4°C highs / -2°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -1.1°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~79 mm rain)
- Air quality9.3
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~10 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | Jul | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.9 Very good | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 4° / -2° | 25° / 13° |
| Rain | 79 mm | 108 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt -1° | dew pt 14° |
| PM2.5 | 10 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Bern weather-station normals. Rainfall: Bern weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore BernEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallySwitzerland's capital has a remarkably preserved medieval old town on a bend of the Aare River, listed by UNESCO. It is calm, walkable and full of arcaded streets and fountains.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Bern FasnachtDate variesDates vary; usually February or March
Carnival with masked groups, Guggenmusik bands and parades.
Why go: Noisy, colourful and fun; the old town is crowded.
Where: Old town
GurtenfestivalDate variesDates vary; usually mid-July
Popular open-air music festival.
Why go: Hotels get busy; tickets sell out early.
Where: Gurten hill above the city
Swiss National DayEvery year1 August every year
National holiday with speeches, bonfires and fireworks.
Why go: Shops close, and evening fireworks are a highlight.
Where: Across the city
Zytglogge
Medieval clock tower with an astronomical clock and moving figures that perform just before the hour.
Bern Minster
Late-Gothic cathedral with the tallest church spire in Switzerland.
💡 Climb the tower for views over the old town.
BärenPark
Riverside enclosure for the city's bears, the symbol of Bern.
Federal Palace
Seat of the Swiss parliament and government.
💡 Free guided tours run on many days; bring ID.
Rose Garden
Hillside garden above the old town with one of the best city views.
Berner Platte
Hearty platter of meats and sausages with beans, sauerkraut and potatoes.
💡 Traditional restaurants in the old town
Rösti
Crispy grated potato cake, a Swiss classic.
💡 Most Swiss restaurants
Meringues with double cream
Crisp meringues served with thick cream, a Bernese Oberland speciality.
💡 Cafes and restaurants
Toblerone
The famous triangular chocolate was created in Bern.
💡 Supermarkets and souvenir shops
Berner Haselnusslebkuchen
Bernese hazelnut gingerbread, often decorated with a bear.
💡 Bakeries and confectioners
Swiss army knife
The classic Swiss multi-tool.
💡 Specialist shops in the old town