Bern
46°57′ N 7°27′ ECityPop. 146,455Switzerland
Bern suits a couple or an older traveller who likes arcaded streets and a crafts-only market under a Gothic cathedral, and its trade-off is early closing: the Münsterplatz stalls shut at 18:30 on weekdays. The capital runs three Christmas markets in 2026, on Münsterplatz from 28 November, on Waisenhausplatz from 27 November and the Sternenmarkt by the Federal Palace from 19 November.
Photo Time.Captured. · Flickr · CC BY-SA 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Bern rewards a night or two because its markets keep different hours and suit different moods. The Münsterplatz market sells only pieces made in the stallholders' own workshops, while the Sternenmarkt runs until 22:00 with a fondue chalet for the evening.
The city lists its own Christmas calendar on bern.ch. The Waisenhausplatz market runs from 27 November to 24 December 2026, then turns into an Old Year's market from 28 to 31 December and a New Year's market from 4 to 9 January 2027. The Sternenmarkt runs on to 27 December, and it takes cards and Twint only.
Worth knowing
- The Münsterplatz market is open on 24 December 2026 from 10:00 to 16:00, and the Sternenmarkt to 16:00.
- Bring a card for the Sternenmarkt, which takes no cash.
Quick answers about Bern
How many Christmas markets does Bern have in 2026?
Bern has three main Christmas markets in 2026. The Sternenmarkt runs from 19 November to 27 December, the Waisenhausplatz market from 27 November to 24 December and the Münsterplatz market from 28 November to 24 December.
Are Bern's Christmas markets open on Christmas Eve?
Yes. The Münsterplatz market opens from 10:00 to 16:00 on 24 December 2026 and the Sternenmarkt until 16:00; the Waisenhausplatz market's 2026 hours were not yet published in October 2026.
Is Bern a good place to stay?
Bern rewards a night or two because its markets keep different hours and suit different moods. The Münsterplatz market sells only pieces made in the stallholders' own workshops, while the Sternenmarkt runs until 22:00 with a fondue chalet for the evening.
