go through the door closest to the corner of Hotelgasse, take an immediate left and go through the…read morelittle exhibit area. and make sure to take a look at what is there as you pass by. you will get to a little room with a few tables and some coffee and snack machines. the most brilliant part of this room? the free newspapers! they have all the swiss newspapers, and also french, german, and italian papers, the international herald tribune, the new york times - all there for you to peruse at your leisure. back issues are stacked on a shelf and that day's papers are hanging up on poles. the coffee from the machine is pretty good too. and it is warm in there. a great place to sit and read the paper and even mingle with bern university students and professors if you are so inclined! beautiful.

Why this place is never busy is beyond me, because it's a godsend if you are looking for an English…read morebook library. Nowhere else can you buy recent magazines for a swiss franc or gently used books for a few $$. Please, please support this place by becoming a member and reading some new books! If no one goes, it won't be around for long.

This is a beautiful library that takes a classic, clean, simple facade and elevates it up many…read morenotches. The natural lighting compliments the area perfectly. It's a perfect place to study because of how well lit, quiet, and peaceful the building is. If it's your first time inside you'll likely be distracted by the architecture which is perfectly understandable.

Definitely worth a visit just to admire the impressive architecture by Santiago Calatrava, which…read moreyou wouldn't suspect to be hiding inside by the outer looks of the building. Make sure to also take the glass elevator all the way up. It's easiest to enter the building from the back. When entering from Rämistrasse, it's slightly tricky to find the way to the library. There are lockers to leave your bags, which you're not supposed to bring inside (need a 2CHF coin). No flash photography so that the people studying there won't be disturbed.

Great spot for drinks, coffee, or light snacks and meals. It's a coffee shop/ bar/ bookstore…read more Nice location with many seating options inside and outside. It's self-serve with many drink and food options. It's also a good spot for studying, working, or to relax with family and friends. I like this cafe a lot, and would recommend stopping by. The food and the drinks are okay, but it's more the atmosphere the scores the points.

Great place to relax with coffee, beer or other beverage. Next to Limmat so you see people with…read moredogs, baby or old couples. Even if it's a book cafe, most people here just come in for drinks and hanging out. During the day, you see some working/studying here. Good and reasonably priced cappuccino (can choose small 4.50 CHF or large5.xx CHF) and wine/beer (less than 7 CHF). Muslie was great but haven't tried other food. you can pick up some pre-made salad or sandwiches. Great to sit outside or backside to hang out.

Of course there is a lot of knowledge available, but this is one of the modern public buildings I…read morereally like. How did they do the different walls, what material is in the ceiling? What about the front? Lots of relaxing areas. Not to mention the lakeview.

If you are already exploring Old Town or just finished walking across the Chapel Bridge, definitely…read moremake the trip up to the Lion Monument. It is super easy to get to just a quick, flat 10-to-15-minute stroll north through town. Tucked away in a quiet, shaded park enclave, the sheer scale of the sculpture carved directly into the natural sandstone cliff face is stunning. The dying lion rests above a small reflecting pond, commemorating the Swiss Guards massacred during the French Revolution in 1792. It carries a heavy, solemn atmosphere that pictures don't quite capture. The park area itself is peaceful and easy to stroll around, though tour groups cycle through frequently. Once you finish paying your respects and taking photos, the surrounding streets (around Denkmalstrasse and Löwenplatz) are packed with cozy cafés, bakeries, and outdoor seating to grab a coffee, rest your feet, and people-watch. Route & Visit Checklist 1. Walking Route from Chapel Bridge: Head north along Seebrücke/Schwanenplatz, follow Schweizerhofquai along the water, turn left up Löwenstrasse, and follow the signs right onto Denkmalstrasse (approx. 12 minutes). 2. Best Timing: Arrive before 9:30 AM or after 5:00 PM to avoid large tour bus crowds around the reflection pond barrier. 3. Nearby Stop: Glacier Garden (Gletschergarten) sits right next door if you want to extend the visit before stopping at a café on Löwenplatz.

I was born in Luzern and I've seen this monument countless times. Mostly now I go visit with my…read morestudents whenever we have the French Revolution as a subject in school. This time again I came here with my students, just before visiting the Gletschergarten next to. The Lion Monument (Löwendenkmal) is a world-famous rock relief carved directly into a former sandstone quarry. Designed by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn by Lukas Ahorn in 1821, it depicts a dying lion impaled by a spear, sheltering a shield with the French fleur-de-lis. The monument serves as a poignant memorial to the hundreds of Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 while defending the Tuileries Palace in Paris during the French Revolution. American author Mark Twain famously praised it as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world." As a piece of art it's already an impressive sight and worth a visit. But knowing the backstory of it makes it even more interesting and impressive. Very sad that sometimes some vandalism is going on here. Once it was bombed with paint-filled water balloons. The rock here is very sensitive and cleaning it could have damaged the lion. Luckily the restoration went fine. The pond in front gets cleaned regularly and the coins (for luck) are being collected and used to restore and preserve this wonderful monument.