Bern · BE
Photoshoots in Bern
A photoshoot in Bern is a session with a professional photographer in the Swiss capital’s UNESCO-listed old town and along the Aare, arranged through Alpiora, from CHF 390 for a couple.
Pricing
From CHF 250
- Region
- Bern
- Elevation
- 542 m
- Photo spots
- 7
Starting price. The exact price depends on photographer, place, date, time and add-ons, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
Quick answers
- How much does it cost?
- Photoshoot in Bern starts from CHF 250. The final price depends on the place, duration, date, time of day, travel and any add-ons such as video, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
- When is the best time?
- For empty arcades, start at sunrise or before 9:00. Rosengarten faces the old town from the east, so it is an evening spot.
- Which experiences are available here?
- Couple Photoshoot, Family Photoshoot, Proposal Photography, Engagement Photography, Personal Branding Photography, and Maternity Photography
- Getting there
- Bern is about an hour by train from Zurich, Basel and Lucerne, under an hour from Interlaken and a little under two hours from Geneva.
- Where does it take place?
- Popular places include Rosengarten; Zytglogge and the Kramgasse arcades; Münsterplattform; Bundesterrasse and Bundesplatz. Your photographer suggests the best spot for your date, the light and the crowds.
- How does booking work?
- Send a free request with your place, date and plans. Alpiora checks which photographers are available and replies with a proposal stating the photographer, the package and the exact price. Nothing is booked until you accept.
Bern’s old town sits on a narrow peninsula inside a loop of the Aare, and almost everything worth photographing is within a 20-minute walk. Six kilometres of sandstone arcades, eleven painted Renaissance fountains and the Zytglogge clock tower give you a medieval backdrop that has hardly changed since the 18th century. The whole old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
What sets Bern apart for a shoot is the height difference. The old town stands on a ridge above the river, so you can move from arcaded streets to terraces, bridges and riverside meadows in minutes. It suits couple photoshoots, family sessions and relaxed engagement photos, and it works well as a first stop before the mountains of Interlaken.
Bern is city-priced. A classic couple session starts at CHF 390, a family session at CHF 450 and a proposal at CHF 650; see pricing for what changes the figure.
Photo spots — Bern
- 01
Rosengarten
The rose garden on the hill above the Bärengraben is the classic view of Bern: red roofs, the Münster tower and the Aare curving below. More than 220 rose varieties bloom from June into August, and cherry trees flower in spring. Entry is free and the park is always open.
- Best time
- The last 30–40 minutes before sunset, when the old town catches warm light; June for the roses.
- Access
- Bus 10 from the main station stops at the entrance; on foot it is a steep 10-minute climb from the Bärengraben.
- 02
Zytglogge and the Kramgasse arcades
The medieval clock tower marks the old western gate. About four minutes before each hour its mechanical figures start their show, and a crowd gathers. The Kramgasse and Gerechtigkeitsgasse beyond it have the long arcades and fountain columns that read instantly as Bern.
- Best time
- Before 9:00 for empty arcades; overcast days give soft, even light under the arches.
- Access
- Five minutes on foot from the main station along Spitalgasse and Marktgasse.
- 03
Münsterplattform
The tree-lined terrace beside the cathedral hangs above the Matte quarter and the river weir. On clear days you see the Bernese Alps beyond the rooftops. The Münster tower, the tallest church tower in Switzerland, has a platform 64 metres up, reached by 344 steps.
- Best time
- Late afternoon and early evening; the terrace is shaded in summer heat.
- Access
- Two minutes from the Zytglogge; the small Mattelift connects the terrace with the Matte quarter below.
- 04
Bundesterrasse and Bundesplatz
Behind the Federal Palace, the Bundesterrasse looks south over the Aare towards the Alps. In front, the square has 26 water jets for the 26 cantons, which children love. On Tuesday and Saturday mornings the market fills the square.
- Best time
- Early morning or evening; avoid market mornings if you want a clean square.
- Access
- Five minutes from the main station on foot.
- 05
Marzili and the Aare
Below the Federal Palace, the river runs turquoise past the free Marzili lido. The riverside path gives relaxed, green, summery pictures with the parliament dome above. In July and August it is one of the busiest places in town.
- Best time
- Golden hour on summer evenings; mornings in high summer before the lido fills.
- Access
- The Marzilibahn funicular, about one minute long, drops from the Bundeshaus to the river.
- 06
Nydeggbrücke and the Matte
The stone bridge at the eastern tip of the old town frames the rooftops from river level, and the lanes of the Matte quarter below feel like a village. The BärenPark sits on the slope opposite.
- Best time
- Morning, when the sun comes from behind you and lights the old town facades.
- Access
- At the bottom of the Gerechtigkeitsgasse, about 15 minutes’ walk from the station.
- 07
Gurten
Bern’s own hill, 858 metres high, has open meadows with a view over the city, the Jura and the Alps. It is the place to go when the old town is too crowded or when you want wide, green space for a family session.
- Best time
- Evening light in summer; on fog days in autumn it can rise above the grey.
- Access
- Tram 9 to Wabern, then the Gurtenbahn funicular, just under five minutes to the top.
Best time
Seasons
Late spring and summer are the easy seasons: long evenings, roses in June and the river at its most turquoise. September and October bring soft light and fewer visitors. From November to February the Swiss Plateau often sits under a lid of high fog for days; the arcades still work, and December adds the Christmas markets.
Time of day
For empty arcades, start at sunrise or before 9:00. Rosengarten faces the old town from the east, so it is an evening spot. The Nydeggbrücke and river views photograph best in the morning. Midday light is flat under the arcades but very usable on an overcast day.
Weather
Bern has a mild continental climate. Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms, so book an evening slot and keep a backup date. In autumn and winter, high fog can hang over the city until the afternoon; if you want sun, a photographer may suggest the Gurten or a short trip to the mountains.
Getting there
Bern is about an hour by train from Zurich, Basel and Lucerne, under an hour from Interlaken and a little under two hours from Geneva. The old town starts at the main station, and most spots are on foot. Buses and trams cover the rest: bus 10 for Rosengarten, tram 9 for the Gurten.
Good to know
The Rosengarten, the Münsterplattform and the river paths are free. The Münster tower charges a small fee, and its last ascent is 30 minutes before closing. Much of central Bern lies in restricted airspace, and flying over crowds is not allowed, so plan without a drone in the old town and check the FOCA drone map for anything else. We plan private sessions as small handheld shoots; for a commercial production, ask the City of Bern whether a permit is needed.
- Wear flat shoes: the old town is cobbled and the walk up to the Rosengarten is steep.
- Arrive at the Zytglogge a few minutes before the hour if you want the figures in your pictures, and move on once the crowd builds.
- On Tuesday and Saturday mornings the market fills the Bundesplatz and Bärenplatz; plan around it or use it as a lively backdrop.
- Do not step into the Aare for a picture without knowing it: the current is strong even near the bank.
- A 60-minute session can cover the Zytglogge, the arcades and the Münsterplattform; add time for the Rosengarten.
- Earth tones and muted colours sit well against the grey-green sandstone.
Experiences in Bern
From CHF 390
Couple Photoshoot
A guided session for two, in a Swiss old town, by a lake or in the mountains, with a photographer who knows the light there.
1 hourExplore
From CHF 450
Family Photoshoot
A child-paced family session in a Swiss city, by a lake or in the Alps, with a local photographer who knows where little legs can go.
1 hourExplore
From CHF 650
Proposal Photography
A photographer who hides, catches the moment you ask, and then takes relaxed portraits of the two of you. Planned with you in advance.
1 hourExplore
From CHF 390
Engagement Photography
A session for engaged couples, planned around what the photos are for: save-the-dates, invitations, a wedding website or your walls.
1 hourExplore
Photographer availability
We confirm availability for your date personally — send a request and we will check which reviewed photographers are free for this place and session.
Find a Photographer in BernFrequently asked questions
How much does a photoshoot in Bern cost?
A couple session in Bern starts at CHF 390, a family session at CHF 450 and a proposal at CHF 650. Bern is city-priced, so the Alpine floor does not apply. The final price depends on the photographer, date, time of day and duration and is stated in your proposal.
Where is the best view of Bern’s old town?
The Rosengarten gives the classic panorama over the rooftops, the Münster and the Aare bend. Go in the last hour before sunset for warm light. The Münster tower and the Gurten offer higher, wider views.
Can I propose in Bern?
Yes. The Rosengarten at sunset and the Münsterplattform are the usual choices, and a photographer can wait nearby looking like any other visitor. Read how proposal photography works and see our guide to proposals across Switzerland.
Is Bern good for a family photoshoot?
Yes. Distances are short, the Bundesplatz fountains and the BärenPark keep children busy, and the Gurten has open meadows. A session of about an hour usually fits children’s attention span.
What if it is foggy or raining?
The arcades keep you dry and give soft, even light, so Bern is one of the better Swiss cities for a grey day. Summer thunderstorms usually pass within an hour. If the forecast is poor, your photographer can suggest moving the slot.
Can I combine Bern with the mountains?
Yes. Interlaken is under an hour by train, and a multi-location photo tour can cover both in one day. Ask for it in your availability request.
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