Is Bern safe?
Very safe. Pickpocketing near the station is the main nuisance; Reitschule area has some late-night drug dealing but little danger.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-19.
- Homicide rate in Switzerland: 0.6 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Switzerland: 2.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Bern at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Occasional petty theft at the station and on trams; bike theft; rare drunken disturbances around the Reitschule. |
| At night | Safe and quiet; trams and night buses run on weekends. Most bars close by 1–2 am. |
| Solo women | Comfortable alone, day and night. |
| Other risks | Strong Aare current: enter downstream of Marzili and exit early; Cobblestones icy in winter |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Petition signers asking for donations then demanding money near the station
Take care
- Reitschule and station underpass at night: drug dealing and drunk crowds
- Swimming the Aare: strong current outside designated spots
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Most municipalities require official fee-paid rubbish bags; dumping household waste is fined.
- Motorways need the CHF 40 vignette, and speeding fines are severe.
- Night-time and Sunday quiet hours are taken seriously in apartments.
How Bern compares in Switzerland
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Zurich | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lucerne | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Interlaken | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Zermatt | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bern | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Basel | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lugano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Grindelwald | 5/5 · Very safe |
| St. Moritz | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Montreux | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Geneva | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lausanne | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Bern safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable alone, day and night.
Is Bern safe at night?
Safe and quiet; trams and night buses run on weekends. Most bars close by 1–2 am.
What is the crime rate in Bern?
Occasional petty theft at the station and on trams; bike theft; rare drunken disturbances around the Reitschule. Nationally, Switzerland records 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Bern?
Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · All emergencies 112.
More about Bern
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Bernmobil
- Bern Tourism
- SBB
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.