WELCOME TO BERNE / BERNA'S BEST PRIVATE SCHOOLS

The isbi Schools Directory Guide To The Top International Schools And Private Schools in Bern / Berna

For anyone planning a move to or within Bern in the centre of Switzerland, also known as 'Berne' and 'Berna', we have collated information below about different places to live, schools, estate agents and other information we think useful for relocating within fantastic Bern.

Offering some of the best living anywhere in Switzerland, Bern’s famous nearby cities and towns include Lucerne, Lausanne and Burgdorf.

Berne has a great choice of high quality private schools, beautiful countryside, lots of activities and excellent housing - with a fantastic range of different property to call home, from mansions and estates, villas and bungalows to new build executive housing, family townhouses and apartments.

"Bern’s flag-festooned, cobbled centre, rebuilt in distinctive grey-green sandstone after a devastating 1405 fire, is an aesthetic delight, with 6km of covered arcades, cellar shops and bars, and fantastical folk figures frolicking on 16th-century fountains. From the surrounding hills, you’re presented with an equally captivating picture of red roofs arrayed on a spit of land within a bend of the Aare River. In a nutshell, Bern seduces and surprises at every turn. Its museums are excellent, its drinking scene dynamic and its locals happy to switch from their famously lilting dialect to textbook French, High German or English – which all goes to show that there’s more to Bern than bureaucracy" Lonely Planet

Berne is right in the centre of Switzerland with the cities of Basel to the north, Lucerne to the east and Lausanne to the south.

Bern is a Unesco World Heritage-listed Old Town! The old city of Berne was founded in the 12th century and was named one of the Unesco Old Town heritage-sites in 1983.

For more fun facts and figures about Bern, scroll down to our Berne feature page!

TOP INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN BERN (BERNE/BERNA), SWITZERLAND

Have you booked to attend any School Open Days & Open Events yet?

Visit the comprehensive isbi School Open Days Guide with the latest School Open Days & Open Events dates and timings for School Open Days happening near you.

The isbi School Open Days & Open Events listings have the information you need on Open Days & Open Events happening at your favourite schools soon.

We highly recommend attending School Open Days - they are a great way to learn about and to experience a school and discover if it is the best school for you - or alternatively ask for a private tour of your favourite schools, when it suits you.

Looking for a prestigious International (private) school in Bern, Switzerland?

If you are thinking of moving to live in Berne (or you already live in Bern but are considering relocating) and you and your family are researching some of the best International schools and private schools in Bern there is a big choice of high quality Bern schools, with a number of the cities highest ranking International schools considered to be some of the best in Switerland.

The private education sector in and around Bern features day and residential boarding schools, single sex and co-educational (mixed) schools, including leading private nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools and high schools.

Find Private International Schools In Berne, Switzerland (Or "International Schools And Private Schools Near Me")

Developed over the last 36+ years, the isbi School Search Directory is one of the largest and most comprehensive private schools directories available, helping thousands of families to find, compare and select good schools since the 1980s.

> You can search for International schools and private schools with a reputation for excellence in Bern and in the suburbs of Bern by using our International Schools Directory and International Schools Finder (powered by School Search Directory) or by clicking on the names of the International schools, private schools and colleges and High schools listed below to see detailed profiles with photos, videos, maps etc.

> With our expanded school search technology you can filter your search by the type of school you are looking for such as International school and private school, day and boarding, gender, age range, academic study, religious affiliation, school fees, scholarships and bursaries, open days etc.

> You can also focus your search on just private junior schools or senior high schools or on all-through International schools, or view search results for all of them together.

Please explore isbi.com for detailed information and guides about good schools of all types and for open days, school and college and news, articles and blogs with details of school associations, glossaries and explanations about examinations and qualifications and expert advice about independent education at International schools and private schools around Switzerland and worldwide.

Top International Schools And Private Schools & Colleges In Bern, Switzerland

Some of the best International schools and private schools and colleges in Berne, Switzerland providing a top-tier, world-class day and boarding single-sex and mixed education for boys and girls include:

MOVING TO BERN? RELOCATING TO BERNE?

Where To Live In Bern, Switzerland

The most popular cities and towns in the Berne, Switzerland area include, with approximate population numbers:

> Jura Bernois

Moutier (7,500), La Neuveville (3,500), Courtelary (1,400)

> Biel

Nidau (6,800)

> Aarberg

Lyss (11,400), Aarberg (3,900), Büren (3,200)

> Bern-Mittelland

Bern (133,115), Ostermundigen (17,000), Worb (11,400), Münsigen (11,000), Fraubrunnen (1,800), Schwarzenburg (6,900), Muri (6,700), Konolfingen (4,800), Laupen (2,800), Schosswil (700)

> Emmental

Burgdorf (15,200), Signau (2,800), Trubschachen (1,500), Trachselwald (1,000)

> Oberaargau

Langenthal (14,900), Herzogenbuchsee (6,800), Huttwil (4,700), Aarwangen (4,250), Wangen an der Aare (2,033)

> Thun

Seftigen (2,100), Steffisburg (15,400), Thun (42,600)

> Frutigen-Niedersimmental

Frutigen (6,600), Wimmis (2,300), Adelboden (3,600), Kandersteg (1,200)

> Interlaken-Oberhasli

Interlaken (5,300), Wengen (1,300), Brienz (2,900), Meiringen (4,400)

> Obersimmental-Saanen

Saanen (6,900), Gstaad (9,200), Zweisimmen (2,900), Blankenburg (2,000), Lenk (2,300)

FOCUS ON... LIVING IN BERN, SWITZERLAND

Bern is a very popular place to live and many people move to each year, or to near and the surrounding area, from around Europe and the rest of the world.

Many of those moving to Berne are seeking a more urban lifestyle, deciding to relocate to the Bern to enjoy a different pace of life and the historic and elegant surroundings of a prosperous Bern with great facilities and leisure amenities, high quality housing and schools, fantastic bars, restaurants, sports and popular cultural events involving art and music.

Ten Things To Know About Berne, Switzerland

> FACT 1: Bern is Switzerland’s beer capital! It has over 200 microbreweries, with the local company Bärner Müntschi being particularly popular with the locals for its natural cloudiness.

> FACT 2: Toblerone chocolate was born in Berne! Theodor Tobler, the inventor of the famous triangular chocolate was brought up in Bern and was trademarked by Tobler in 1909.

> FACT 3: The river Aare is one of the most unique things about Bern, it circles around 3 sides of the city and has a number of beautiful bridges connecting the different parts of the city.

> FACT 4: Albert Einstein lived in Berne! His old flat on the second-floor has now been turned into a museum called Einsteinhaus and still has all of the preserved decorations.

> FACT 5: As you wander the streets of Berne, look out for the green, white, yellow and burgundy street signs. These signs are as a result of when Napoleon invaded the city back in 1798, his army was mostly illiterate so the colours were implemented in order to help troops navigate the city.

> FACT 6: Bern Cathedral spine, measuring 101 metres, it is the tallest in Switzerland and has been one of Bern’s wow factors since it was first built in 1889. You can even climb to the top, however be warned - it’s a 200 step climb!

> FACT 7: Berne, with its 133,000 person population, is the fourth largest city in Switzerland. However it is still the de facto capital of the country. Its official title is Bundesstadt (translated to federal city) and has been the location of Switzerland's parliament and government since 1848.

> FACT 8: Berne hosted the World Cup Final in 1954. This is particularly important to Bern as West Germany beat Hungary (who were the favourites to win) by 3-2.

> FACT 9: Legend has it that bears once wandered through the city of Bern. In fact, the name ‘Bern’ originates from when the Duke of Zähringen proclaimed that he would name the city after the first animal he encountered on his hunt.

> FACT 10: Berne is the third highest capital city in Europe! It sits at 542 metres above sea level, so remember to pack your hats and gloves for winter!

Where To Live In Berne, Switzerland

Bern and the surrounding area offers a huge choice of high quality, premium and luxury property to meet the needs of any family, whether wanting a townhouse, large apartment, villa, mansion or Switzerland estate, with or without granny annex, garden or swimming pool. There are also property development and investment opportunities too, with land available to purchase and properties in need of renovation.

From central Berne living to rural, Swiss lifestyles, Bern and the areas near Bern are full of bustling districts and leafy suburbs, lush green areas, charming Crescents and estates, rolling countryside, vibrant high streets, busy neighbourhoods and friendly residential communities.

Some of the popular residential areas include:

Altstadt Bern, Kirchenfeld Bern, Breitenrain-Lorraine Bern, Länggasse Bern, Muri bei Bern, Burgdorf Bern, Old Town Bern

Commuting To And From Bern By Rail Or Road

Relocating to Berne is especially popular with those happy to work from home most of the time but needing to occasionally commute to other places for work.

Others are happy to commute more regularly to Basel, Zürich, Lausanne and other locations for work.

Travel times to key destinations by road and rail include:

> Bern To Basel: Basel is about 98 kilometres by road from Berne via the A2 and A1 and driving to the centre of Basel from Bern normally takes under 1 hour 30 minutes. There is a very regular train service to Basel from Bern, with trains taking about 1 hour.

> Bern To Zürich: Zürich is about 150 kilometres by road from Berne via the A2 and A1 and driving to the centre of Zürich from Bern normally takes under 1 hour 45 minutes. There is a very regular train service to Zürich from Bern, with trains taking about 1 hour.

> Bern To Lausanne: Lausanne is about 100 kilometres by road from Berne via the A1 and driving to the centre of Lausanne from Bern normally takes under 1 hour 20 minutes. There is a very regular train service to Lausanne from Bern, with trains taking about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Nearest Airports To Berne, Switzerland

The nearest airport to Bern is Berne (BRN) which is 16 kilometres from Bern. Other nearby airports include Basel (BSL) (under 100 kilometres), Zürich (ZHR) (120), Geneva (GVA) (150 kilometres) and Milan Malpensa (MXP) (350 kilometres)