Bern, Switzerland’s capital, is one of the few cities that has successfully preserved its historic elements.
Bern’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it has one of Europe’s longest weather-protected shopping promenades, with 6 kilometres of arcades (locals call them ‘Lauben’).

Bern is the administrative capital of Switzerland.
The Bundeshaus (Houses of Parliament) rise above the city, at a short distance from the railway station.
Most of the time, the doors to the Houses of Parliament are open to visitors, and if you’re lucky, you might even run into a member of parliament on the streets.