With the dire state of the world, with wars erupting left, proper, and middle and crime charges surging throughout all the most well-liked vacationer locations––Paris and London, we’re you––we do not actually blame you for feeling anxious about leaving your little nook of America.
Flying overseas has by no means come with out dangers, nevertheless it appears as if it is a very totally different period for worldwide journey.
Naturally, some locations are more neutral than others, and never solely have they not seen battle not too long ago, however their security ranges stay very excessive.
That’s the case with Bern, a lesser-known metropolis within the coronary heart of Europe that also exists in its personal microcosm of peace, shielded from the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict and the migrant disaster plaguing many city facilities.
Because of the newly launched Risk Map 2025 from Safeture and Riskline, we all know now that Bern has been named the most secure metropolis vacation spot on this planet for 2025.
However Wait… I Thought Zurich Was The Capital Of Switzerland?
We hate to interrupt it to you and make you are feeling like you possibly can do with one other 12 months at school, however Zurich is not Switzerland’s capital.
That title is claimed––kind of––by the smaller, way more charming Bern, nestled within the Alps.
We are saying ‘kind of’ as Switzerland, as a federation of cantons, doesn’t have an official capital, with lots of its establishments scattered across the nationwide territory, however Bern has historically been thought of the executive middle because it concentrates a number of of them.
Should you’ve by no means heard of Bern earlier than, which is the case for a lot of, it is best to know it’s amongst Europe’s most culture-charged, and well-preserved medieval settlements:
Bern Is A Storybook City Come To Life
The Altstadt (Previous City) is criss-crossed by cobblestone-covered alleys, resulting in both a picturesque Platz (German for sq.), the place you are more likely to discover an ornate fountain and a laid-back cafe or two, or an imposing cathedral.
Talking of, when you’re approaching Bern with one of those scenic trains, the cathedral is more likely to be the primary landmark you see from a distance:
Its hovering tower makes it one of many largest in Switzerland, and the expansive stained glass assortment inside is to not be missed.
It’s certainly one of many historic websites dotting the UNESCO-protected middle, with different noteworthy examples together with the Twelfth-century Zytglogge, a clock tower that is most likely Bern’s best-known attraction, and the eerie Ogre Fountain, which depicts the foul creature devouring kids.
Cheery.
Bern’s notorious fountain could also be a moderately uncommon addition to a moderately romantic, idyllic townscape, however it’s most likely the one unsettling sight you may come throughout:
That’s as a result of Bern was not too long ago named the most secure metropolis not solely in Europe however in the entire world, charting forward of fashionable low-risk locations like Reykjavik in Iceland, Kyoto, Japan, and even the considerably sleepy micro-nation of Luxembourg.
How Is Bern So Protected?
In line with the Risk Map 2025, which categorizes locations bearing in mind their security ranges, vacationers going to Bern face the bottom potential dangers.
The town is joined within the high 3 by Doha in Qatar and Melbourne in Australia.
Corroborating these findings, estimates supplied by Numbeo present that the extent of crime within the Swiss de facto capital is ‘very low’, with a charge of solely 15.65––in Paris, Europe’s high vacationer vacation spot, it is a staggering 62.03.
The analysis notes that Europe has been dealing with ‘elevated’ dangers not too long ago, with a number of nations now positioned within the U.S. State Division’s Degree 2 itemizing, equivalent to France, Spain, Sweden, and the UK, although Switzerland stays at Degree 1.
They attribute the worsening security state of affairs in Europe to ongoing political unrest, rising public demonstrations, and even environmental dangers: not too long ago, a whole metropolis in southern Spain confronted its deadliest flood in a long time.
Bern, alternatively, has had no latest pure disasters, it is not often agitated by protesting, and as it’s a smaller city middle, residence to round 134,000 folks, it doesn’t undergo from the identical speedy urbanization points, unregulated migration, and ghettoization seen in bigger European capitals.
In other words, it’s the city where you’re least likely to get pickpocketed or robbed at knifepoint across the pond.
How To Get To Idyllic, Peaceful Bern From America
Bern is gorgeous and protected, and the breathtaking Swiss Alps backs it, however how do you get there within the first place?
For a metropolis that performs such a key function within the Swiss Federation, internet hosting the Federal Palace of Switzerland, the World Commerce Institute, and extra, you’d anticipate it to be served by a big worldwide airport, proper? Proper…?
Nicely, whereas it is true Bern has an aerodrome, it is a very small one, providing flights primarily to sunny locations in Europe throughout summer season.
For sure, you’ll be able to’t fly straight there from the US.
You may, nonetheless, fly into Zurich from as many as 14 U.S. airports or Geneva from 3 departure factors: amongst them, you’ve gotten a few of the States’ best-connected hubs, with JFK, Newark, Chicago, Washington-Dulles and Boston, to call a number of.
From Zurich, it is a brief 1h11 practice experience to Bern, and you will wish to be sure to e-book a window seat for the journey, as you may be gliding via some mesmerizing alpine surroundings.
Trains from Geneva take longer, with the shortest experience taking 1h45, however the way in which there may be simply as lovely, with tracks working alongside the serene Lake Geneva, certainly one of Europe’s prettiest lake destinations.
Zurich is, after all, probably the most handy choice, and you possibly can at all times couple a visit to Bern with a stopover in Switzerland’s monetary coronary heart––simply be sure to preserve your wits about you and a watchful eye in your belongings.
Zurich remains to be very protected, nevertheless it’s definitely not as peaceable as Bern.
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This text initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the submit.
