Culture, leisure time

Thanks to the 6 km of Lauben, as the Bernese call their arcades, Bern has one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe. Alongside this, the capital also offers a wide range of cultural activities: The City Theater (Stadttheater) is well known for its innovative music and stage productions. But the curtain goes up on many a small theater too. The city is particularly well known for art: The Zentrum Paul Klee houses the world's largest Paul Klee collection and enjoys great international recognition; the art museum (Kunstmuseum) exhibits pieces of classical modernity and the art exposition hall (Kunsthalle) work by contemporary artists. Many students find the Einstein House inspiring. This is where Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein developed the basis of his relativity theory. Throughout the year, there are various dance, jazz and other festivals. There are plenty of music bars and clubs offering something to suit everyone. On balmy summer evenings there is a wide range of concerts taking place in the parks and alleyways - and of course there is always the legendary open-air Gurten music festival (Gurtenfestival) on Bern's local mountain. Just a short distance away are the town woods where you can enjoy a relaxing walk. And of course there is always the River Aare, the perfect place to enjoy a cool swim in the summer. Throughout the year you can reach the numerous skiing and hiking areas of the Bernese Oberland in just one to two hours.