Bern Old Town

Switzerland's capital has a remarkably preserved medieval old town on a loop of the River Aare, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 6 km of covered arcades, painted fountains, and the Zytglogge, a clock tower with moving figures that perform on the hour. Einstein lived nearby while developing his theory of relativity; his apartment is a small museum.

See the Gothic Minster and climb its tower, visit the Federal Palace, and the bears in the BärenPark by the river. In summer, locals swim in the fast-flowing Aare.