With the dire state of the world, with wars erupting left, proper, and middle and crime charges surging throughout all the preferred vacationer locations––Paris and London, we’re taking a look at 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, however it appears as if it is a very completely different period for worldwide journey.
Naturally, some locations are more neutral than others, and never solely have they not seen battle lately, 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 Warfare and the migrant disaster plaguing many city facilities.
Due to 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 would do with one other yr at school, however Zurich is not Switzerland’s capital.
That title is claimed––form of––by the smaller, much more charming Bern, nestled within the Alps.
We are saying ‘form of’ as Switzerland, as a federation of cantons, doesn’t have an official capital, with a lot of its establishments scattered across the nationwide territory, however Bern has historically been thought-about 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, you must know it’s amongst Europe’s most culture-charged, and well-preserved medieval settlements:
Bern Is A Storybook City Come To Life
The Altstadt (Outdated City) is criss-crossed by cobblestone-covered alleys, resulting in both a picturesque Platz (German for sq.), the place you are more likely to discover an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, should 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 one in every 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 slightly uncommon addition to a slightly romantic, idyllic townscape, however it’s most likely the one unsettling sight you may come throughout:
That’s as a result of Bern was lately named the most secure metropolis not solely in Europe however in the entire world, charting forward of standard low-risk locations like Reykjavik in Iceland, Kyoto, Japan, and even the considerably sleepy micro-nation of Luxembourg.
How Is Bern So Protected?
In accordance with the Risk Map 2025, which categorizes locations taking into consideration their security ranges, vacationers going to Bern face the bottom attainable dangers.
Town is joined within the high 3 by Doha in Qatar and Melbourne in Australia.
Corroborating these findings, estimates offered by Numbeo present that the extent of crime within the Swiss de facto capital is ‘very low’, with a price 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 going through ‘elevated’ dangers lately, with a number of international locations now positioned within the U.S. State Division’s Degree 2 itemizing, resembling France, Spain, Sweden, and the UK, although Switzerland stays at Degree 1.
They attribute the worsening security scenario in Europe to ongoing political unrest, rising public demonstrations, and even environmental dangers: lately, a whole metropolis in southern Spain confronted its deadliest flood in many years.
Bern, then again, has had no current pure disasters, it is hardly ever agitated by protesting, and as it’s a smaller city middle, dwelling to round 134,000 folks, it doesn’t endure from the identical fast 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 secure, 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 position within the Swiss Federation, internet hosting the Federal Palace of Switzerland, the World Commerce Institute, and extra, you’d count on it to be served by a big worldwide airport, proper? Proper…?
Effectively, 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 possibly can’t fly immediately there from the USA.
You’ll be able to, nonetheless, fly into Zurich from as many as 14 U.S. airports or Geneva from 3 departure factors: amongst them, you’ve gotten a number of the States’ best-connected hubs, with JFK, Newark, Chicago, Washington-Dulles and Boston, to call a couple of.
From Zurich, it is a quick 1h11 practice trip to Bern, and you will need to ensure you guide a window seat for the journey, as you may be gliding by way of some mesmerizing alpine surroundings.
Trains from Geneva take longer, with the shortest trip taking 1h45, however the best way there may be simply as stunning, with tracks operating alongside the serene Lake Geneva, one in every of Europe’s prettiest lake destinations.
Zurich is, in fact, essentially the most handy choice, and you would at all times couple a visit to Bern with a stopover in Switzerland’s monetary coronary heart––simply ensure you maintain your wits about you and a watchful eye in your belongings.
Zurich remains to be very secure, however it’s definitely not as peaceable as Bern.
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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, authorised or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the submit.