With the dire state of the world, with wars erupting left, right, and center and crime rates surging across all the most popular tourist destinations––Paris and London, we’re looking at you––we don’t really blame you for feeling anxious about leaving your little nook of America.
Flying abroad has never come without risks, but it seems as if it’s a very different era for international travel.
Naturally, some destinations are more neutral than others, and not only have they not seen conflict recently, but their safety levels remain very high.
That is the case with Bern, a lesser-known city in the heart of Europe that still exists in its own microcosm of peace, shielded from the Russo-Ukrainian War and the migrant crisis plaguing many urban centers.
Thanks to the newly launched Risk Map 2025 from Safeture and Riskline, we know now that Bern has been named the safest city destination in the world for 2025.
But Wait… I Thought Zurich Was The Capital Of Switzerland?
We hate to break it to you and make you feel like you could do with another year in school, but Zurich isn’t Switzerland’s capital.
That title is claimed––sort of––by the smaller, far more charming Bern, nestled in the Alps.
We say ‘sort of’ as Switzerland, as a federation of cantons, does not have an official capital, with many of its institutions scattered around the national territory, but Bern has traditionally been considered the administrative center as it concentrates several of them.
If you’ve never heard of Bern before, which is the case for many, you should know it is among Europe’s most culture-charged, and well-preserved medieval settlements:
Bern Is A Storybook Town Come To Life
The Altstadt (Old Town) is criss-crossed by cobblestone-covered alleys, leading to either a picturesque Platz (German for square), where you’re likely to find an ornate fountain and a laid-back cafe or two, or an imposing cathedral.
Speaking of, if you’re approaching Bern with one of those scenic trains, the cathedral is likely to be the first landmark you spot from a distance:
Its soaring tower makes it one of the largest in Switzerland, and the expansive stained glass collection inside is not to be missed.
It is one of many historical sites dotting the UNESCO-protected center, with other noteworthy examples including the 12th-century Zytglogge, a clock tower that’s probably Bern’s best-known attraction, and the eerie Ogre Fountain, which depicts the foul creature devouring children.
Cheery.
Bern’s infamous fountain may be a rather unusual addition to a rather romantic, idyllic townscape, but it is probably the only unsettling sight you’ll come across:
That is because Bern was recently named the safest city not only in Europe but in the whole world, charting ahead of popular low-risk destinations like Reykjavik in Iceland, Kyoto, Japan, and even the somewhat sleepy micro-nation of Luxembourg.
How Is Bern So Safe?
According to the Risk Map 2025, which categorizes destinations taking into account their safety levels, tourists going to Bern face the lowest possible risks.
The city is joined in the top 3 by Doha in Qatar and Melbourne in Australia.
Corroborating these findings, estimates provided by Numbeo show that the level of crime in the Swiss de facto capital is ‘very low’, with a rate of only 15.65––in Paris, Europe’s top tourist destination, it’s a staggering 62.03.
The research notes that Europe has been facing ‘increased’ risks recently, with several countries now placed in the U.S. State Department’s Level 2 listing, such as France, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, though Switzerland remains at Level 1.
They attribute the worsening safety situation in Europe to ongoing political unrest, rising public demonstrations, and even environmental risks: recently, an entire city in southern Spain faced its deadliest flood in decades.
Bern, on the other hand, has had no recent natural disasters, it’s rarely agitated by protesting, and as it is a smaller urban center, home to around 134,000 people, it does not suffer from the same rapid urbanization issues, unregulated migration, and ghettoization seen in larger 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 beautiful and safe, and the breathtaking Swiss Alps backs it, but how do you get there in the first place?
For a city that plays such a key role in the Swiss Federation, hosting the Federal Palace of Switzerland, the World Trade Institute, and more, you’d expect it to be served by a large international airport, right? Right…?
Well, while it’s true Bern has an aerodrome, it’s a very small one, offering flights primarily to sunny destinations in Europe during summer.
Needless to say, you can’t fly directly there from the United States.
You can, however, fly into Zurich from as many as 14 U.S. airports or Geneva from 3 departure points: among them, you have some of the States’ best-connected hubs, with JFK, Newark, Chicago, Washington-Dulles and Boston, to name a few.
From Zurich, it’s a short 1h11 train ride to Bern, and you’ll want to make sure you book a window seat for the journey, as you’ll be gliding through some mesmerizing alpine scenery.
Trains from Geneva take longer, with the shortest ride taking 1h45, but the way there is just as beautiful, with tracks running along the serene Lake Geneva, one of Europe’s prettiest lake destinations.
Zurich is, of course, the most convenient option, and you could always couple a trip to Bern with a stopover in Switzerland’s financial heart––just make sure you keep your wits about you and a watchful eye on your belongings.
Zurich is still very safe, but it’s certainly not as peaceful as Bern.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
