{"id":1227,"date":"2024-08-19T10:01:38","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T09:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hamiltonsremovals.co.uk\/news\/?p=1227"},"modified":"2026-04-15T16:46:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:46:25","slug":"international-removals-to-berne-with-hamiltons-removals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hamiltonsremovals.co.uk\/news\/international-removals-to-berne-with-hamiltons-removals\/","title":{"rendered":"International Removals to Berne with Hamiltons Removals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"International<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whether you spell it Bern or Berne, the Swiss capital is one of the more attractive places in Europe to move to; three out of every 10 people who live in the city are from outside Switzerland. Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer international removals to Berne, take a closer look at the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The History and Heritage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The origin of the city\u2019s name is uncertain, but the city itself dates back to 1191. Some believe it is named after a bear \u2013 the first animal the city\u2019s founder and ruler, the Duke of Zahringen, met on a hunt (he had pledged to do this in advance); others say it was named after the Italian city of Verona, which translated as \u2018Bern\u2019 in Middle High German. The French and the English still spell the city\u2019s name with the extra \u2018e\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally, Berne was part of the Roman Empire, but became a \u2018free\u2019 city in 1218 and effectively became part of Switzerland in the mid-14th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; this is because in 1405 a large fire broke out and destroyed many of the city\u2019s timber buildings. These were replaced by sandstone houses and arcades which survive to this day and are an integral feature of the Old Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berne is the administrative capital of the country, while Lausanne is the judicial capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting There and Getting Around<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is an airport close to the city, Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome (conventionally known as Bern Airport), but the flights it offers tend to be seasonal (and there are no direct flights from the UK). You may be better off flying in via Geneva, Basel or Zurich and commuting in by train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While travel links by air may be slightly lacking, the city is the hub of the country\u2019s federal rail network. There\u2019s also a commuter rail network (the S-Bahn, which is partly underground) within the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buses or trams are also viable alternatives; the city is also reasonably bike-friendly, and most thoroughfares have dedicated cycling lanes. Most of the city centre (particularly the Old Town) is easily explored on foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The one option that isn\u2019t easy to recommend for travelling in Berne\u2019s city centre is by car, as parking is very expensive and the Old Town streets are narrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Main Attractions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As well as the Old Town, the Zytglotte (the clock tower, pictured above) is always worth a look; make sure you pass it just before the hour as you\u2019ll see a display by mechanical figures including a king, a jester and (in a nod to the city\u2019s heritage) some bears at the turn of the hour.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city lies on the Aare River, which is safe enough to swim in (and many do during the warmest months of the year). In winter, there are plenty of free ice rinks to skate on; the most famous is the Bundesplatz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berne also has its own zoo, close to the river and the city centre, including a bear park with a family of bears living there. Most of the museums and art galleries are located in the Kirchenfeld quarter (also close to the centre), which is easily reachable either on foot or via public transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shopping Around and Eating Out<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spitalgasse and Marktgasse are the main shopping streets in the Old Town \u2013 many of the stores are in the stone arcades, so there\u2019s plenty of cover in case of poor weather. However, be aware that the opening hours may not be as flexible as the UK, and prices tend to be more expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also plenty of farmers\u2019 markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays offering fresh, local produce.  The most famous local dish is probably the Berner Platte which has meat (usually some form of pork) cooked with vegetables such as sauerkraut, turnips, beans and boiled potatoes on a large platter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a sweet treat, meringues and hazelnut gingerbread are popular (although the latter doesn\u2019t have many traditional ingredients), with baked goods in particular featuring at the forefront in the many winter markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International Removals to Berne with East Anglian Hamiltons Removals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are interested in international removals to Berne (and it\u2019s worth noting that Switzerland is not a member of the EU but is part of the single market) then contact Hamiltons Removals, one of the leading removal companies in East Anglia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can also help with moves to Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lucerne and all the other major Swiss towns and cities \u2013 for more information follow this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Is Berne a practical city to move to for English-speaking expats?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: While German is the primary language, Berne is incredibly international due to its status as the federal capital. Most government officials and professionals in the tech and medical sectors (like those at the Inselspital<\/em>) speak excellent English. However, for daily life\u2014like reading your rental contract or talking to your neighbours\u2014learning basic German is highly encouraged for smoother integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Can I bring my car to Berne duty-free?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: You can import your car duty-free as part of your “moving goods” (Form 18.44) if you have owned it for at least six months and intend to keep using it. However, Bern is a very “green” city with high parking costs and excellent public transport. Many expats find that a car isn’t necessary. If you do bring it, you must register the vehicle with the Bernese Road Traffic Office (Strassenverkehrsamt<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What is the “14-Day Registration Rule” in Berne?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A:  Once you arrive in Berne, you have exactly 14 days to register at the Migrationsdienst der Stadt Bern<\/em> (Migration Office). You must do this before you start your first day of work. You will need your passport, your new Bernese rental contract, and your Swiss employment contract. This registration is essential for Hamiltons to finalise the “final clearance” of your household goods with Swiss customs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All information correct at the time of writing<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether you spell it Bern or Berne, the Swiss capital is one of the more attractive places in Europe to move to; three out of every 10 people who live in the city are from outside Switzerland. Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer international removals to Berne, take a closer look at the city. The History […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nInternational Removals to Berne | With Hamiltons Removals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"International Removals to Berne \u2013 Hamiltons Removals, who can help with moves to all parts of Switzerland, take a closer look at the country\u2019s capital, Berne\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hamiltonsremovals.co.uk\/news\/international-removals-to-berne-with-hamiltons-removals\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"International Removals to Berne | With Hamiltons Removals\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" 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