Bern Belp Airport is the chief international gateway to the city and can be found just 10 kilometres from the city centre. The airport maintains connections with a large number of EU cities, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, London, Munich and Vienna. Swiss International Airlines operates the greatest number of flights of any airline serving the airport.

The airport is relatively small and operates a single terminal but still manages to provide a full range of modern facilities and services. Besides essentials such as a bank, ATMs and bureaux de change, the terminal offers a good selection of dining and shopping outlets plus tourist information desks and car hire services.

To get to the city from the airport, passengers can make use of the airport bus that runs every hour and terminates at the central railway station. Alternatively, a bus service to the nearby village of Belp allows visitors to pick up trains direct to the city. Taxis operate from outside of the Arrivals area of the terminal, offering metered service to the city.

Bern is easily reached from other major Swiss cities and from neighbouring countries also by train, with links to the ICE, TGV and Cisalpino high-speed networks. There are also long distance bus services from across the country and from many European countries; the latter are operated by the popular Eurolines bus company, www.eurolines.com

Once in the city, visitors can make use of the Stadtische Verehrsbetriebe, which is the local network of bus and tram services. Tickets can be bought from machines located at the stops of the respective services and are transferable between the two. For anyone planning extensive travel, the ‘Berncard’ is a sound purchase, offering discounts against regular fare prices and cheaper admission to some attractions and museums.

Taxis are widely available in the city and can be booked by telephone, hailed in the street or hired from stands outside major hotels and bus and train stations. Car hire companies can be found both at the airport and in the city centre.