Bern

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Bern is the de-facto capital of Switzerland.

Hitching out

Direction north (Basel, Zürich, Biel, Luzern)

Option 1: Neufeld

From the train station, take the bus #11 to Neufeld P+R to the last station (You can use a short distance ticket for 2,- CHF.). Get out, turn left and walk 2 minutes to a roundabout with a nice hard shoulder. In August 2009 the new "Neufeld-Tunnel" was opened and since then this spot is not frequented that much anymore. It still works, but not much traffic. Therefore see Option 2: Tiefenaustrasse.

Option 2: Tiefenaustrasse

Take Bus 11/21 until "Henkerbrünnli". Or walk: It's a 5-10 minutes walk from the trainstation. Walk in direction of Bollwerk/Schützenmatte or to the "Reithalle" (a big autonome building with a lot of Graffiti etc.). Cross the street behind the Reithalle and there's the beginning of the Tiefenaustrasse, which leads directly into the Neufeld-tunnel and unto the highway A1. Many cars, not too much space to stop (bike lane), but it works. Better use a sign because of local traffic.

Option 3: Wankdorf

From the train station, take the bus #20 to the station Wyler (buy a ticket 'zone 1-2' for 3.80 CHF). Walk 200m on the left side of the street (on your right you see a huge stadium, then cross the big crossroads. Right there you see a bus stop (Bus #28) where there is enough space for cars to stop. Use a sign! Cars driving past there can go to Zurich, Basel, Biel, Luzern,... You can take any lift to get onto the highway (A1), right after Bern (3min) there is the service area "Grauholz" where you can change quite easily.

update June 2010: there are construction works and the situation changes every week. These days (June 14, 2010) the bus stop, where cars can easily stop, was moved around the corner. It's not the best place anymore, but it still does work. you better use a sign.

Wankdorfplatz

Option 4: Ostring From the train station, take tram #5 to Ostring (final station). Just stand in front of the highway entrance. It's not the best place because cars can't see you from far away, but when it's raining you can place yourself under the highway bridge. And there is enough place for cars to stop.

Ostring

Direction south (Thun, Interlaken) and west Fribourg, Lausanne, Genève)

Wankdorfplatz From the train station, take the bus #20 to the station Wyler (buy a ticket 'zone 1-2' for 3.80 CHF). Walk 200m on the right side of the street (on your right you see a huge stadium, then cross the big crossroads. There's a perfect bus stop. Better use a sign.

Sleeping

Bern seems to have only one hostel, which is located in the town center, 5 minutes walking from the parliament building. Prices are about 30 CHF per night. Check out their website.

There is an emergency sleeping place called Sleeper, where you can get a bed for 5.-, breakfast included. But they only accept people in an emergency, not people who actually could afford a hostel bed. Check-in times are from 10pm-1am and you can stay till 10am. Be there soon enough, especially in winter time. You can't make reservations.

Eating

Breakfast: Monday-Friday at Aufenthaltsraum, Postgasse 35. Opening times 8.30-11.30am with free breakfast, and 2.30-5.30pm with free coffee, tea,... Postgasse is located in the lower old town, close to the (bus #12 stop) Rathaus.

Lunch: Tuesday-Friday and Sunday at 12.30pm at La Prairie, Sulgeneckstrasse 7. It costs 5 CHF, if you can't afford that you can work for it in the kitchen. From the main trainstation go to the park "Kleine Schanze", on the right side of the park there is the street Sulgeneckstrasse and La Prairie just 50m from there.

Dinner/Supper: Every day from 6pm-8pm at the Sleeper. It costs 5 CHF. The place is located at Neubrückstrasse 19. From the main trainstation, walk towards Bollwerk/Reitschule. Go behind the Reitschule building, cross two streets and you will see it. Bus 11 or 21 stop there, the stop is called Henkerbrünnli (which means Hangman's spring).

Trivia

The Dutch football team will play its group matches during Euro 2008 in Bern. During the event many Dutch football fans place their tents and of course their famous caravans, often pained in orange, on the "Orange camping" in Bern. In their Dutch advertising campaign Heineken shows Dutch football fans on their way to Bern, including a shot of an "Orange" supporter, who is hitchhiking with a sign "Bern", and just gets picked up during the TV-commercial.