Family

Gurten - a children's paradise

Fun on Bern's balcony

“I woooon!” shouts Lea, as she is the first to cross the finish line she has agreed with Ben. They regularly race the cool Kids Cars on Mount Gurten. Ben usually wins, but pssst! They then run straight to the ball run. Lea and Ben can spend ages there, lifting, turning, winding and shaking their balls over a distance of around 300 metres to the end. Today they’ve even met up with friends and play hide and seek on the large wooden structure between the nets, climbing tunnel and slide. After a snack, there’s the crowning moment: a turn on the miniature railway. “We’re in luck,” calls Ben. “The steam engine is out today.”

Travel comfortably by train to Wabern b. Bern. In just a few steps you'll arrive at the Gurtenbahn.

There’s so much to do at the play park on Mount Gurten. A wide variety of attractions – most of them free – encourage children to explore, play and burn off some energy. Here are just a few of the highlights.

The small railway

The carefully designed miniature railway route takes guests large and small around the playpark. It is probably one of the oldest installations in Switzerland that is still working, and every year it carries around 80,000 children and 20,000 adults. In the course of this, the steam engine and other small trains cover around 6,000 km, which is approximately equivalent to the distance from Gurten to the Empire State Building.

The operation is dependent on the weather. Check at gurtenpark.ch whether the small railway is running.

CHF 2.00 Single ride children
CHF 3.00 Single ride adults
CHF 10.00 Multi-ride card children 6 rides
CHF15.00 Multi-course card adult 6 rides
gratis Children up to 1.99 years

Summer sledge

The summer toboggan run promises to be fun for young and old alike: tight corners, straight lines that allow you to go down the track at full speed and even a tunnel that will guarantee thrills and strong sensations.

Children from 8 years old can use the toboggan individually.
Children between 3 and 7 years can only use the summer toboggan run when accompanied (over the age of 12).

March to November 2024

Mon–Fri: 13.00–18.00
Sat–Sun: 10.00–18.00

The toboggan run is only open in dry weather. Check here to see if the toboggan run is in operation.

CHF 4.00 Children from 9 years
CHF 5.00 Adults

Kid's Car

Accelerate, brake, avoid, maneuver: With the 12 Kids Cars, young guests can gain their first experience with a car and experienced drivers can take a few laps on the otherwise car-free Gurten.

The Kid Cars are in operation daily from 10.00-17.00, weather permitting.

CHF 1.00 3 minute ride

Grünenfelder's ball machine

Stefan Grünenfelder’s legendary ball circuit is a kind of oversized Tinguely machine, where levers, pivots and cranks are operated. The countless stretches and mechanisms will excite both large and small. With a track length of over 300 meters, the track has the shape of a hexagon with a diameter of more than 6.5 meters. If you want to play through the track from start to finish, it will take you almost an hour to complete the 30 support mechanisms. As long as temperatures do not drop below zero degrees, the ball circuit also works in winter.

Gurtengarden

In the middle of the Gurtenpark, the 650 m2 biological Gurten Garden invites you to explore. Garden animals and a colourful plant community offer children and families a varied experience of nature. The Gurtengärtli is freely accessible and free of charge.

Supervised garden afternoons

Free, supervised garden afternoons are held on Wednesdays and Sundays from 1.30 to 4.30 pm. During these afternoons, the children learn more about organic gardening and nature. In addition to practical work in the garden, the children are offered various activities, such as handicrafts, following the tracks of earthworms or processing the harvested vegetables.

Restaurant Tapis Rouge

At the self-service restaurant Tapis Rouge you will find a wide selection of salads, hot dishes and delicious desserts. There is something for everyone. For the little ones, the offer includes a children's buffet and the older ones appreciate our varied offer of röstis.
The two terraces invite you to bask in the sun and the children can play freely in a large games room.

11.04.2023–16.10.2023

Daily from 9:00 till 20:00 hours

17.10.2023–10.04.2024

Daily from 9:00 till 18:00 hours

In case of bad weather, the restaurant may close earlier.

Observatory - the observatory above Bern

The observatory on the Gurten - a look into the universe for the whole family

Since April 2022, the observatory on the Gurten has been thrilling astronomy fans both young and old. "Astro Events" explains the complex physical phenomena of the universe in an understandable and entertaining way and the telescope allows you to see the ring of Saturn or a planetary nebula live.

Observation evenings are held every Tuesday. Astro Events explains the phenomena of the universe in an entertaining way and offers a glimpse into distant galaxies.
In the winter months, children's observation evenings are held twice a month for young planet fans, with models, crafts and, of course, a look through the telescope.
Special celestial events take place several times a year, for example a shooting star night or a lunar eclipse. On these occasions, the observatory puts on an evening with the wow factor.
The observatory is open to the public a few days a year, free of charge, so that everyone can have a look through a telescope.

The number of visitors per evening is limited and pre-registration is necessary.

Observatory above Bern

Gurten funicular

From January to April 2024, the funicular will be renovated. As a replacement service, a bus service via Gurtendörfli to Gurten Kulm will be provided.

Replacement service schedule: every 30 minutes

The Gurten funicular operates daily from 7.00 hours every quarter of an hour, at 00/15/30 and 45 hours. Deviations from the timetable are possible when passenger numbers are high.

Monday–Saturday:

Last ascent 23.30 hours
Last descent 23.45 hours

Sunday & public holidays:

Last ascent 20.00 hours
Last descent 20.15 hours

Subject to change without prior notice

CHF 7.00 Adults
CHF 3.50 Adults with Half Fare Card
CHF 3.50 Children 6–15.99 years

CHF 12.60 Adults
CHF 6.30 Adults with Half Fare Card
CHF 6.30 Children 6–15.99 years

* also applies to replacement service

GA, Half-Fare travelcard, Bern Ticket, Junior Travelcard and Libero monthly and annual travelcards for the 100/101 zone are valid. The Libero Day pass and the Multi and Group Day passes are not valid. Tickets can be purchased via the BLS timetable and in the BLS mobile app as well as at any ticket counter or ticket machine.

Prices in CHF incl. VAT / Prices and products subject to alteration