Bern’s Arcades (Lauben)

Bern’s arcades—called Lauben in Bernese German—are the single best feature the Old Town hands a traveler. They are not just a pretty detail; they fundamentally change how the city feels. Walk the main streets and you are almost always under cover, moving through long, sheltered passages with shops, cafés and cellar entrances tucked beneath vaulted ceilings. Rain becomes background. Winter becomes comfortable. Wandering becomes effortless. Together the Lauben add up to around six kilometres of continuous covered walkways—commonly described as the longest covered shopping promenade in Europe—and they are a core reason UNESCO inscribed Bern’s Old Town on the World Heritage List in 1983 (site #267).

What makes them special isn’t only the length but the consistency: the upper storeys of building after building step out over the street on the same line, so the whole medieval core reads as one coherent architectural idea rather than a row of individual houses. The result is a streetscape you can read at a glance and lose yourself in for hours.

A little history (so the walk lands)

The Lauben grew out of disaster. After a great fire swept the wooden city in 1405, Bern rebuilt in durable sandstone and adopted a remarkable civic rule: buildings extended their upper floors out over the street, creating continuous covered walkways at ground level. What began as practical—shelter for merchants and shoppers from rain and snow, and extra usable space above—hardened over the centuries into the unified Old Town we walk today.

That logic is why the arcades feel timeless rather than quaint. They were infrastructure, not decoration: a weather-proof marketplace built into the bones of the city. Centuries later they still do exactly that job, which is the rare pleasure of Bern—you’re not looking at a preserved relic behind glass, you’re using a medieval system as it was always meant to be used. UNESCO’s 1983 inscription specifically highlights this built fabric, alongside the painted 16th-century fountains that punctuate the same streets.

Where to walk (the classic arcade spine)

The simplest approach is to follow the Old Town’s main axis from the station into the medieval centre and let the arcades carry you. The streets change name as you go, but the covered walk is essentially continuous—a flow of shopfronts, fountains and landmark moments. Each stretch has its own personality, which is the fun of it.

• Spitalgasse: The first arcaded stretch as you leave the station—a good warm-up, with chocolatiers and everyday shops, leading toward the Bear Pit Square (Bärenplatz) and Bundesplatz.
• Marktgasse: The Old Town’s main shopping run, with department stores and high-street and high-end boutiques under the arches, anchored at its eastern end by the Zytglogge clock tower.
• Kramgasse: The most photographed street, broad and handsome, home to Einstein’s old apartment and several of the painted fountains—the postcard Bern most people picture.
• Gerechtigkeitsgasse: Quieter and more characterful as you near the river, with artisan shops, galleries and the Justice Fountain (Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen).
• Münstergasse: A calmer parallel lane by the cathedral, good for antiquarian bookshops, antiques and a slower mood.

Add fountain detours and courtyard peeks as mood and weather allow, then finish toward the river bend for the Bear Park and Rosengarten if the day is clear. For a turn-by-turn route, use the Old Town walking tour.

Arcades tips (small things that make it better)

• Look for cellar doors: The slanted hatches and stairways set into the arcade floors lead down to Bern’s famous cellar shops, bars and restaurants—many of the best are below street level, in vaulted medieval basements.
• Peek into the courtyards: Some of the prettiest, quietest corners are one step off the main flow, through an unmarked passage into a hidden inner court.
• Use cafés strategically: A warm stop under the arches turns any season—or any sudden downpour—into easy, pleasant travel.
• Shop in the weather windows: Because the arcades are covered, “bad weather” shopping in Bern feels peaceful rather than miserable; rainy afternoons are arguably the best time to enjoy them.
• Look up, not just ahead: The vaulted ceilings, painted signs and the rhythm of the columns are half the experience—don’t spend the whole walk looking into shop windows.
• Go early or late for photos: The arcades’ long perspective lines and soft shade are at their best with quiet streets in the early morning, or with warm light and lit shopfronts in the evening.

Who the arcades suit

The honest answer is: almost everyone. They’re ideal for first-time visitors because they hand you the Old Town’s whole highlight reel—shops, fountains, the Zytglogge, the cathedral approach—in one sheltered, walkable line. They’re a gift to rainy-day and winter travelers, since you can spend hours outdoors-but-covered. They suit shoppers, café-lovers, photographers and slow wanderers equally. And because the route is flat and continuous along the main streets, it’s an easy, low-effort way to see the city for travelers who don’t want a strenuous day—though note the streets are cobbled, so comfortable shoes earn their keep.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly are the Lauben?

“Lauben” is the Bernese German word for the covered arcades that line the Old Town’s main streets. They’re formed by the upper storeys of the buildings stepping out over the pavement, creating continuous sheltered walkways with shops and cellar entrances beneath.

How long are Bern’s arcades?

Around six kilometres in total, which is why they’re frequently called the longest covered shopping promenade in Europe. You don’t walk all of it in a line—it threads through the Old Town’s main streets—but the covered walk feels essentially continuous along the spine.

Why does Bern have arcades?

After a major fire in 1405, the city rebuilt in sandstone and required buildings to extend their upper floors over the street, creating covered walkways. It was a practical idea—shelter from rain and snow, plus extra space above—that became the Old Town’s defining feature.

Are the arcades good in the rain?

Excellent—arguably best. Because they’re covered, you can shop, café-hop and explore for hours while staying dry, which makes a wet day in Bern feel calm rather than wasted. See our Bern in the rain guide.

Do I need a ticket or a tour?

No. The arcades are public streets and free to walk anytime. A guided Old Town tour adds context if you want it, but you can simply follow the main spine yourself with our walking-tour route.

Pair the Arcades With

Next readThe UNESCO Old TownThe full picture—fountains, landmarks and the medieval plan.Old Town cafésCoffee stops that fit the walk.Old Town restaurantsCellar dining and classics.