Event
New Year & Berchtold's Day (Switzerland)
New Year's Day (1 January) is a national public holiday in Switzerland, and Berchtold's Day / Berchtoldstag (2 January) is also a public holiday in the Canton of Bern. Expect two quiet days with closed shops and a relaxed pace after the Silvester celebrations.
At a glance
- Dates
- January 1–2027 (day: 2)
- Where
- Nationwide
- Price
- Free (public holiday)
- Official link
- publicholidays.ch ↗
Last updated:
What to expect
- Back-to-back public holidays in Canton Bern (1–2 January)
- Berchtoldstag is a Bern-area tradition not observed in every canton
- Most museums and attractions reopen on 2 or 3 January
Planning tips
- Public transport runs on a Sunday/holiday timetable on both days
- Many shops stay shut on 2 January as well as 1 January in Bern
- Good days for a winter walk in the Old Town when the city is quiet
Build a day around it
Treat the event as one clean block in your schedule, not the entire day. The best Bern days usually have one anchor (this event), one food moment, and one calm walk — with buffer so nothing feels rushed.
- If you have 2–3 hours: arrive a little early → event → short walk to decompress.
- If you’re making a full day: pair it with one neighborhood loop and one “sunset” stop.
- If the weather turns: keep walking minimal and use cafés/museums as your buffer.
Before you go
- Confirm the details: check the official link for last-minute schedule or venue updates.
- Arrive with buffer: 15–30 minutes early usually makes the whole experience calmer.
- Have a weather plan: keep one indoor “warm stop” in mind in case the day turns.
Next reads
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