Zentrum Paul Klee

The basics

Zentrum Paul Klee sits just outside central Bern to the east, so visit with a guide or on your own after taking in the highlights of the UNESCO–listed old town. Walking and biking tours cover headliners in just a few hours, touching on treasures such as the Bern Clock Tower (Zytgoggle), Swiss Parliament House (Bundeshaus), and Bern Minster (Berner Münster). After visiting the historic center, venture east to explore Zentrum Paul Klee’s premium collection and stunning design.

Things to know before you go

• Visit the museum on your own, with a guide, or by joining a tour led by museum staff.

• About 150 out of the thousands of works by Klee in the permanent collection are displayed at a time. The artworks are rotated regularly, so you may see different pieces each time you visit.

• The museum often offers kid-friendly programs and events, so check the schedule if you’re visiting as a family.

• There is a café and restaurant, portable chairs on loan for free, information about the works via QR codes, and lockers to leave large bags and backpacks.

• Zentrum Paul Klee is wheelchair accessible.

How to get there

The museum is just a few minutes east of Bern’s old town along highway A6 (exit Bern-Ostring) and there’s ample free parking. You can also reach the galleries quickly and easily by taking bus 12 from the Bern train station to the Zentrum Paul Klee stop just outside the north entrance.

When to get there

Zentrum Paul Klee is open Tuesday–Sunday and on select holidays; check the museum website for holiday openings. Children enter free on Sundays, which is when the galleries are often the most crowded. Visit on a weekday morning for the most peaceful time to enjoy the museum’s art and architecture.

Bern’s top art museums

Bern has plenty to keep an art lover busy, from the Zentrum Paul Klee to works by Picasso, Hodler, and Oppenheim at the Bern Museum of Fine Arts (Kunstmuseum Bern), one of Switzerland’s most storied art museums. The small but excellent Kunsthalle Bern was the first building covered by artist Christo and hosts exhibitions showcasing international artists, while the Franz Gertsch Museum houses a permanent collection of large-format paintings and woodcuts, as well as contemporary art exhibitions.