8 Aare Route
8 Aare Route
8 Aare Route
8 Aare Route
8 Aare Route
8 Aare Route

Cycling in Switzerland

etappe-0913

Aare Route

Stage 3, Spiez–Bern

Route report
64 photos

VL_008_03_VL_8-03-035_R_F_M.jpg
etappe-0913

Aare Route

From the Oberland to the Mittelland. From Lake Thun into the Aare Valley. Past interesting alluvial zones, open fields, and flying airplanes – to one of Switzerland’s most beautiful cities: Berne, the nation’s capital, famous for its arcades and listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.
“When the Niesen wears a hat, the weather will be fine. When it wears a collar, you may still go ahead. However, if it dons coat and dagger, strong winds and rain are coming.” In good cycling weather, the Aare Route passes through a fascinating alluvial landscape before reaching Thun: the Augand nature reserve features a variety of habitats and structures and is an alluvial zone of national importance. The Kander River has enough room to accommodate a flood event. Common Sandpipers, little ringed plovers, kingfishers, and rare amphibians feel at home here. Even the endangered lake trout, which can reach one metre in length, uses the area for spawning. The Glütschbachtal valley is an excellent place for a picnic break. As the stream meanders through the trees and past fascinating rock formations, you inevitably feel like you’re in a magic forest.

The Zähringer town of Thun, the gateway to the Bernese Oberland, is enchanting – its old town and the 12th-century castle, the historic square with its stately city hall, the town church and the Obere Hauptgasse alley with its elevated sidewalks. As if the motto were: “There’s no better place for downtime than Thun.” The Schwäbisbad, a cosy historic Aare River lido, invites you to do just that. Then a pretty wooded section by the Aare River lies ahead. The Aare Valley between Thun and Berne is among Switzerland’s most valuable river landscapes. The Aare River has been able to preserve a large part of its original character here. Surrounded by alluvial forest and tranquil oxbow lakes, it flows swiftly towards the capital.

Cycling through the Aare Valley is a breeze. The route is flat, and you ride through an agricultural area where oodles of vegetables are grown. After the Aare bridge near Münsingen, a pleasant wooded section leads through Obere Belpau, an alluvial zone of national importance. The airport at Belp is another place of national importance. However, compared to the one in Zurich, things are quite laid back around this airfield. A bit further on, you cross the Gürbe River, which has its source in the Gantrisch area. Passing the Gaskessel, one of the oldest youth culture centres in Europe, you reach the legendary Dampfzentrale (former steam power plant) and the Marzilibad. And you guessed it – the capital is just around the corner. A scenic but slightly bumpy ride takes you across the Rathausbrücke and through the magnificent alleyways of Berne’s oldtown.
From the Oberland to the Mittelland. From Lake Thun into the Aare Valley. Past interesting alluvial zones, open fields, and flying airplanes – to one of Switzerland’s most beautiful cities: Berne, the nation’s capital, famous for its arcades and listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.
“When the Niesen wears a hat, the weather will be fine. When it wears a collar, you may still go ahead. However, if it dons coat and dagger, strong winds and rain are coming.” In good cycling weather, the Aare Route passes through a fascinating alluvial landscape before reaching Thun: the Augand nature reserve features a variety of habitats and structures and is an alluvial zone of national importance. The Kander River has enough room to accommodate a flood event. Common Sandpipers, little ringed plovers, kingfishers, and rare amphibians feel at home here. Even the endangered lake trout, which can reach one metre in length, uses the area for spawning. The Glütschbachtal valley is an excellent place for a picnic break. As the stream meanders through the trees and past fascinating rock formations, you inevitably feel like you’re in a magic forest.

The Zähringer town of Thun, the gateway to the Bernese Oberland, is enchanting – its old town and the 12th-century castle, the historic square with its stately city hall, the town church and the Obere Hauptgasse alley with its elevated sidewalks. As if the motto were: “There’s no better place for downtime than Thun.” The Schwäbisbad, a cosy historic Aare River lido, invites you to do just that. Then a pretty wooded section by the Aare River lies ahead. The Aare Valley between Thun and Berne is among Switzerland’s most valuable river landscapes. The Aare River has been able to preserve a large part of its original character here. Surrounded by alluvial forest and tranquil oxbow lakes, it flows swiftly towards the capital.

Cycling through the Aare Valley is a breeze. The route is flat, and you ride through an agricultural area where oodles of vegetables are grown. After the Aare bridge near Münsingen, a pleasant wooded section leads through Obere Belpau, an alluvial zone of national importance. The airport at Belp is another place of national importance. However, compared to the one in Zurich, things are quite laid back around this airfield. A bit further on, you cross the Gürbe River, which has its source in the Gantrisch area. Passing the Gaskessel, one of the oldest youth culture centres in Europe, you reach the legendary Dampfzentrale (former steam power plant) and the Marzilibad. And you guessed it – the capital is just around the corner. A scenic but slightly bumpy ride takes you across the Rathausbrücke and through the magnificent alleyways of Berne’s oldtown.
50 km
Asphalted: 40 km
Natural surface: 10 km
260 m | 340 m
medium

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Spiez
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

More …

Diversion, Thun
Duration
14.03.2023 - 31.05.2023
Reason
Construction & maintenance work
The route is being diverted. Please follow the local signposts. See map for details.
Data source: SwitzerlandMobility / Cantonal office

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Guides
There is a guide available for this route in German and French.
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Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Bern
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

Services

Accommodation

Hotel Restaurant Möve
Hotel Restaurant Möve
Faulensee
ABZ Spiez – Hotel Seaside
ABZ Spiez – Hotel Seaside
Spiez
B&B Tschirren
B&B Tschirren
Spiez
Hotel-Motel Löwen
Hotel-Motel Löwen
Wimmis
TCS Camping Thunersee + SwissTubes
TCS Camping Thunersee + SwissTubes
Gwatt
Congress Hotel Seepark
Congress Hotel Seepark
Thun
Jui’s Homestay
Jui’s Homestay
Heimberg
Hotel-Restaurant Rössli
Hotel-Restaurant Rössli
Heimberg
BnB Eichholz Bern
BnB Eichholz Bern
Wabern
Hostel 77
Hostel 77
Bern
Jugendherberge Bern
Jugendherberge Bern
Bern
Stay Kooook Bern Wankdorf
Stay Kooook Bern Wankdorf
Bern
Moxy Bern Expo
Moxy Bern Expo
Bern
Hotel-Pension Marthahaus
Hotel-Pension Marthahaus
Bern
Bern Backpackers Hotel Glocke
Bern Backpackers Hotel Glocke
Bern
La Pergola Bern
La Pergola Bern
Bern
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Bookable offers

8 Aare Route: Grimselpass - Bad Zurzach
8 Aare Route: Grimselpass - Bad Zurzach
4 Alpine Panorama Route
4 Alpine Panorama Route
4 Alpine Panorama Route enjoyment tour
4 Alpine Panorama Route enjoyment tour
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Places

Aeschi b. Spiez
Aeschi b. Spiez
Spiez
Spiez
Wimmis
Wimmis
Thun
Thun
Münsingen
Münsingen
Gümligen
Gümligen
Bern
Bern
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Places of interest

«Port Wimmis» – 3 generations of bridges
«Port Wimmis» – 3 generations of bridges
Lakes of Amsoldingen and Uebeschi
Lakes of Amsoldingen and Uebeschi
Pumptrack Thierachern
Pumptrack Thierachern
Schloss Thun
Schloss Thun
Rabenfluh Trail
Rabenfluh Trail
Goldiwheel Trail
Goldiwheel Trail
Dirtpark Steffisburg
Dirtpark Steffisburg
Pumptrack Lerchenfeld
Pumptrack Lerchenfeld
GurtenTrail
GurtenTrail
Gurten - Bern's home mountain
Gurten - Bern's home mountain
Bern Historical Museum
Bern Historical Museum
Pumptrack Kleine Allmend
Pumptrack Kleine Allmend
Rose Garden
Rose Garden
Zentrum Paul Klee
Zentrum Paul Klee
Pumptrack Wyssloch
Pumptrack Wyssloch
Bear Park
Bear Park
Bern – a jewel in the bend of the Aare
Bern – a jewel in the bend of the Aare
UNESCO World Heritage Site - Bern
UNESCO World Heritage Site - Bern
Münster Cathedral Bern
Münster Cathedral Bern
Zeitglocken Turm (Clock Tower) - Bern
Zeitglocken Turm (Clock Tower) - Bern
Federal House of Parliament
Federal House of Parliament
Pumptrack Weissenstein
Pumptrack Weissenstein
Rollpark Lorraine
Rollpark Lorraine
Pumptrack Viererfeld
Pumptrack Viererfeld
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