Bern, Switzerland

Switzerland has no official capital city by law; Bern is merely the "Federal City" (Bundesstadt) where the federal government is located, a surprising distinction for a country's administrative center.

The name "Bern" is popularly attributed to the first animal encountered by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen during a hunting expedition for the city's naming, which was a bear – hence the bear (Bär in German) as the city's heraldic animal and its living symbol in the BärenPark.

The city boasts the longest covered shopping promenade in Switzerland, stretching over six kilometers through its medieval arcades (Lauben) in the UNESCO World Heritage Old City, offering shelter in all weather.

Despite being the de facto capital, Bern is Switzerland's fifth-largest city by population, making it one of the smallest national administrative centers in Europe with just around 135,000 residents.

Every November, Bern hosts the "Zibelemärit" (Onion Market), a unique traditional folk festival where farmers bring over 50 tons of onions woven into intricate braids to sell, accompanied by garlic, mulled wine, and traditional "Zibelechueche" (onion tart).

The Old City is almost entirely encircled by the turquoise Aare River, forming a natural moat and offering breathtaking scenic views from various points like the Rose Garden (Rosengarten) and the Münsterplattform, with its unique "Aare loop".

Albert Einstein developed his groundbreaking theory of relativity while living in Bern between 1903 and 1905, often conceptualizing his ideas during his walks through the city's streets, and his former apartment is now a museum.

Bern's Zytglogge (Clock Tower), a medieval landmark, features an elaborate astronomical clock with a daily mechanical puppet show that performs exactly four minutes before the top of the hour, attracting crowds eager to witness the bears, jester, and Chronos figures.