9 Bernese highlights in January

Exercise more, spend more time outdoors, spend less time on my mobile phone – does one or more of these resolutions sound familiar? Luckily, you can tick all of them off in one go! All it takes is a trip to the canton of Bern for a winter walk, a snowshoe tour, or an afternoon on cross-country skis. The latter especially with its almost meditative movements is perfect for some energising me time. If you’ve got a competitive nature, you should head to the Gantrisch region on 26 January for the third annual Gantrisch Loppet, Bern’s family-friendly cross-country skiing event. Click on your skis and choose your preferred distance – there’s everything from 1.07 to 10 kilometres. Off you go!

If there’s one thing the Bernese love, it’s a good “Flohmi” (flea market). In the Reithalle’s great hall, at the Vidmarhallen, by the Dampzentrale and in Bern’s neighbourhoods, sustainable clothes shopping is celebrated regularly. A fashionista’s dream – if you wear a standard size. If you’re looking for clothes sized EU 44 and up, it can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. The Curvy Flohmi on 26 January, where only plus-sized clothing is sold, aims to change that. This year, it will take place in the Dazwischen pavilion in the Monbijou neighbourhood. Make sure you get there on time, the flea market is only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Getting into culture and visiting each of Bern’s big museum at least once – now that’s a New Year’s resolution. The Museumsbier event series lets you tick that off your resolutions list and combines it with a relaxed “Fübi” (after-work beer) with work colleagues or friends. Every Thursday evening from 23 January to 13 March, six cultural institutions in Bern and one in charming Burgdorf will be opening their doors and exhibitions to after-work visitors. Once again, the guys at BrauKunst have created a special edition lager for the occasion. Don’t worry if you’re doing Dry January: for the first time, there will also be a non-alcoholic beer on offer this year.

After all the Christmas roasts and New Year’s Eve fondue chinoise (traditional meat fondue), many people try to abstain from meat or animal products in general in January, a steadily increasing trend known as Veganuary. If you’re hopping on the veggie bandwagon, we recommend checking out the newly opened restaurant Zebra. The eatery in the Länggasse neighbourhood serves simple, high-quality, 100 percent vegetarian cuisine. At lunchtime, you can choose between three vegetarian menus and a take-away option. For dinner, hors d’oeuvres and starters are served Tavolata-style to share, then everyone has their own main course. Sound good? It is! Off you gallop to Zebra!

The shortest day of the year is over and the days are slowly getting longer, but we’re still longing for sunlight and dreaming of warm places and new cultures. If your vacation budget doesn’t allow for faraway lands, we recommend taking short trips to the Asia-Pacific Film Festival, where you can dive into different cultures and enjoy cinematic gems for free. The Cine Club cinema will be showing various productions from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of the countries’ embassies from 28 January to 7 February. The programme includes moves such as the drama “Lion” about the search of an Indian adopted by Australians for his roots, and “Siargao”, a Filipino surf romance. Reservations via the website are mandatory.

The days are short and cold and we crave comfort food above all. For many people in Switzerland, this means the eagerly anticipated start of raclette and fondue season. Be it with family at home or with friends in a traditional restaurant, we love our melted cheese! If you’re looking for raclette with a twist or if a visit to a restaurant is not financially feasible after the costly holiday season, the candle raclette to go is for you. Simply pack some tasty raclette cheese, bread, tea lights and the handy raclette oven in its case and set off to one of the beautiful sunset spots in the region. The smell and taste of melted cheese, the warmth of the candle on your skin, the colours of the sunset – it’s a romantic winter experience for all your senses.

This January, make more time for yourself. You don’t always need to get everything done right away and you don’t need to be available 24/7. Me time and digital detox are on the agenda! Create your own spa moments at home or visit one of Bern’s many different wellness oases to pamper your body and soul. From Switzerland’s largest natural brine bath to oriental cleansing rituals, from royal wellness treatments at the castle to idyllic relaxation on the farm – there’s something for every taste.

The idyllic Emmental is also perfect for some me time and a digital detox: Enjoy an overnight stay at the Hirschen in Eggiwil and go on a journey to the past, back to times when there were no mobile phones, no work e-mail – oftentimes not even running water. Dinner isn’t served at the hotel, but at Sahlenweidli, a farm that dates back to 1762 where you’ll taste the foods of the past: “Suure Mocke” (Sauerbraten / Bernese pot roast), “Gnagi” (cured pork) or the original Sahlenweidli cheese fondue, cooked on a wood-burning stove. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get treated to a spontaneous performance by a Schwyzerörgeli (Swiss accordion) formation. The offer is available until 26 January.

The Krimispass in Laupen is a great activity for a winter afternoon. On this two-hour scavenger hunt, amateur sleuths go on an exciting adventure to solve a spectacular case of art theft, armed with nothing but a smartphone and their wits. Perfect for anyone who loves a good puzzle – and it’s completely free! Charge your phone, request the e-mail with the instructions, and off you go. By the way: the offer is available at eight locations in the canton of Bern, with mysteries ranging from missing people to murders waiting to be solved.