Extreme Swissy scenery, perfect for people that like to drive on winding roads with bucolic vistas. Driving south from Berne through Emmental to Brienz, you’ll pass through the scenic UNESCO Biosphäre Entlebuch and over the **Glaubenbielen Pass – a worthwhile alternative to the normal freeway route.

Hiking and e-biking are extremely popular in this area. For indoor activities, try:

• **Emmentaler Schaukäserei (Emmentaler Cheese Museum): Not as good as the Gruyere equivalent, but entertaining, good for kids.
• **Museum im Chüechlihus: the regional museum, rather charming and full of materials showcasing life in the area in the 1700s-1800s. There’s a good restaurant just next to it.
• Glockengiesserei Berger GmbH (www.swissbells.com) is one of the few places to buy custom handmade cowbells.

**Romantik Hotel Bären Dürrenroth is a very popular destination – we tried multiple times to book a room and finally were successful for a weekend in mid-October, 2025. Part of the historic hotels of Switzerland collection, this hotel is in a lovely spot and has been very carefully (and expensively) renovated, covering several buildings in the town. There’s a small spa complex (which was okay, if a bit competitive for space in the sauna), a formal restaurant, and a casual outdoor dining garden (lunchtime only) that does a lot of business with the motorcycle/car tour crowd. Food (dinner and breakfast) were excellent, service well-meaning and a bit too sparse. We liked the historic furnishings and walking around the farms in the area.

Burgdorf is the largest city in the Emmental. I’ve found very little pointing people to this town, and it’s a shame – it’s a very pretty example of a well-preserved, affluent village. You find yourself very appreciative of what cheese money did to the local economy.

The town is on a hill at a confluence of rivers and valleys, a highly strategic position for trade. **Burgdorf Castle was first mentioned in 1080, and there are surviving parts of the city from the late 12th century. 

Our visit was fairly brief and we intend to return. The town is built in grand style in green stone, with arcaded passages and clearly a very high standard of living. The castle has been renovated beautifully and today hosts events, has a youth hostel, and a bar area overlooking the river and town below. The museum is a bit odd (beautifully arranged collection of very random things), but worthwhile to appreciate the structure itself.