Bernisches Historisches Museum / Einstein Museum

About

The Bernisches Historisches Museum, also known as the Museum of Historical Studies of Bern, stands as the second‑largest historical museum in Switzerland. Situated at Helvetiaplatz 5 in the heart of Bern, it opens its doors every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering visitors a window into the cultural, social, and political history of the Swiss capital and beyond. The museum’s permanent collection spans roughly 500,000 objects, ranging from prehistoric artifacts through medieval textiles to contemporary ethnographic pieces collected across Asia, Oceania, America and Africa. Visitors can marvel at the Muri statuette group, the granite arrowhead of meteoritic origin, and an impressive array of tapestries, coins, medals, and sculptures that illustrate Bern’s own past and the wider world. A highlight for science enthusiasts is the Einstein Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the famed physicist Albert Einstein. Established as a temporary exhibition in 2005 and now a permanent wing, the Einstein Museum contextualises his theories within Bern’s milieu, and the building he once inhabited—the Einsteinhaus—is located nearby and offers separate admission. Beyond its exhibitions, the museum actively engages in research and education. Programs on provenance, colonial history, and cultural heritage are regularly hosted in its galleries and lecture halls. Whether you’re tracing the roots of a national treasure or exploring the stories of the building that housed one of history’s greatest minds, a visit to Bern’s historic museum promises depth, insight, and unforgettable moments.