Bern is nice and compact, and as a result it doesn't really matter where you stay. It is worth trying to get a hotel right in the Old Town, however, if you can stretch your budget as this area is wonderful and near all the major attractions. You will find a large amount of luxury hotels in Bern as well as mid-range and budget places in good spots, but be sure to book ahead as various business conventions go on throughout the year.

There are many top-end hotels in Bern, several of which are themed and located right in the heart of the city. The Bellevue Palace Hotel is purported to be Bern's best, with immaculate rooms, impeccable service and a perfect location next to the Federal Council building. Former guests include Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela. The Hotel Berne is modern and stylish, featuring an Art Nouveau exterior and three superb restaurants.

The Hotel Belle Époque is another of Bern's top hotels and is more intimate than the other top-enders, having only 17 rooms and the highly rated Le Chariot restaurant. If you want to be in the heart of the Old Town, the Continental Hotel is an affordable high quality place which features fine rooms and a sunny terrace.

You could be situated just about anywhere within the confines of Bern and not be far from the main attractions, such is the compactness of Switzerland's capital city. The heart of the city centre has the greatest collection of Bern hotels, with the Old Town, or Altstadt, having all the allure.

The majority of the luxury hotels in Bern can be found in and around the affable Bahnhofplatz, while Gerechtigkeitsgasse and Kochergasse streets also have excellent hotel options, with the five-star Bellevue Palace being a top choice. Other popular quality hotel streets in Bern include Belpstrasse, Zieglerstrasse, and the Zeughausgasse, the latter which has the Continental.

Bern also has a surprising range of budget to mid-range hotels and these can also be found in and around the city centre. There really isn't a bad place to stay in Bern and even the cheap hotels around the train station are just a short walk from the main attractions, or an even shorter tram ride.

Berne Belp International Airport is just south of the city centre and there are hotel options in and around the airport if you must stay out here. Flughaven Bern-Belp is right in the airport grounds and comes with good facilities. Farther afield is the Landgasthof Sternen Hotel, while also nearby is the Ambassador Hotel with its excellent facilities including a swimming pool.