Old City of Bern hosts Zibelemärit on 23 November

Old City of Bern (Berner Altstadt) hosts the Zibelemärit onion market on 23 November 2026, bringing a traditional public market to Bern, Switzerland. The event is scheduled for the fourth Monday in November and will occupy streets and squares across the historic centre.

Zibelemärit brings a market to Bern on 23 November

The City of Bern lists the next Zibelemärit for Monday, 23 November 2026, describing it as the city’s largest market. The municipal page says the event takes place on the fourth Monday in November and centres on onions. Bern’s official market listing gives the date and identifies the event as a recurring public market.

SBB describes the Zibelemärit as a traditional market in Bern’s old town, where hundreds of stalls turn the historic centre into a large marketplace. Its event page says farmers bring more than 50 tonnes of onions and garlic, often arranged in plaited braids. The market also has a folk-festival character, with the event spread through the city centre rather than confined to one hall or exhibition venue. SBB’s 23 November details confirm the date and the link with Bern’s old town.

Why the onion market belongs in Bern’s historic centre

The market’s setting is part of its practical identity. The Old City of Bern occupies a hill surrounded by the Aare and developed from a twelfth-century foundation. UNESCO records 15th-century arcades, 16th-century fountains and large parts of the medieval town restored in the eighteenth century.

That urban structure gives the November market a route through streets, arcades and public squares rather than a single event space. UNESCO describes the site as a living urban centre whose medieval plan has been conserved while the city continues to function as a place of work, commerce and everyday activity. UNESCO’s Old City description connects the market setting with the town’s preserved historic form.

Getting around the market route in Bern

The market’s spread across the upper old town and nearby squares means that visitors encounter it as a walking route. SBB directs arrivals from Bern station via Bahnhofplatz towards Bärenplatz and Bundesplatz, then onwards through the city centre. This route links the transport hub with the main public spaces named in the event information.

Visiting Old City of Bern: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Zibelemärit takes place on Monday, 23 November 2026, across Bern’s old town and associated central squares.
• The market is a public event with hundreds of stalls, including displays of onions and garlic, rather than a ticketed exhibition inside one building.
• From Bern station, the published route runs via Bahnhofplatz to Bärenplatz and Bundesplatz before continuing through the city centre.
• The setting includes historic arcades and streets on a hill surrounded by the Aare, so visitors should expect an urban walking route through the protected old town.

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Frequently asked questions about Old City of Bern

When does Zibelemärit take place at Old City of Bern?

The 2026 market takes place on Monday, 23 November 2026, in Bern’s old town and central squares.

What is Old City of Bern?

It is the historic urban centre of Bern, founded in the twelfth century and recognised by UNESCO for its preserved medieval structure.

Where is Old City of Bern and how do you get there?

The historic centre lies on a hill surrounded by the Aare. SBB directs visitors from Bern station via Bahnhofplatz, Bärenplatz and Bundesplatz into the city centre.