Old City of Berne hosts Onion Market on 23 November

The Old City of Berne (Berner Altstadt) will host the Onion Market, or Zibelemärit, in Bern on 23 November 2026. The annual market brings farm produce and a folk festival programme to the Swiss capital’s historic centre.

Onion Market returns to Bern on 23 November

The City of Bern lists the next Zibelemärit for Monday, 23 November 2026, placing the event inside the current travel period. The municipal market office is the responsible authority, and the city describes the occasion as Bern’s largest market.

The market traditionally takes place on the fourth Monday of November. Its offer centres on onions woven into braids, wreaths and figures, while traders also present textiles, jewellery, ceramics and toys, as set out on the City of Bern market page.

The event spreads through the main streets and surrounding lanes of the upper old town, with activity also reaching Waisenhausplatz and Bundesplatz. A regional travel listing records more than 200 stalls, giving visitors a practical reason to explore several parts of the centre rather than a single square.

Historic streets provide the market setting

UNESCO identifies the Old City of Berne as a World Heritage site founded in the twelfth century on a hill surrounded by the Aare River. The historic urban fabric includes arcades from the fifteenth century and fountains from the sixteenth century.

That setting directly shapes the visitor experience of the Onion Market: the event uses streets and squares created within the medieval plan rather than a separate exhibition ground. UNESCO also records that much of the medieval town was restored in the eighteenth century while retaining its original character.

The market’s agricultural focus therefore sits within a place whose wide streets were historically used for markets. The combination of a fixed November date and the preserved street plan links the event to the urban function that helped shape Bern’s centre.

Reaching the market across Bern’s old town

Bern’s central railway station provides the main arrival point for visitors travelling from Western Europe. The market streets can then be reached on foot through the city centre, with routes continuing towards Waisenhausplatz, Bundesplatz and the upper old town.

A rail travel page identifies Bern as the destination and describes the market’s spread across the old town and adjoining squares. It also records that the official market day is 23 November 2026, while the City of Bern confirms the same date and venue area.

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

• The Onion Market takes place on 23 November 2026 across Bern’s upper old town, Waisenhausplatz and Bundesplatz.
• The market is a public street event organised by the City of Bern, with onion products, textiles, jewellery, ceramics and toys on sale.
• Bern railway station is the practical arrival point, followed by a walk through the city centre to the market streets and squares.
• The site is a UNESCO World Heritage property founded in the twelfth century, with fifteenth-century arcades and sixteenth-century fountains.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

Searching for Old City of Berne on social platforms

These links open searches for Old City of Berne on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Old City of Berne

When does the Onion Market take place at the Old City of Berne?

The Onion Market takes place on 23 November 2026 across Bern’s upper old town and nearby squares.

What is the Old City of Berne?

It is a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in the twelfth century, with historic arcades, fountains and a preserved medieval urban plan.

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

The site is in central Bern. Visitors can travel to Bern railway station and continue on foot through the city centre.