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There are two campsites near Bern. Eichholz is by far the nicer (Strandweg 49; 031/961 26 02, fax 961 35 26, mueller.family.eichholz@swissonline.ch;mid-April to Sept), on the riverbank a few minutes by tram (#9 to Gurten) south of the city. Kappelenbrücke (031/901 10 07, fax 901 25 91) is open year-round except for the first two weeks of February, and is on the river 5km northwest of town – take a postbus to Eymatt in Hinterkappelen village (20min).

Bern’s HI hostel, Weihergasse 4 (031/311 63 16, fax 312 52 40; a; closed late Jan) is well run, with good facilities and a nice riverside location in Marzili – it’s regularly chock-full, and imposes a three-day maximum stay in summer. Dorm beds are Fr.24, and they do good solid lunches and evening meals for around Fr.12. Walk down from the Bundesterrace, or take the funicular and then the lowest of three left-hand streets when you emerge. Otherwise Landhaus (see “Inexpensive hotels”) has beds in quiet, super-clean partitioned dorms for Fr.30; you can use the kitchen for free, there’s a café downstairs and Internet access. Take bus #12 to Bärengraben (direction Schosshalde).