The reviews on this site about Bern are positive, but not exactly glowing, and I don't have much to add, except to confirm that it is a very pleasant city for a nice long walk. From the beginning of the Old Town to the Bear Pits, you basically follow one long street (with a small detour to the Minster) and admire the well-preserved medieval and Renaissance architecture on each side, especially the fountains and arcades. From the Bear Pits (recently renovated and well worth a visit - free of charge), you can enjoy a great view of the Old Town and the Aare River. On a crips and sunny autumn day, I enjoyed a few hours of sightseeing in this pretty city, and my stay was enhanced by a surprise Open Day at the Swiss Parliament (happens only twice a year). Bern can be easily combined with La Chaux-de-Fonds or the Jungfrau-Aletsch site, and is just a 1-hour train ride from Zurich and Lucerne.