Alpine postal buses provide an excellent service over numerous mountain routes. Languages Spoken German, French, Italian, Romansch. The population of Bern is 138,600. In big centres shops also open at lunchtime but are often closed on Monday mornings. Good buys are textiles, embroideries, fine handkerchiefs, woollen sportswear, linen, chocolates, precision instruments, multi-blade pocket knives, musical boxes, carvings, ceramics, Bamix mixers, ski clothes and equipment.
Tap water is safe to drink.