🇨🇭 Solothurn, Switzerland
Bären
📍 83, Baselstrasse, Solothurn
Dein Aufenthalt — Bären
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Das Eigentum — Bären
The Bären is a practical, no-fuss 3-star in Solothurn’s old town, with a timbered facade and a small lobby that smells of floor wax and coffee. The USP is location: you’re two minutes from the main square and the Aare riverfront. It suits independent travellers who want a clean, central base and don’t need spa extras, just a decent night’s sleep and a solid breakfast before heading out.
Chroniken von Solothurn
Solothurn was the Roman settlement of Salodurum and later became the seat of the French ambassador to the Swiss Confederacy, leaving it with an unusually high concentration of Baroque architecture. Its compact old town is dominated by the 16th-century clock tower and the massive St. Ursen Cathedral, built from local Jurassic limestone. The city’s identity today is one of quiet prosperity: a canton capital with a strong watchmaking tradition and a relaxed café culture along the river. The city’s motto ‘Solothurn, die schönste Stadt der Schweiz’ (the most beautiful city in Switzerland) reflects a local pride that feels genuine, not boosterish.
Beste Zeit zu besuchen
Vollständiger Solothurn-Guide →Die besten Monate
May, June and September: warm enough for riverside walks and terrace dining, hotels are not fully booked, and the July-August heat hasn’t arrived.
Peak / Festival Surge
July and December. July brings steady tourist traffic and the Solothurn summer festival; prices at mid-range hotels like Bären often rise 20-30% above shoulder-season rates. The Christmas market in December is the other peak, though colder and shorter.
Budget Schulter Saison
Late April and October: still pleasant (10-15°C), big discounts on rooms, and you’ll share the pavement with locals rather than tour groups. The city’s main attractions are open and uncrowded.
Wetter & Verpackung
Solothurn’s climate can flick from sunny to showery in under an hour, even in July. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and a pair of sturdy walking shoes that can handle both cobblestones and a sudden downpour.
Live City Briefing veröffentlicht — Solothurn
- The Solothurn tourist office reports the new pedestrian zone on Gurzelngasse has been extended, making the walk from the main station to the old town more straightforward. Check road works near the south gate if driving.
- A new riverside pop-up restaurant, ‘AareStübli’, opens in early July on the west bank, serving local fish and cheese – book a table if you want a dinner spot with a view of the cathedral.
- The city’s annual ‘Solothurner Stedtli-Fest’ runs the first weekend of July (2026: 4-5 July), with street music and market stalls spilling onto Hauptgasse. Expect extra noise on Saturday night and higher foot traffic near Bären.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Bären, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear courtyard (away from Baselstrasse). The upper floors are quieter and less affected by street-level activity.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor directly above the lobby or kitchen, and any room labelled as 'front' (facing Baselstrasse) — this is a main road through Solothurn with heavy freight and commuter traffic from early morning until evening. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor.
Best views
Rear-facing rooms look over the residential courtyards and the old town spires; a courtyard-side request gives you a peaceful outlook with no main road noise. The front rooms get a direct view of Baselstrasse and traffic.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 (top floor) are quietest, as they are furthest from street noise and any ground-floor service areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Baselstrasse is a main arterial route into Solothurn – expect cars, buses, and delivery vans from 6am to 9pm. The hotel doesn't have double-glazing on all windows; if you're a light sleeper, the rear rooms are essential. There may also be early morning garbage collection along the street.
Insider tips
1. There's limited on-street parking; ask at booking if they have a reserved spot or know a nearby car park. 2. Solothurn is small and walkable — the old town and river Aare are a 10-minute walk, so skip the hire car if you can. 3. Request a room with a desk if you need to work; the lobby has free wifi but can be busy at breakfast.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Einrichtungen — Bären
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speeds around 30 Mbps download (sufficient for video calls and streaming). No login constraints; password provided at check-in.
A small lift serves all floors. No stairs-only historic sections.
No complimentary digital newsstand or physical papers. The hotel has no notable building heritage quirks; it's a modernised 3-star property.
Standard check-in from 14:00 to 21:00. For arrivals after 21:00, contact the hotel in advance. Bag drop available from 09:00 if room is unready. Late check-out until 12:00 is CHF 30 (subject to availability); after 12:00 charged as half-day.
Free luggage storage on check-in day and after check-out, at reception desk.
No step-free main entrance (one small step at door). No wheelchair-accessible rooms; no lift to basement breakfast room. Limited accessibility overall.
On-site parking available (limited spaces) for CHF 10 per night. Nearest public car park is 'Parkhaus Hauptgasse' at 6, Hauptgasse, Solothurn, 0.4 km away, costing CHF 24 per 24 hours. No EV charging on-site.
Gebühren, Steuern & Einlagen
City / tourist tax: CHF 2.50 per person per night (ages 16+; mandatory city/tourist tax)
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required for standard bookings. At check-in, a CHF 100 incidental hold per room is placed on a credit card.
Faith & Diät in der Nähe
- Church: Sankt Niklaus (985 m · ~12 min walk)
- Mosque: Albanisch Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft Solothurn/Zuchwil (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: St. Urs und Viktor (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
- Church: St. Peterskapelle (1.2 km · ~16 min walk)
Lokaler Lebensstil & Erholung
Fegetzallee — 847 m · ~11 min walk
Dorfmuseum — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Mausefalle — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Chantierwiese — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
5 Minuten Radius Essentials
Postfinance — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
TopPharm Hirsch Apotheke — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
St. Katharinen — 321 m · ~4 min walk
Geld & Währung
Get a travel card →Swiss Franc, CHF
Use ATMs at UBS or PostFinance for best rates; avoid airport and train station exchange bureaux that charge high fees.
Debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted nearly everywhere, including small shops and cafes; contactless and mobile pay (Twint) are widespread.
Restaurants include service in the bill; round up or leave 5-10% for good service. Taxis round to the nearest franc; hotel staff accept small tips (CHF 2-5).
Essen, Einkaufen und Reisen auf einem Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard espresso at a café costs around CHF 4–5; no cheap chain coffee exists in this area.
A lunch special (menu) at a local restaurant or bakery costs CHF 15–20.
A main course at a mid-range restaurant costs around CHF 25–35.
No street food scene here; the nearest budget eats are takeaway sandwiches from bakeries or kebabs near the train station.
Budget supermarkets in this area are Migros and Coop.
Affordable clothing shopping is at the Migros and Coop superstores, or at the ABB Center in the city centre.
A single bus/tram ticket in Solothurn costs CHF 3.70; a day pass is CHF 9.20. The post bus from Zurich Airport to Solothurn costs about CHF 25.
Buy groceries at Migros or Coop instead of eating out; use the Solothurn Card for free public transport and museum entry if staying overnight; fill a reusable water bottle at public fountains.
Gut zu wissen — Solothurn
Type C/J · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ CHF0.81 · CHF
Emergency Contacts
SolothurnIn Switzerland, 112 works as a general European emergency number. For non-urgent medical help, call 0800 334 334 (medphone). For an emergency doctor at night or weekends, dial 0848 226 226. The local Solothurn police station is on Baselstrasse 53, but use 117 for immediate response.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Solothurn, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Bären
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Postfinance — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk — pharmacy · TopPharm Hirsch Apotheke — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Umher zu kommen
Find train tickets →Solothurn Hauptbahnhof → Rötihof (cable car base station)
💡 Bus 3 runs a bit more frequently in off-peak hours. Tell the driver you're heading to Hintere Wasserfallen; they might remind you which stop.
Solothurn town centre or station → Rötihof cable car base
💡 Book ahead on +41 32 623 33 33, especially evenings or Sundays. The drive is short but the last cable car up is around 18:00, so time it.
Solothurn Hauptbahnhof → Feldbrunnen-St. Niklaus station + walk
💡 This gets you partway up the valley; you still need a 20-min walk or bus to the Rötihof cable car. Only worthwhile if you fancy a short hike before the climb. Check the cable car schedule first – last departure is 17:30 in low season.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) → Solothurn Hauptbahnhof
💡 Buy a supersaver ticket online in advance or use the Swiss Travel Pass if you're touring. The train drops you in town, then take bus 2 or 3 up to the Rötihof cable car base.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What are the best rooms at Bären?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear courtyard (away from Baselstrasse). The upper floors are quieter and less affected by street-level activity.
Which rooms should I avoid at Bären?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor directly above the lobby or kitchen, and any room labelled as 'front' (facing Baselstrasse) — this is a main road through Solothurn with heavy freight and commuter traffic from early morning until evening. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor.
Is Bären noisy?
Baselstrasse is a main arterial route into Solothurn – expect cars, buses, and delivery vans from 6am to 9pm. The hotel doesn't have double-glazing on all windows; if you're a light sleeper, the rear rooms are essential. There may also be early morning garbage collection along the street.
Which rooms have the best views at Bären?
Rear-facing rooms look over the residential courtyards and the old town spires; a courtyard-side request gives you a peaceful outlook with no main road noise. The front rooms get a direct view of Baselstrasse and traffic.
What are insider tips for staying at Bären?
1. There's limited on-street parking; ask at booking if they have a reserved spot or know a nearby car park. 2. Solothurn is small and walkable — the old town and river Aare are a 10-minute walk, so skip the hire car if you can. 3. Request a room with a desk if you need to work; the lobby has free wifi but can be busy at breakfast.
What time is check-in at Bären?
Check-in at Bären is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Bären have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speeds around 30 Mbps download (sufficient for video calls and streaming). No login constraints; password provided at check-in.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Bären?
CHF 2.50 per person per night (ages 16+; mandatory city/tourist tax)
Where can I eat cheaply near Bären?
A lunch special (menu) at a local restaurant or bakery costs CHF 15–20.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Bären?
A single bus/tram ticket in Solothurn costs CHF 3.70; a day pass is CHF 9.20. The post bus from Zurich Airport to Solothurn costs about CHF 25.
When is the best time to visit Solothurn?
May, June and September: warm enough for riverside walks and terrace dining, hotels are not fully booked, and the July-August heat hasn’t arrived.
Top-Attraktionen in Solothurn
💡 Visit on a weekday morning for a quiet experience. The tower climb costs a small fee but the cathedral interior is free.
💡 Pack lunch from the Migros at Bahnhofplatz. The path continues 2 km to the nature reserve at Stöckli – ideal for a quiet afternoon.
💡 The tower's upper floor is closed to the public but the grounds are free. Best photos at sunset. Combine with a visit to the adjacent Botanical Garden (free, open dawn to dusk).
💡 Pick up a free map from the tourist office at Hauptgasse. The fountains are best seen in the morning when sunlight catches the carvings.
💡 Free entry on the first Wednesday of every month. Otherwise CHF 12. The café next door has decent coffee for CHF 3.