Switzerland

Bern

The Swiss capital, cradled in a bend of the Aare. Trams, buses and S-Bahn all share one zone-ticket system.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Bern puts no ceiling on taxi fares - the city may fix maximums but has not, so the price differs from firm to firm. A taxi you hail must post its tariff on the outside of the car; read it before you get in.

Updated 10 days ago

How to ride

  1. 1
    Take one at a rank or book in the app
    Ranks stand around town; you can also wave one down or phone. A UberX order may be taken by a licensed taxi driver.
  2. 2
    Check the green permit and the lamp number
    The driver's green permit with photo sits on the dashboard. A car you hail or take at a rank also has a number on its roof lamp.
  3. 3
    Read the tariff on the car before you get in
    A taxi for hire posts its tariff on the doors or wings and inside - a base charge, a per-km rate and a per-hour waiting rate.
  4. 4
    Make sure you can read the meter
    The meter must sit where a passenger can read it easily, even in the dark. An agreed flat price has to go through it too.
  5. 5
    Pay as you get out
    What you can pay with is up to each firm, so ask before you set off if you want to use a card. App rides settle in the app.

Typical costs

Fixed-price routes1

UberX, an 11-minute ride (Uber's own average)
An average, not a tariff - the real fare moves with the firm, the hour and how you got the car
27 CHF ≈ $33

How the meter adds up4

Bären Taxi, base charge for a rank pick-up
The firm's own posted tariff; the distance is charged per km on top
7.8 CHF ≈ $10
Bären Taxi, per km by day
The rate between 06:00 and 20:00
4.5 CHF ≈ $6
Bären Taxi, per km at night
The rate between 20:00 and 06:00
5.5 CHF ≈ $7
citytaxi-bern, base charge from a city rank
This firm bills rank pick-ups on a band of its own, with the distance from CHF 5.90 per km
7.9 CHF ≈ $10

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Take one at a rank, wave one down in the street, or call or book by app - nothing has to be reserved.

Payment

Card payment on board Unverified
Some firms advertise card payment; none of them says whether contactless works
App tickets Uber and the firms' own apps; this does not reach a car you hail in the street.
In the wallet: App rides settle in the app; some options quote a guaranteed price up front
Cash Each firm states this for itself; it is not a guarantee for every car, and app rides settle in the app.
On board: Stated on the firms' own pages; the rules themselves say nothing about payment

Tap for where to get the app

Quick facts

Hours
Uber takes orders around the clock
Fares from
27 CHF+

Heads-up

  • Touting is banned - do not follow a driver who approaches

    Touting is banned by the city rules. Do not follow a driver who walks up and offers you a ride - use a car from a rank or one you called yourself.

  • You need not take the first car at the rank

    You do not have to take the first car at a rank. The city states that passengers are free to choose their taxi, and since each firm sets its own prices you can compare the posted tariffs first.

  • A car you booked may have no roof lamp and still be legal

    A car booked by app or phone may have no roof lamp. Under the cantonal rules a vehicle that only runs pre-booked trips may be marked with the municipality's vignette instead, so a missing lamp does not mean the car is unlicensed. Only cars with a lamp may use the public ranks and the bus lanes.

  • Night, weekend and fuel supplements can be added on top

    The posted base charge and per-km rate are not the whole bill. Some firms add a weekend and night supplement, and a fuel surcharge on top of the total.

Timetable

Operating hours Uber takes orders around the clock
Check the official site for the latest times and service status