Yearly event. Every fourth Monday in November. The Onion Market, or Zibelemärit, is a favorite market with festival character amongst the Swiss, and a “must do” at least once in their lifetime. They arrive from every corner of the country by bus load and on extra trains to enjoy a day in the Swiss Capital.

As you may have guessed already, the Zibelemärit celebrates all things onion. Artful wreaths, woven into braids, sometimes mixed with garlic to chase away Evil spirits and all kinds of figures made of onion are there for the taking. Onions are definitely the queens of the Zibelemärit, Bern’s largest farmers market, but it merged with a specialty market for local potters, the “Chachelimärit”. Also, you find traditional market goods from winter vegetables to fruits, nuts, cheese, and all kinds of entertainment.

Specialties such as “Zibelechueche” (an Onion tart) and “Käsewehe” (a Cheese quiche), onion sausage, onion soups, and Glühlwein (hot mulled wine) are delicacies served in all restaurants and snack stalls. The Züpfe (a braided milk bread), a specialty from the neighboring Emmental region (but served throughout Switzerland, especially for Sunday mornings breakfast) can help lighten the blues of early morning.

The Onion Market starts early – 5am and lasts to 4pm, but visitors show up as early as 4am and stay all night; there are several party events scheduled for night owls. It’s November, so it can be cool – dress in layers.

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Oh, and don’t open your mouth too wide or you could end up swallowing a handful of confetti thrown at you by a mischievous child. The confetti throwing is on all day long but it culminates into a wild confetti battle at the end of the market day.

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When: 

  • Every year on the fourth Monday in November the Zibelemärit takes place.
  • Official start at 5:00 am.

Where: 

Bern – In the old town, the Bären- and Waisenhausplatz, and the main square in front of the Federal building (Bundeshausplatz)

How to get there: 

Special trains are scheduled basically all day long, from and to practically anywhere surrounding Bern. It is the easiest way to reach the city. The train station is smack dab in the center of the city and as soon as you leave the station towards Spitalgasse you arrive at the Onion Market in just a few minutes.