Nidau b. Biel BE 433m

Nidau is a little town (6000 inhabitants) next to Biel with a castle and a little old town. There is actually no visible border between these two towns.

Biel, in french Bienne is officialy bilingual, german and french speaking. The city of Biel has roughly 50'000 inhabitants (including surrounding villages, the entire area counts up to 90'000 people). 3/5th of them are german speaking and 2/5th speak french. The two languages also represent two different cultures: latin and german, which gives daily life a special note.
Different from other old towns, the old town of Biel still presents its well preserved original state. The buildings have not much been altered for centuries.

The town situated at the east end of lake Biel, which is connected to a channel and lake system known as the "Seeland" or 3 lakes region. The other 2 lakes are lake Neuchâtel (largest Swiss lake entirely within Switzerland) and lake Murten.
Along the north shore you find several small villages surrounded by vinyards. This is the largest wine producing region in the Kanton of Bern and especially its white wine is very popular and goes well with local fish dishes.

Right on the northern lake side there is the first mountain ridge of the Jura massif. The Jura is the second biggest mountainous region of Switzerland. Although not as high and spectacular as the alps, the "rolling" Jura ridges offer a unique landscape, flora and fauna. Formed by both humans as well as nature it has a distinguished character that combines farmland and wilderness.

Lago Lodge is the only hostel in Nidau/Biel. For other possibilities to find a bed or to check rooms www.biel-seeland.ch.

Hostels

How to get to Nidau/Biel

By train:
You can reach Biel from:
- Berne in 26min to 36min
- Basel in 1h07min to 1h12min
- Geneva in 1h26min
- Interlaken in 1h35 min
- Lausanne in 57min
- Lucerne in 1h28min to 1h38min
- Zurich in 1h09 to 1h15min

To get to Lago Lodge from the train station Biel you can easily walk in 10 min. Take the back exit of the train station towards "See" or Nidau. You can also take bus no.2 to Schiffländte and walk over the bridge next to the bus stop.
You will see Lago Lodge at the other side of the parking lot.

For travelling in Switzerland we recommend rail passes by Swiss Travel System.

By boat:
You can reach Nidau during summer by boat with the "Bielersee Schifffahrt BSG"

By car:
From Neuenburg and Berne you can reach Nidau via street A6/6. From Zurich you take the highway A5.

What to do in Nidau/Biel

As one of the centers of watch making Biel offers a museum of the Omega watch manufacture company.
Free admission but reservations are required (ph +41 (0)32 343 92 11) and you will get a guide who shows you around. More museums regarding watches and watch manufacturing you will find in La-Chaux-de-fonds and in Le Locle. Both are part of the watch valley approx. one and a half hour train ride from Biel.

With 3 lakes and the river Aare in close surroundings you can do all sorts of watersports and leisure activities. Boat trips to all 3 lakes, swimming, wakeboarding, surfing and lots of other possibilities are available and practised by locals and guests.

There are two national cycling routes (no 5 and 8) passing through Biel. Very recommendable is the beautiful scenic route around lake Biel. You can rent bikes at Lago Lodge. Mountain biking is also very popular and there are options for all fitness levels.

and there is hiking...
Have a great time with hikes along the lake or up the Jura hights which reach up to 1607 m.a.sl. with stunning views across half of Switzerland.
In winter the Jura offers perfect conditions for snow shoe walking for all levels of fitness. There are also two small ski stations (Bugnenets-Savagnières and Près d'Orvin) where you can ski for little money.