Berne wants to pass you the ball – why not come and play?

Berne likes to work wonders; the famous World Cup final in 1954 was held in the old Wankdorf stadium. Berne will be able to repeat the trick for thousands of fans in 2008.

That said, there is a lot more to Berne than just football. Berne's old city has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 2003. There are a variety of impressive sights to see such as the famous town landmarks the Paul Klee museum (opened in 2005), the Einstein House and the cathedral. The Aare River surrounds, girds and embraces the town. On top of its aesthetic qualities on hot days the river also offers a refreshing break to stronger swimmers. The bathing areas along the riverbank provide the perfect spot to relax and while away the day. The city is a direct juxtaposition of tradition and modernity, culture and hospitality; it is these apparent contradictions that lend this alpine city its particular charm.

The Reitschule is Berne's social and cultural centre. It is also the centre of the modern, alternative scene in the city and is where young people go to meet. Alongside concerts and a variety of events, regular live debates are also part of the schedule. The Reitschule has a cinema, a café and its own magazine and it is also the headquarters of many action groups.

According to the statistics, Berne has about 130,000 residents, many of whom originally came from neighbouring Italy and Germany. Over time, though, increasing numbers of emigrants from Spain and Sri Lanka have come here to settle.

In Berne you can quite happily go walking and shopping in the rain without even getting wet – which makes Berne unique. Under the Arkaden (Arcades) lines of shops offer all manner of souvenirs and shopping essentials, catering to your every need. The Wochenmarkt market offers regional specialities and opens on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. If you're looking for clothes or handicraft, the area between Hauptgasse, the Bundeshaus and Waisenhausplatz is the place to go.

Because of its situation right at the heart of the Berner Oberland, there are lots of interesting mountain tours to choose from if you want to storm the summits. The mountain triad of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the green and hilly Emmenthal where the famous cheese comes from, and the Drei-Seen-Weingebiet (three-lake wine-growing area) are all within a 20 or 30 minute ride by bus or train.

The town's parks are the perfect place to find a bit of peace and quiet after the hubbub of the shops. When the weather is fine you can take a pleasant stroll on the Bundesterrase, a walk along the Aare or just take in the view over Berne from the Rosengarten.

You can find more useful information about the host city Berne here.