Info
Arrival and departure
From A6 motorway, take exit Rubigen/Belp > drive through Belp > arrive at Wabern. The festival parking area for passenger cars is located at the first roundabout in Wabern on the right hand side. A parking space costs a flat fee of CHF 60.00 for all four festival days (CHF 40.00 if you only use the parking space on Saturday). Overnight stays on the car park and any camping vehicles are not allowed. Spending the night on the parking lot is not permissible, nor are camping vehicles of any kind.
The BERNMOBIL shuttle bus runs between the festival car park and the Gurtenbahn valley station from Wednesday to Saturday from 06:00 to 04:40 a.m.. There are no parking spaces available in Wabern or at the Gurtenbahn. Attention: The shuttle bus will not run on Sunday.
Please take public transportation whenever possible. The festival neighbourhood and the environment will thank you!
Free parking for bicycles and motorcycles is available at Kirchstrasse in Wabern and at Morillion Schulhaus. Please follow the signs. Please only park your vehicle in the marked areas. The parking area may be used until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. Any remaining bicycles and motorcycles will then be cleared out.
Sufficient parking spaces and stations are available on site for PubliBikes. The parking area is on Kirchstrasse opposite the Morillon Schulhaus.
Festival tickets include free rides on the Gurten funicular.
The last downhill ride is at 05.30 a.m. on all festival days. After the end of the regular public transport service, shuttle buses will run from the Gurtenbahn tram stop to Bern main station on all evenings.
Arrival
On the days your festival wristband is valid, enjoy free rides on buses, trams, or city trains (S-Bahn, 2nd class only) within zones 100 and 101 of the Bern Libero public transportation system, plus free shuttle rides between the festival parking in Wabern and the Gurten funicular and Moonliner Free rides on the Gurten funicular are also included.
On your day of arrival, your festival ticket will serve as transportation ticket (within Libero zones 100/101). Please present ticket or wristband upon request. Kids born in 2010 or later ride free when accompanied by an adult festival visitor.
www.libero-tarifverbund.ch
Departure
Gurten funicular: The last downhill ride will be at 5.30 a.m. on all festival days. Shuttle buses will be available from the Gurtenbahn tram stop to the main train station in Bern as well as to the festival parking (intermediate stops on request). Sunday: The regular Sunday time table is in effect (first ride up the mountain at 7:00 a.m., last downhill ride at 8:15 p.m.).
www.gurtenbahn.ch
Moonliner
During the Gurtenfestival 2022, Moonliner buses offer an extended service. Check moonliner.ch, sbb.ch, or the ÖV Plus app for exact timetables. The festival wristband is now also valid on the Moonliner buses as a ticket in zones 100/101.
www.moonliner.ch
The Sleeping Zone will remain open until 12:00 noon on Sunday. Visitors with a wrist band valid on Saturday may use public transportation within Libero zones 100 and 101 free of charge until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Cashless
The Gurtenfestival 22 is Cashless. Every person gets a Cashless Card with the festival wristband. This must be registered online once. Afterwards, the card can be topped up at any time and the account balance and bookings can be called up. After the end of the festival the remaining balance will be refunded automatically. This transfer will be made to the account last used when loading the card. The card can be disposed of in all common plastic collections.
You don’t have to do anything before arriving at the festival!
You get your individual Cashless Card when you exchange your wristband on site. Afterwards you can register online and easily top up your card at any time and check your account balance. After the end of the festival your remaining balance will be refunded automatically. This transfer will be made to the last account used for the top-up.
Yes, on the whole festival area and in the Sleeping Zone you can only pay cash-free with your Cashless Card. All food and beverage stands, bars, boulevard and partner stands as well as the Festival Store etc. only accept the Cashless Card as a means of payment. Cash payments are not possible under any circumstances.
Exceptions/Specials: Cash can be used for the use of the lockers (CHF 2.00 per lock) – however, they can also be booked digitally. The festival parking lot can be paid in cash or with all major cards (CHF 60.00), but not with the Cashless Card. The VIP area is cashfree, i.e. no cash is accepted there, but all common card payments and of course the Cashless Card.
You get your cashless card when you exchange your wristband. You don’t have to do anything in advance.
No, you get your Cashless Card for free. The card can be disposed of after the festival in all common plastic collections.
- Scan the QR code on your card or open cashless.gurtenfestival.ch.
- Click on “Load card”.
- Register yourself.
- Enter your tag number. It is printed on the Cashless Card in the white bar.
- Select the amount you want to load on your Cashless Card. You can also enter an allowance.
- Select the payment method you want to use for the transaction.
- Complete the external payment process.
- Your Cashless Card is loaded & you can now use it to pay anywhere on the festival grounds.
- Take a picture of your card so that you know your tag number in case of loss – safe is safe.
- In your account you can now check your account balance and the last bookings at any time and recharge your card.
- If you have any question or problems you can contact cashless@gurtenfestival.ch or visit one of the two clearing points on the premises.
- The remaining credit will be automatically transferred back to your last payment account after the festival until July 20th 2022.
Yes, you can load a maximum of CHF 500.- onto the Cashless Card. The Cashless Card can be topped up to this maximum amount at any time. The minimum amount per top-up is CHF 10.-.
You can load the Cashless Card with Swiss francs.
No. You can view your bookings at any time under “Activities”, but receipts cannot be issued.
Recharging and managing the Cashless Card is basically done digitally only. If you do not have a smartphone or internet, you have the following options:
1. have your Cashless Card topped up by a friend. Several wallets, i.e. several cards, can be managed per account. This can be done with your payment method (all common cards, Twint etc.), so that the credit is automatically refunded to your account.
2. buy a preloaded Cashless Card in our Festival Store. We have a limited number of Cashless Cards loaded with amounts from 50 – 200 CHF. You will find the Festival Store right next to the main stage.
1. report to one of the clearing points at the main entrance or at the tent stage.
2. there you will get a new cashless card by showing your ID. The remaining amount on your lost card will be transferred to the new card.
No. For the payment process you only need a Cashless Card with loaded credit.
Yes, of course, if the dishes are returned correctly, the deposit will be credited back to your Cashless Card.
You don’t have to do anything. Your remaining balance will be automatically transferred to the last payment account you used by July 20, 2022.
The cards cannot be reused, but you can easily dispose of them in plastic collection points.
If you have any questions or problems, you can always send an email to cashless@gurtenfestival.ch. At the festival you can report to the Clearing Point at the main entrance or to the Clearing Point tent stage.
Covid-19 and extraordinary
You can redeem it via our Gurtenfestival Ticket Shop. Select the tickets you would like to have, go to the checkout and add your voucher code at the bottom of the overview.
According to the current status as per the Federal Council (16.02.2022), no special admission rules will apply! This means: no certificate or mask requirement.
As the organiser, we will ultimately have to implement the requirements of the federal government. With the purchase of a ticket, the possibility of a tightening of the admission rules due to official requirements is accepted. Due to this, tickets cannot be refunded at a later date.
If you take out ticket insurance from our partner ERV for CHF 3, your ticket will be 100% refunded. If you do not take out this insurance, you will not be reimbursed in the event of illness or being unable to attend for any other reason.
If the Gurtenfestival 2022 has to be cancelled again due to the Covid-19 pandemic, you can get a 100% refund of your ticket(s) from the Gurtenfestival.
You had time from 19 January to 1 February 2022 to do so, unfortunately your right of first refusal has expired.
As already communicated with the refund 2020, the voucher is valid for the next edition. That means only for the 2022 edition. If you don’t (completely) use up your voucher in 2022, we recommend that you give it away or sell it. The voucher can be used cumulatively or as a partial amount. As a rule, we do not offer ticket/value for money vouchers for festival tickets. The 2020 refund vouchers are an exception to this rule.
Festival
You must exchange your ticket for a wristband on the first day of its validity.
We strongly recommend using the expanded wristband exchange area at the Dorfschulhaus Wabern to exchange festival tickets for festival. This is also possible at the summit station, but there is significantly less capacity. Festival wristbands must be worn snugly around the right wrist. Damaged or loose wristbands won’t be accepted and won’t be replaced when lost. Wristbands are not transferable. Misuse will be prosecuted.
The wristband will be attached to the buyer’s wrist during the exchange procedure. It is not possible to pick up an unattached wristband on behalf of someone who is not present.
Age checks (+16/+18) are conducted directly at the wristband exchange. Under 16s will also be checked here for parental confirmation.
Opening hours wristband exchange:
Wed: 09:00 a.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Thu/Fri/Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 a.m.
The cup donation during the Gurtenfestival can confidently be called a tradition! Every year, the visitors can donate their surplus cups and dishes (worth CHF 2) to a good cause. The organisation or the purpose of the donation is chosen anew each year. In order to guarantee a varied commitment, also in the sense of diversity, and to live a transparent and low-threshold culture, organisations and associations can apply with their donation purpose. Our internal working group, which takes care of our so-called Kulturklima*, then selects this year’s donation purpose.
We are happy to have Pluto with us for this years festival
PLUTO
Pluto is the first emergency shelter for young people in Bern and opened its doors on May 27, 2022. Pluto offers free shelter, protection and safety to teenagers and young adults of all genders between the ages of 14 and 23 in emergency situations. We offer a total of seven sleeping spaces and are open every night from 18:00 to 09:00. Overnight stays in the Pluto emergency sleeping center are intended to offer young people in emergency and stressful situations protection, safety and support. Complementary services include counseling, meals, showers, clothing, etc. The profits from the cup donations are used for overnight stays that cannot be paid for by the public sector or other institutions. This makes it possible to provide a safe place to sleep for young people who cannot be billed.
More info: www.pluto-bern.ch – Instagram @pluto_notschlafstelle_bern – Facebook @plutonotschlafstellebern – TikTok @plutobern – Phone: 078 247 24 44
* The term and the long-term project Kulturklima means: We are always working on ourselves and dealing with how we can further strengthen the togetherness at eye level, the connecting of people as well as the sustainable, human-centred and future-oriented economy, anchor it even deeper in our structures and live it in our universe with all participants.
Over the years, the legendary acrylic Gurtenfestival beer mugs have become sought-after collectors items. They are an integral part of the festival’s reusability concept as they can be refilled any number of times. Beer mugs are available at the festival for CHF 5.– Subject to availability!
As we have already produced beer mugs for the 2020 edition, these will be sold first and foremost at the 2022 Festival for reasons of sustainability. As a supplement, there will be a very small edition of 2022 beer mugs for the super collectors. These will be available exclusively in the Festival Store for CHF 7.00 as an exception. This is because the production for such a small edition is also much more expensive.
The boulevard, ideally situated on the tent stage area with the best view, invites you to shop, discover new products, take part in games and competitions or simply stroll around.
Just like at most other festivals, crowdsurfing is not permitted at Gurtenfestival as it has caused unnecessary injuries in the past.
We recommend taking as few valuables to the festival as possible. Always carry your valuables with you or place them in a safety deposit box. Lockers cost CHF 2.00 per opening, are not attended and are available in the Foody and at the tent stage area. We cannot assume any responsibility for lost or stolen items.
Admission to the Gurtenfestival is allowed from the age of 16 and up. Visitors who are under 16 years of age need written confirmation of their parents, which you can download here.
In case of emergency – especially during the festival – please call the festival helpline. Emergencies only, please! The helpline is available from Tuesday, 12th July, 12:00 noon, until Sunday 17th July 2019, 6:00 p.m.
A large selection of T-shirts of the performing acts as well as official festival merchandising can be found in the festival store to the right of the main stage. The Info Point (including the lost and found office) is also located inside the festival store.
Opening hours lost and found office / Info-Point:
Wed: 2:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Thu / Fri / Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.
Opening hours Festival Store:
Wed: 2:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thu: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Fri: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sat: 11.00 a.m. – 1.30 a.m.
The 16 food stalls at the festival offer a varied and diverse range. Specialities from all over the world come together. Bolivia, Chile, India, Thailand, USA, France, Italy etc. meet in the Food Street, in the Food Boulevard and at the tent stage. The large circus tent “Foody” offers around 30 tables with 300 covered seats.
Don’t feel like waiting in line to use the toilet? The Gurtenfestival offers an ideal solution: the women’s urinal. With the aid of a funnel, women can easily pee standing up.
Lost and found items may be dropped off and picked up at the Info Point inside the festival store. This is also the place where children will be taken care of if they get separated from their parents while the parents are paged by the festival speaker at all the stages.
After the festival, the municipal lost and found office in the town of Köniz is in charge of lost articles. As all found articles need to be sorted and entered into the system after the close of the festival, please allow several days before attempting to retrieve any items. Starting on Tuesday, 19rd July 2022, you may look for lost items at www.easyfind.ch or call +41 31 970 95 15. The lost and found office is located at Sägestrasse 42 in CH-3098 Köniz.
Opening hours lost and found office / Info-Point:
Wed: 2:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Thu / Fri / Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.
Opening hours Festival Store:
Wed: 2:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thu: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Fri: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sat: 11.00 a.m. – 1.30 a.m.
The Cerebral Foundation and the Gurtenfestival ensure that people with walking disabilities can visit the Gurtenfestival as easily as possible. Starting with the wheelchair-accessible Gurtenbahn, the accessible walkways to the three wheelchair stands and on-site assistance. Three barrier-free toilets are located in the immediate vicinity, all accessible with the Eu-rokey. If you don’t have such a key, you can order it conveniently at the following link: www.eurokey.ch.
Electric wheelchairs can be charged on site and there is a small mobile workshop for repairs or spare parts for wheelchairs. People in wheelchairs who would like to stay overnight in the Sleeping Zone are kindly requested to contact us via info@gurtenfestival.ch. If you don’t have a ticket yet and would like to be at the Gurtenfestival, please contact ticketing@gurtenfestival.ch. As a wheelchair user you will receive a 20% discount on your ticket.
All disabled taxis are allowed to unload and pick up wheelchair users at the Gurtenbahn valley station. This is possible without a permit.
Gurtä wheelchair
The Gurtä wheelchair is specially designed for natural mountain trails, cobblestones, rough gravel and path steps. Thanks to the intelligent chassis with electric drive, it offers all the features for safe progress on rough terrain. The double rear wheel prevents it from sinking into soft ground. At the same time, it offers flexibility and stability during driving maneuvers. Due to the unique design and drive technology, it is possible to overcome inclines and declines forward up to 32%.
The Gurtä wheelchair is available every festival day from 11.00 am at the wheelchair grandstand (main stage) and can be booked there for a ride.
The “Tapis Rouge” self-service restaurant is open from 9.00 a.m. to 8 p.m. on festival days. No long queues, no crowds at the buffet, plenty of cosy seating. Whether it’s a hearty breakfast, Gurten burgers or Rösti specialities – the Tapis Rouge provides culinary variety.
If you want to know more about the year-round activities of the “Gurten – Park im Grünen”: www.gurtenpark.ch
The Info Point (including lost and found office) is located inside the festival store.
Opening hours lost and found office / Info-Point:
Wed: 2:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Thu / Fri / Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.
Opening hours Festival Store:
Wed: 2:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thu: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Fri: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sat: 11.00 a.m. – 1.30 a.m.
Children and adolescents under the age of 16 are strictly prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages. Adolescents under the age of 18 are prohibited by law from consuming spirits and spirituous beverages (mixed drinks). Age checks (+16/+18) are conducted directly at the wristband exchange and wristbands are marked with the respective age.
Children born in 2010 or later may visit the Gurtenfestival for free when accompanied by an adult. ID required. Children who get separated from their parents will be taken care of at the Info Point while their parents are paged by the festival speaker at all stages.
The marketplace will no longer exist in 2022. The boulevard with food, games, fun and drinks as well as lockers is planned at this location. Look forward to a marketplace comeback in a new form and splendour in 2023.
Wednesday
Sleeping-Zone: 10:00 a.m.
Festival grounds open: 2:00 p.m. | First concert: 3:00 p.m.
Wristband exchange: 09:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Thursday / Friday / Saturday
Festival grounds open: 10:00 a.m. | First concert: 2:00 p.m.
Wristband exchange: 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Festival ends: Sunday, 17th July, 5:00 a.m. | Grounds to be vacated: Sunday, 17th July starting at 5:00 a.m.
- Festival visitors with 1-day passes have to leave the festival grounds by 5:00 a.m. the following morning.
- Visitors with a valid wristband may stay on the festival grounds for 24 hours.
- The sleeping zone must be vacated by Sunday, 17th July, at 12:00 noon.
Do you have questions about drugs, alcohol, or gaming addiction? Are you worried about your own consumption or that of a friend, a child, or a parent? Find an open ear for your questions about drug consumption and addiction on the internet: Visit www.safezone.ch to get information, share experiences with other people in the forum or in the chats, and get personal advice from addiction addiction specialists – anonymity guaranteed.
A well equipped first aid team is available in case of emergencies. The first aid is located in the pavilion next to the Gurten funicular.
For valuables, sleeping bags, or spare items of clothing: rent a lock box for everything that’s important to you (costs: CHF 2.00 per opening or some can be booked digitally). Lockers are available on the tent stage area and in the Foody. Lock boxes are accessible around the clock and are self-service only.
Forgotten items can be retrieved after the festival at the lost and found office in the town of Köniz. As all found articles need to be sorted and entered into the system after the close of the festival, please allow several days before attempting to retrieve any lost items. Starting on Tuesday, 19th July 2022, you may look for lost items at www.easyfind.ch or call +41 31 970 95 15. The lost and found office is located at Sägestrasse 42 in CH-3098 Köniz.
The Gurtenfestival observes a maximum sound level of 100 dB(A) which is the maximum level permissible by law. Please be aware that this sound level may cause hearing damage. Ear plugs are available at the Info Point in the Festival Store and at all bars.
Secondhand-Tickets again in 2022
We are happy to have the Secondhand-Tickets with us again: The independent and non-profit project group that conceived and implemented the idea of the “Secondhand-Ticket” will be back again in 2022!
This means: On sold-out festival days, the Secondhand-Ticket exchange will take place from 11.00 p.m. and until 3.30 a.m. each day. Exchange/sale/trade will take place exclusively down at the valley station in the secondhand encounter zone!
And this is how it works: if you are a ticket holder and want to rush off again on a sold-out day before the festival ends, you can sell your wristband to interested parties from 11.00 p.m. onwards in the exchange zone (and only there!) directly in front of the Gurten funicular valley station. The price is up to the trading partners. If they agree, the exchange takes place at the Secondhand-Ticket counter: old wristband (seller) gone, new wristband (buyer) on. The Gurtenfestival only charges a fee of CHF 5.00 for the exchange of the new wristband. Otherwise, the Gurtenfestival AG assumes no liability or guarantee.
Important: Wristbands will only be issued for the current festival day. Sold or exchanged multi-day and VIP wristbands become “normal” day wristbands, which only grant admission on the current festival day!
Those who come down from the Gurten earlier can also put their wristbands in the donation box next to the Clearing Point until 10.30 p.m. at the summit station – and donate them.
These donated wristbands will be handed over to new visitors at the Secondhand-Ticket counter from 11.00 p.m. for a fee of CHF 5.
What else you need to know
- only the exchange of wristbands will be ensured at the Secondhand-Ticket counter. Who pays how much to whom is a matter for the traders themselves. (Also who pays the fee of CHF 5.00).
- The Gurtenfestival AG rejects any liability between the trading parties (seller and buyer).
- The general terms and conditions of the Gurtenfestival AG apply to all festival visitors and all ticket types.
During the festival, our security staff are on the festival grounds around the clock. Please notify them straight away in case of problems. The security staff’s instructions are to be complied with.
The Festival Store (to the right of the main stage) has prevention products you can pick up for free.
Dogs and other animals are not allowed on the festival grounds – for the safety of the animal.
Sun exposure, partying, and alcohol consumption can dehydrate the body. It is therefore all the more important to drink non-alcoholic beverages or water on a regular basis. There are several free water stations throughout the festival grounds.
The sleeping zone is located immediately adjacent to the festival grounds. An additional ticket is required for camping in the sleeping zone.
The Eichholz campground is located along the Aare river. It features a wonderful, idyllic beach, a play area, and lots of room for barbecuing and sunbathing.
Pitching tents is permissible in the sleeping zone only, not on the actual festival grounds. However, feel free to enjoy the music from within your sleeping bag or from underneath a parasol on the festival grounds – if the weather cooperates.
Get all the important news before and during the Gurtenfestival directly from the website to your smartphone.
This is how it works: open gurtenfestival.ch on your smartphone’s web browser and save the website on your home screen. That way it’s accessible anytime, anywhere.
Green’n’Clean
Over the years, the legendary acrylic Gurtenfestival beer mugs have become sought-after collectors items. They are an integral part of the festival’s reusability concept as they can be refilled any number of times. Beer mugs are available at the festival for CHF 5.– Subject to availability!
As we have already produced beer mugs for the 2020 edition, these will be sold first and foremost at the 2022 Festival for reasons of sustainability. As a supplement, there will be a very small edition of 2022 beer mugs for the super collectors. These will be available exclusively in the Festival Store for CHF 7.00 as an exception. This is because the production for such a small edition is also much more expensive.
Beer and long drinks are sold in returnable mugs or beakers (deposit: CHF 2.00), all other beverages are sold in PET bottles with a deposit of CHF 0.50 per bottle. Beakers and PET bottles may be returned at any of two collection points as well as at any bar or beverage booth.
Another aspect of our reusability policy are plates and cutlery made out of renewable materials. Plates are made from ramie; knives and forks are made from starch. They are sold with a deposit of CHF 1.00. Together with other combustible festival waste, returned dishes and cutlery are converted to heat and electricity for the city of Bern by the local waste incinerating plant.
Rule for admission
According to the current status as per the Federal Council (16.02.2022), no special admission rules will apply! This means: no certificate or mask requirement.
We, as the organiser, must ultimately implement the requirements of the federal government. With the purchase of a ticket, the possibility of stricter admission rules due to official regulations is accepted. Due to this, no tickets can be refunded at a later date.
Permissible:
- Small pocket and digital cameras
- GoPro cameras with handles no more than 25 cm in length
- Cooler boxes
- Perfume bottles and glass baby bottles
- PET bottles and beverage boxes (no more than 3 litres per person)
- Reusable aluminium drinks bottles up to 0.6 litres (e.g. Sigg or similar)
- Parasols with a maximum diameter of 2 metres
- Aluminium tubes (mayonnaise, mustard, etc.)
- Small pocket knives (no more than 6 cm in length)
Non-permissible:
- Aluminium and tin cans (exception: aluminium tubes for mayonnaise, mustard, etc.)
- Equipment for audio recording and/or playback (with loudspeakers)
- Bengal fires and other pyrotechnic articles
- Photo, film, digital, and/or video cameras with exchangeable lenses
- Selfie sticks, GoPro handles, telescoping handles, bipods/tripods longer than 25 cm
- Gas stoves
- Glass (except small perfume and baby bottles)
- Confetti
- Megaphones and musical instruments
- Spray cans of any kind
- Weapons or other dangerous items
- Water balloons
- Camping equipment (with the exception of tripod stools)
- Drones
Our security personnel will conduct checks. Non-permissible items will be deposited in a container near the entrance where they may be picked up again after the festival. After 3 months, any non-collected items will be discarded.
Temporary tent constructions are not permitted on the festival grounds. However, it is permissible to spend the night in sleeping bags. Festival wristbands are to be worn on the right wrist for the duration of their validity. Torn off wristbands will not be replaced. Kids who were born in 2010 or later may visit the Gurtenfestival free of charge if accompanied by an adult (ID required).
In the event of programming changes, no claims for the reimbursement of ticket costs will be accepted.
A maximum of 3 litres of beverages (PET bottles or beverage cartons as well as reusable aluminium beverage bottles only) may be brought to the festival grounds per person. Resale of food and beverages is not permitted.
The Gurtenfestival observes a maximum sound level of 100 dB(A) which is the maximum level permissible by law. Please be aware that this sound level may cause hearing damage. Ear plugs are available at the Info Point in the Festival Store and at all bars.
The sleeping zone is open from Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to Sunday 12:00 noon. The sleeping zone is accessible only with a valid festival wristband. For safety reasons, open fires are not permitted. Camping in the forest or anywhere outside the sleeping zone is not permitted. Supplementary tent structures or covers using tarpaulins are not permitted. You can find more information about the Sleeping Zone here.
Safety & Security
ALWAYS COMPLY WITH ANY LOUDSPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND FOLLOW THE ORDERS OF THE SECURITY STAFF
In case of an evacuation of buildings and tents, please move into open terrain, keeping clear of structures, trees, and other possible dangers. Please do not hike to the valley as the footpath passes through a forest.
- Please share any official information – keep your friends up to date.
- If required, help those in need while maintaining your own personal safety.
- Note the evacuation zones on the “Safety & Security” map.
Sleeping Zone
Due to space limitations, only 2-person igloo tents (max. 6m2) are permissible. Any other camping equipment (larger tents, additional covers, camping chairs, etc.) is not permissible in the sleeping zone (exception: tripod stools).
Playback devices with loudspeakers are not permissible on the festival grounds or in the sleeping zone. The sleeping zone is meant to be a place for retreat and recovery.
Permissible:
- Small pocket and digital cameras
- GoPro cameras with handles no more than 25 cm in length
- Cooler boxes
- Perfume bottles and glass baby bottles
- PET bottles and beverage boxes (no more than 3 litres per person)
- Reusable aluminium drinks bottles up to 0.6 litres (e.g. Sigg or similar)
- Parasols with a maximum diameter of 2 metres
- Aluminium tubes (mayonnaise, mustard, etc.)
- Small pocket knives (no more than 6 cm in length)
Non-permissible:
- Aluminium and tin cans (exception: aluminium tubes for mayonnaise, mustard, etc.)
- Equipment for audio recording and/or playback (with loudspeakers)
- Bengal fires and other pyrotechnic articles
- Photo, film, digital, and/or video cameras with exchangeable lenses
- Selfie sticks, GoPro handles, telescoping handles, bipods/tripods longer than 25 cm
- Gas stoves
- Glass (except small perfume and baby bottles)
- Confetti
- Megaphones and musical instruments
- Spray cans of any kind
- Weapons or other dangerous items
- Water balloons
- Camping equipment (with the exception of tripod stools)
- Drones
Our security personnel will conduct checks. Non-permissible items will be deposited in a container near the entrance where they may be picked up again after the festival. After 3 months, any non-collected items will be discarded.
Cooking, digging, or making fires is not allowed on the festival grounds or in the sleeping zone.
In the sleeping zone, enjoy lit passage ways, sufficient toilet facilities, a shower container with warm water (free), a separate security crew, and a spectacular view of the Bernes Alps. There are two passages between the sleeping zone and the festival grounds.
The sleeping zone is open from Wednesday, 13th July, 10:00 a.m., until Sunday 17th July 2019, 12:00 noon
To ensure an optimal utilisation of the sleeping zone, camp sites for 2-person igloo tents are assigned upon arrival. Groups with several tents who wish to stay together need to be on site at the same time and present their sleeping zone tickets.
For valuables, sleeping bags, or spare items of clothing: rent a lock box for everything that’s important to you (costs: CHF 2.00 per opening or some can be booked digitally). Lockers are available on the tent stage area and in the Foody. Lock boxes are accessible around the clock and are self-service only.
Forgotten items can be retrieved after the festival at the lost and found office in the town of Köniz. As all found articles need to be sorted and entered into the system after the close of the festival, please allow several days before attempting to retrieve any lost items. Starting on Tuesday, 19th July 2022, you may look for lost items at www.easyfind.ch or call +41 31 970 95 15. The lost and found office is located at Sägestrasse 42 in CH-3098 Köniz.
Spending the night in the sleeping zone is not included in the festival ticket. Each 2-person igloo tent requires one sleeping zone ticket (CHF 40.00). For more information please see Ticket sales.
Sun exposure, partying, and alcohol consumption can dehydrate the body. It is therefore all the more important to drink non-alcoholic beverages or water on a regular basis. There are several free water stations throughout the festival grounds.
Everyone with a valid festival wristband may enter the sleeping zone. With a valid festival wristband you may spend the night in the sleeping zone and stay there until 12:00 noon the next day. Example: with a Friday wristband you may stay in the sleeping zone until 12:00 noon on Saturday.
Tickets
Digitally, via your account in the Gurtenfestival Ticket Shop. There you scroll down to “Orders”, where you can see all your orders. You can download your ticket as a PDF or as a Mobile Ticket (QR Code).
You can redeem it via our Gurtenfestival Ticket Shop. Select the tickets you would like to have, go to the checkout and add your voucher code at the bottom of the overview.
As already communicated with the refund 2020, the voucher is valid for the next edition. That means only for the 2022 edition. If you don’t (completely) use up your voucher in 2022, we recommend that you give it away or sell it. The voucher can be used cumulatively or as a partial amount. As a rule, we do not offer ticket/value for money vouchers for festival tickets. The 2020 refund vouchers are an exception to this rule.
VIP
New location: The VIP Desk is now located in front of the Kulturscheune Uptown. When you come out of the Gurtenbahn, pass the wristband exchange on the right, then the VIP Desk is a little further ahead on the left-hand side. You can get your wristband there by showing your ticket.
Opening hours VIP Desk
MI / DO / FR / SA: 14.00-22.00
Outside these opening hours, the Check-In Desk (left in front of the main entrance) is at your disposal.
Contact:
vip@gurtenfestival.ch / 031 386 10 10
The VIP area: Various bars, lounges and dining areas as well as the secluded garden invite you to enjoy yourself – and to have lively conversations in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, the covered grandstand with an unobstructed view of the main stage, private sanitary facilities and lockers make this area an absolute oasis of well-being. You can enjoy excellent, warm cuisine throughout. A wide variety of delicacies of regional origin are on offer. The VIP restaurant is now located in the UPtown culture barn.
Opening hours VIP area Main & Garden
Wednesday from 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. each day
Opening hours VIP Restaurant (UPtown)
Wednesday to Saturday from 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday
Site opening: 2.00 p.m. | Concert start: 3.00 p.m.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Site opening: 10.00 a.m. | Concert start: 2.00 p.m.
A separate VIP access is available to you at the valley and mountain stations of the Gurtenbahn. For the first ascent on arrival, the ticket is valid on the day of its validity – please print it out or have your mobile ticket ready.
On the day of its validity, the festival wristband entitles the holder to free return travel by bus, tram or S-Bahn (2nd class) within Libero zones 100/101, including the shuttle bus from the festival car park in Wabern to the Gurtenbahn and now also for the Moonliner in the corresponding zones. The ticket is valid on arrival. The last descent of the Gurtenbahn with connection to the shuttle bus to Bern railway station and the festival car park is at 4.40 a.m. on all festival days.