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How loud is Bern, Switzerland?

In Bern, Switzerland, most noise-exposed residents face average day-evening-night (Lden) transport noise of 55–70 dB, mostly from road traffic, dropping to 45–60 dB at night. That ranks Bern #220 of 314 European cities by measured EEA exposure, right at the European median.

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Noise map of Bern, Switzerland: road-traffic noise contours from the EU strategic noise maps, shaded yellow (≈55 dB Lden) through orange and red to dark purple (≈75 dB+), over the city's street network.
Bern's road-traffic noise, mapped: each band is a measured Lden contour from the EU Environmental Noise Directive (2022 round) — yellow ≈55 dB rising to dark purple ≈75 dB+. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors, © CARTO.
Bern at a glance (measured EEA data)
European rank (of 314) #220
Daytime Lden range 55–70 dB
Night Lnight range 45–60 dB
vs. WHO guideline ≈ 10 dB above the 53 dB Lden road-noise guideline (night guideline: 45 dB)
Dominant source road traffic
Population 421,240
Data confidence high

Of Bern's 421,240 residents, the noise-exposed share lives with average day-evening-night (Lden) transport noise of 55–70 dB, dropping to 45–60 dB overnight (Lnight). The dominant source is road traffic. Overall the city ranks #220 of 314 European cities, right at the European median. Among Switzerland's 13 ranked agglomerations, Bern is the 12th-loudest. Across Europe it sits just below Madrid, Spain (#219) and just above Cergy, France (#221).

The WHO road-traffic guideline is 53 dB Lden by day and 45 dB Lnight at night, so Bern's exposed residents run roughly 10 dB above the daytime guideline. The figures count road, rail, aircraft and industry only, so sirens, nightlife and construction sit outside the model — which is why measured exposure can differ from a city's reputation for noise.

These are measured values, not estimates: they come from Switzerland's strategic noise maps reported under the EU Environmental Noise Directive (2022 round) and harmonised by the European Environment Agency. Lden is the annual-average day-evening-night level; only people above the 55 dB Lden reporting threshold are counted, so the range describes the noise-exposed population, not the city's quietest streets.

Bern noise: the numbers

  • Ranks #220 of 314 European cities by measured day-evening-night (Lden) transport-noise exposure.
  • Exposed residents face Lden 55–70 dB by day and Lnight 45–60 dB at night.
  • Dominant noise source: road traffic. Population 421,240.
  • The 12th-loudest of Switzerland's 13 ranked agglomerations.

These are measured values from the EU Environmental Noise Directive strategic noise maps (2022 round), harmonised by the European Environment Agency — see the methodology on the European city ranking. Lden is the annual-average day-evening-night level; only residents above the 55 dB Lden threshold are reported.

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