Explore'n'Rail Aare trip Solothurn-Biel

You can benefit from the discount when you travel there and back by public transport using any ticket or travelcard, e.g. a standard public transport ticket, a Day Pass, a supersaver ticket, a Regional Travelcard, a Half Fare Travelcard or a GA Travelcard.

Offer valid from 3 to 31 May 2025

• 30% discount on the Aare boat trip Solothurn–Biel/Bienne or vice versa

Offer valid from 1 to 30 June 2025

• 20% discount on the Aare boat trip Solothurn–Biel/Bienne or vice versa

Offer valid from 1 to 31 July 2025

• up to 50% discount on the journey to Biel/Bienne/Solothurn and back*
• 20% discount on the Aare boat trip Solothurn–Biel/Bienne or vice versa

Offer valid from 1 August to 26 October 2025

• 20% discount on the Aare boat trip Solothurn–Biel/Bienne or vice versa

   
*Please note: The number of discounted tickets for public transport is limited each month. Once the 50% discount has been used up, the discount is reduced to 30%. Once the tickets with 30% have been used up, the price reduction is cancelled. The discounted public transport tickets are only available when booking online.

Baroque City of Solothurn

Discover the beautiful city of Solothurn. The lively old town with exciting city history and individual shops and many gastronomic establishments invites you to take a stroll. The exceptional museums and city tours offer something for everyone

Altreu, European Stork Village and Witi Information Centre

The Altreu stork village is internationally known as a care and breeding station for white storks. The animals now live in freedom, are naturally settled and can feed themselves. Just like in the old days, the storks stand in their nests on the high roofs of the farmhouses. At times there are over 100 animals living here. At the «Infozentrum Witi» you can learn more about the stork and its reintroduction to Switzerland. A film and guided tours bring visitors closer to the subject in an exciting way.

Historic town of Büren an der Aare

The charming medieval town of Büren an der Aare is listed in the Federal Inventory of Cultural Heritage. Worth seeing are the castle, the town hall with its Gothic window front, the «Spittel», which has been converted into a local museum, the town church, the arcades on the main street, the two town fountains and the mighty wooden bridge.

Lock ride in Port

On the journey from Biel to Solothurn, the ships have to pass the weir and lock at Port. Watch the captain's inch-perfect manoeuvring skills to lower the ship to the level of the lower course of the Aare.
The Port weir is the centrepiece of the second Jura water correction. It regulates the levels of the three Jura lakes and the discharge of the Aare.

Biel/Bienne:

Located directly on the shores of Lake Biel, the city of Biel offers a unique blend of culture, charm and openness. Switzerland's largest bilingual city fascinates with its lively cultural scene and charming medieval old town, which invites you to stroll through its dreamy alleys.

Availability

From 3 May to 26 October 2025 according to the timetable

   
The ships of the Bielersee Shipping Company operate according to the timetable of the current season.
Please inform yourself before the trip on the online timetable of the BSG.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch during the boat trip. Reservations directly with the Bielersee Shipping Company are recommended.

Sailor's breakfast CHF 19.00 

• 1 croissant, 1 grain roll, bread
• butter, jam
• 3 regional cheeses
• 1 glass of orange juice
• Coffee, tea, Ovomaltine or chocolate

Captain's breakfast CHF 27.00

Sailor's breakfast plus

• 1 plait
• 1 yoghurt
• 40 g ham
• 1 boiled egg 

Travel by train to one of the starting points for a boat trip on the Aare.

Boat from Biel:
From Biel/Bienne railway station to Schiffländte Biel it is a 12-minute walk or take bus no. 9.

Ship from Solothurn:
From Solothurn railway station (exit «City») you can reach the Schiffländte on foot (1 km, approx. 20 min.) or by bus no. 8 in the direction of «Büren an der Aare» to the «Schiffländte» stop (2 min. journey time and approx. 500 m walk).