Brothels, clubs & studios in Canton Bern: Overview 2026

6love_redaktion · November 13, 2026, 5:52pm

This page compiles the adult businesses registered in the 6love.ch directory for the canton of Bern – currently 23 entries in 17 locations, from the city of Bern via Biel, Thun, Burgdorf and Interlaken to smaller municipalities such as Aarberg, Belp, Zollikofen, Niederbipp, Lyssach, Oberburg, Aefligen, Lätti, Bargen and Lengnau. For each business, you will find the key information in the list below: location, type of business, contact method and – if available – website and opening hours. The editorial sections above and below the list explain what types of businesses exist and what regulations apply in the canton of Bern. Some addresses in the directory are just across the cantonal border (such as Recherswil in the canton of Solothurn) – where Bernese law does not apply.

The Bernese scene is heavily concentrated in the three urban regions of Bern, Biel/Bienne and Thun; this is also shown by the licensing figures that the government council published in 2023 in response to an inquiry in the Grand Council. There is also a second, less visible strand: small businesses and studios in municipalities along transport corridors – in the Emmental (Burgdorf, Lyssach, Oberburg, Aefligen), in the Oberaargau (Niederbipp), in Seeland (Aarberg, Bargen, Lätti, Lengnau) and in the belt around the city of Bern (Belp, Zollikofen). In the Bernese Oberland, however, the supply is sparse; Interlaken is practically the only location there with multiple entries. Visible street prostitution plays only a minor role throughout the canton – the business has shifted almost entirely to salons, studios and private apartments.

All 23 Businesses at a Glance

Automatically updated, as of 13.11.2026. Is a business missing? Write it as a reply below.

Bern

Privée – Brothel
Zickenstube I – Brothel
Zickenstube II – Brothel
Aqualisclub – Sex club
Vital Relax – Sex club
Golden Solarium – Other

Thun

Golden Girls Thun – Studio
Models Thun – Studio

Aarberg

Hawaii Bar – Sex club

Aefligen

Tantra Paradies Aefligen – Massage

Bargen

Cleo Club – Sex club

Belp

Studio Angels – Sex club

Biel

Paradiso – Studio

Lyssach

Belform Club – Sex club

Lätti

Motel Paradiso – Contact bar

Münster

Salon Tentation – Other

Niederbipp

69Soleil – Studio

Oberburg

Princess 40 – Contact bar

Recherswil

Freubad – Sex club

Zollikofen

Excaliburbar – Contact bar

How to Find the Right Business

The terms in the directory represent very different concepts. A brief overview so you know what to expect:

Sauna club / FKK club: Larger establishment with wellness area (sauna, steam bath, pool), lounge and bar. You pay an admission fee for your stay; everything else is arranged directly with the sex workers present. Such establishments are rare in the canton of Bern and are found almost only in the Bern, Biel and Thun regions.
Brothel / Building with individual rooms: A building in which several self-employed individuals each rent their own room. Visitors walk the corridors and speak to the person they wish to ring. Advantage: little advance notice, no appointment necessary.
Studio / Private apartment: The most common type in the canton of Bern. One or a few people work in an apartment or shop premises, usually by telephone appointment. Since the 2023 regulation change, such micro-businesses no longer require a permit but must be registered (see below). Many entries in municipalities such as Lyssach, Aefligen, Bargen or Lätti fall into this category.
Contact bar / Night club: A bar venue where you first have a drink and chat. Legally, such a business requires an additional hospitality permit; the cantonal entertainment ban applies.
Massage and tantra studio: Focus on bodywork; the offer ranges from classic massage to erotic formats. What exactly is included varies greatly from business to business – it’s worth asking.
Escort service / Home visits: Mediation of companionship to your home or hotel. The mediation of contacts is a permit-required activity in the canton of Bern, even if no separate salon is operated.

Practical tips for selecting: Reputable businesses are reachable by phone, provide clear opening hours, communicate transparently and exert no pressure. Businesses with a permit must prominently and multilingually inform about counseling and support services as well as the canton police telephone number – such a notice is a good sign. Also pay attention to accessibility by public transport or parking options: many Bernese businesses are deliberately located in commercial and mixed-use areas at the edge of town, because residential zones are usually not suitable for this use.

Legal Matters in the Canton of Bern

Sex work is legal in Switzerland. The canton of Bern was the first German-speaking Swiss canton with its own legislation on the subject: The Law on the Prostitution Trade (PGG, BSG 935.90) of 7 June 2012 has been in force since 1 April 2013, supplemented by the Prostitution Trade Ordinance (PGV, BSG 935.901). Both decrees are currently in the version of 1 September 2026; the most recent amendment (resolution of 3 December 2025) concerned data protection provisions.

Permit and jurisdiction. A permit is required by anyone who provides premises for prostitution or mediates contacts (Art. 5 PGG) – i.e. salon, club and escort businesses. The permit authority is the government prefect of the respective administrative district (Art. 18 PGG); the canton has ten such offices, with jurisdiction at the location of the business. The application is first submitted in writing to the municipality where the business is located, which examines it and forwards it with a statement – in the city of Bern, for example, via the local and trade police to the Bern-Mittelland government prefect’s office. The application must be submitted at least 60 days before the planned opening (Art. 1a PGV); the permit is valid for five years, is personal and non-transferable (Art. 7 and 9 PGG). It is only granted to capable individuals with a criminal record and attachment account statement and appropriate reputation (Art. 8 PGG).

Micro-businesses. Since 1 August 2023, a simplification has applied: anyone who provides at most two premises and allows prostitution to be practiced there by at most one other person no longer needs an operating permit (Art. 1 PGV). Instead, there is a registration requirement with the municipality where the business is located, and the most important operator obligations still apply. Failure to register results in a fine of up to 2,000 francs (Art. 9a PGV).

Operating obligations. Permit holders keep a register of persons working for them and their economic relationship to them (Art. 10 PGG). They must ensure that no one is underage, that the activity is voluntary and without coercion, that the immigration law requirements are met and that the premises meet requirements for safety, cleanliness and hygiene (Art. 11 PGG). The ordinance specifies this: adequate floor space, sanitary facilities with shower, regular cleaning, condoms and water-based lubricant provided free of charge, and clearly visible, multilingual prevention materials (Art. 7 PGV). Counseling centres with a cantonal service mandate must be allowed access at all times. The authorities may inspect at any time (Art. 12 PGG); violations of obligations can result in warning, withdrawal of the permit with a ban of up to five years (Art. 13 PGG), and operating without a permit can result in a fine of up to 50,000 francs (Art. 27 PGG). Municipalities and the cantonal police may provisionally close a business in case of urgency (Art. 14 PGG). Enforcement is accompanied by the Commission for the Prostitution Trade (KOPG), an advisory expert body chaired by the government prefect’s offices (Art. 8 PGV).

Zones and building law. A salon is a commercial use: as a rule, a standard building permit procedure is required for the change of use, and the business must comply with zoning regulations. This is the biggest hurdle in practice – after the PGG came into force, many jobs in the city of Bern had to be given up because they were located in residential zones. Anyone seeking a location should clarify the zoning question with the municipality above all else.

Street prostitution. According to Art. 4 PGG, it is prohibited in zones that are primarily residential, at public transport stops and in their immediate vicinity during operating hours, and in the immediate vicinity of religious sites, cemeteries, child day-care centres, schools, hospitals and care homes. Municipalities may block further locations and times – and conversely may provide exceptions at precisely designated locations. The city of Bern has done so with its Prostitution Ordinance (SPV, SSSB 551.3): adopted on 22 March 2023, in force since 1 June 2023. It establishes prohibited zones, provides that street prostitution is permitted outside these zones, and allows the city council to designate tolerated standing places within the prohibited zones on a map. The city of Biel regulates the issue in its Local Police Regulations (Art. 25 and 26 OPolR): persons under 18 may not engage in street prostitution, commercial sex may neither be offered nor solicited in or near parks and park-like facilities; at the same time, the city commits itself to cooperating with counseling centers. Violations of the street prostitution restrictions are punished according to Art. 199 StGB with a fine.Residence and Taxes. For sex workers from the EU/EFTA area, the online notification procedure applies for stays of up to 90 days, which the employer must initiate at the latest one day before work begins; for longer stays, a permit is required. Third-country nationals do not receive a permit for this activity. The taxation of foreign sex workers is handled through source tax; the cantonal tax administration regulates it in information sheet Q11, which works with a daily flat rate for the tax year 2026.

Figures and Advice. There is no official statistics on currently existing businesses. What is known from the government council’s response to an inquiry in the Grand Council (2023): Between 2013 and 2022, approximately 503 permits were issued in the canton and 25 were revoked, with a clear focus in the regions of Biel, Bern, and Thun. The number of sex workers active in the canton is estimated at approximately 1,150 to 1,800 persons. As the canton-mandated specialist center, Xenia (Bern) advises sex workers on legal, health, and social matters; in case of suspected human trafficking or exploitation, the FIZ Specialist Center for Women Trafficking and Women Migration is the contact point; in acute cases, the Bern Cantonal Police is responsible.

Sources: PGG, BSG 935.90 · PGV, BSG 935.901 · Regierungsstatthalterämter: Prostitutionsgewerbe · Stadt Bern: Sexarbeit · Prostitutionsverordnung der Stadt Bern (SSSB 551.3) · Ortspolizeireglement Stadt Biel · Merkblatt Q11 Quellensteuer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is prostitution legal in the canton of Bern?

Yes. Sex work is a permitted economic activity throughout Switzerland, and the canton of Bern has explicitly regulated it since 2013 in the Prostitution Business Act. The law protects the freedom of action and decision-making of sex workers, requires voluntary practice, and prohibits the activity of minors. What is regulated is not sex work itself, but the business surrounding it: anyone who rents out rooms or mediates contacts needs a permit or must register. Since a Federal Court decision in 2022, such contracts are no longer considered immoral, so wages and fees are enforceable.

How do I recognize a licensed business in Bern?

A licensed salon or club must clearly and in multiple languages point out counseling and assistance services as well as the telephone numbers of the cantonal police and the licensing authority; condoms and water-based lubricants are freely available, and shower facilities are available. In case of doubt, the responsible government representative of the administrative district can provide information on whether a permit exists for an address. For micro-businesses with a maximum of two workplaces, there is no permit but rather a registration with the municipality of location – the absence of a permit there does not automatically mean that the business is illegal.

Is there still street prostitution in the city of Bern?

Formally yes, practically hardly any. The city of Bern has defined prohibition zones with the 2023 prostitution ordinance and can designate tolerated locations on a map; outside the prohibition zones, street prostitution is generally permitted. Canton-wide, there is also a ban in residential zones, at public transport stops during operating hours, and near schools, daycare centers, hospitals, care homes, cemeteries, and religious buildings. The number of people working on the street has been declining for years – the supply has shifted to salons, studios, and apartments, as this directory also reflects.

Where are the focal points in the canton of Bern?

The three city regions of Bern, Biel/Bienne, and Thun are clearly the focal points, followed by Burgdorf and the Emmental. The agglomeration belt around the city of Bern (Belp, Zollikofen), the Seeland region (Aarberg, Bargen, Lätti, Lengnau), and the Oberaargau (Niederbipp) contribute individual studios and small businesses, often in industrial or mixed-use zones in easily accessible locations. The Bernese Oberland, however, is sparsely populated: Interlaken is practically the only location there with multiple offerings. Some addresses near the border also already belong to the canton of Solothurn, where different cantonal regulations apply.

Who should I contact in case of problems or suspected exploitation?

For sex workers, the Xenia specialist center in Bern is the cantonal contact point – it provides free and confidential advice on legal matters, health, taxes, and conflicts with operators and has access to licensed businesses under Art. 11 PGG. In case of evidence of human trafficking or coercion, the FIZ Specialist Center for Women Trafficking and Women Migration can help; in acute situations, the Bern Cantonal Police (emergency number 117) is responsible. Complaints about a business can be submitted to the government representative office of the respective administrative district, which, as the licensing authority, can inspect, warn, and revoke the permit.