Annual Sunshine in Biel/Bienne: best neighborhoods and areas

By VivaMap · find the best place to live in Switzerland, from canton to exact address · Last updated 14 September 2026

Map of Annual Sunshine scores across the Biel/Bienne area — top-ranked communes in green, weakest in red, per VivaMap methodology

Annual Sunshine measures global solar energy received at ground level, accounting for terrain and local horizon. Data come from the SFOE solar atlas and the swissALTI3D model. A high score means a sunnier location.

On this criterion, the Biel/Bienne area shows average results. The average score of 4.7/10, computed across 53 communes, sits on par with the national average (4.7/10). Scores span from 0/10 to 5.7/10 across the communes analysed.

The standard deviation of 1.2 signals moderate variation between communes, enough to warrant a careful comparison.

Top 5 Communes

1. Aarberg (BE) 5.7/10

solid performance, close to the Swiss average
2. Bargen (BE) 5.7/10

solid performance, close to the Swiss average
3. Kappelen (BE) 5.7/10

solid performance, close to the Swiss average
4. Bühl (BE) 5.6/10

solid performance, close to the Swiss average
5. Epsach (BE) 5.6/10

solid performance, close to the Swiss average

Bottom 5 Communes

1. Cortébert (BE) 0.0/10

very low score, worth considering carefully
2. Tavannes (BE) 1.0/10

very low score, worth considering carefully
3. Diessbach bei Büren (BE) 1.1/10

very low score, worth considering carefully
4. Sonceboz-Sombeval (BE) 2.6/10

modest performance, below the national average
5. Schnottwil (SO) 2.9/10

modest performance, below the national average

Aarberg Bargen (BE)Kappelen Bühl Epsach

Geographic Patterns and Contrasts

The spread between the top-ranked commune (5.7/10) and the weakest (0/10) reaches 5.7 points. The agglomeration offers contrasting profiles without marked homogeneity.

Top-ranked communes typically benefit from several convergent factors (location, long-standing infrastructure, geographic exposure); the weakest often compound structural disadvantages. The interactive map makes these spatial clusters visible at a glance.

Who Weighs This Criterion Most

Among the four VivaMap profiles, the Retirement profile weights this criterion most heavily (weight 80 out of 100). The other profiles apply the following weights: Nature (weight 70), Family (weight 50), Young Professional (weight 30).

Practically, a high Annual Sunshine score carries significant impact on the ranking for the Retirement profile, whereas it matters less for a profile that de-emphasises this criterion. This explains why the same commune can lead one ranking and fall mid-pack in another.

Comparison Across Swiss Agglomerations

Among the 21 major Swiss agglomerations analysed by VivaMap, Biel/Bienne sits in the upper half for Annual Sunshine — rank 9/21 (ahead of 62% of the agglomerations).

Its immediate neighbours in the ranking are Thun (rank 8) and Basel (rank 10). This context helps calibrate absolute scores: an agglomeration that looks average in isolation can sit well among its peers, and vice versa.

Key Takeaway

To prioritise Annual Sunshine in the Biel/Bienne area, Aarberg (BE) leads with 5.7/10. Explore the interactive map to compare communes in real time, adjust weights to your profile, and see variation at the neighbourhood scale. See the national Annual Sunshine page for the full ranking and methodology.

Explore on the map →

Data: FSO, geo.admin.ch, OSM — Scores normalised 0-10