The present invention provides an endoscope that can improve the workability of an operation of inserting an insertion portion. An endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an elongated insertion portion 2, a bending portion 5 provided at a distal end of the insertion portion 2, and a bending operation for bending the bending portion 5. A switching mechanism 22 that changes the bending radius of the bending portion 5 by the bending operation portion 30, and a switching operation portion 35 that can operate the switching mechanism 22.本発明は、挿入部を挿入する作業の作業性を高めることができる内視鏡を提供する。本発明の一実施の形態に係る内視鏡は、細長の挿入部２と、前記挿入部２の先端に設けられた湾曲動可能な湾曲部５と、前記湾曲部５を湾曲操作する湾曲操作部３０と、湾曲操作部３０による前記湾曲部５の湾曲半径を変更する切替機構２２と、前記切替機構２２を操作可能な切替操作部３５とを具備する。
