A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aberdeen vs. Bern for Attractions, Old Town, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Aberdeen or Bern?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Aberdeen or Bern? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a historic, cultural, and architectural city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern

Bern is a historic, charming, and beautiful city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Aberdeen and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Aberdeen or Bern?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Aberdeen than Bern, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Aberdeen is more popular for its big city activities, while Bern is known for its shopping and impressive beauty. Aberdeen is popular for its longstanding maritime history and its many cultural sights and activities. It is also home to St Machar's Cathedral Aberdeen. Bern is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Aberdeen different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bern and Aberdeen. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Aberdeen or Bern?

Both Aberdeen and Bern have high quality landmarks and museums for visitors.

Aberdeen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city's long running history means that there are plenty of sights and museums worth exploring. Highlights include St. Machar's Cathedral, the University and King's College of Aberdeen, Brig o'Balgownie, and the Tolbooth Museum.

Many visitors head to Bern specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is filled with architecture and charming character. While you're in town make sure you visit the Einstein Museum, the Clock Tower, and the Bern Cathedral.

Is the Food Better in Aberdeen or Bern? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Aberdeen and Bern can be an enjoyable experience.

Aberdeen offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Everything from brunch bistros to fine dining are available in this city. You can enjoy local specialties or international options at any of the unique restaurants around town.

Bern has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Is Aberdeen or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Both Aberdeen and Bern are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Aberdeen. The nightlife scene is diverse with whisky dens, local pubs, and even trendy nightclubs to choose from.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Is Aberdeen or Bern Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the high quality old towns in both Aberdeen and Bern.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Aberdeen. This city's old town is a hidden gem in Scotland. The cobblestone streets and long history make for a fascinating place to explore.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Bern. The charming old town is filled with quaint alleys and sandstone buildings. It's a compact area that flows down a hill to the River Aare.

Is the Shopping Better in Aberdeen or Bern?

Bern is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Aberdeen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Bern is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The old town is filled with boutique shops and unique markets. The main shopping streets are Spitalgasse and Marktgasse and popular items to buy include jewelry, art, and watches.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Aberdeen. A mix of modern shopping centers, antique vendors, and local boutiques make for an interesting shopping scene. For some of the city's best shopping head to Union Square Shopping Centre, the Trinity Centre, or Bon Accord Aberdeen.

Is Aberdeen or Bern Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Aberdeen or Bern.

Aberdeen is a very family-friendly place to visit. Explore the city's history or wander through one of the many museums. Some of the best museums for kids include the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Little Treasures Toy Museum, the Aberdeen Science Center, and the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Adrenaline seekers will enjoy rock climbing and ropes courses at Transition Extreme or ziplining at Go Ape Crathes Castle. Also nearby is horseback riding and Codona’s Amusement Park.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Bern is very family-friendly. This charming town has riverside parks and pools, a zoo, a waterpark, and kid-friendly museums that the whole family can enjoy. You can also visit nearby Gurten, a mountain with tobogganing, concerts, and a mini ski resort.

Is Aberdeen or Bern Better for Couples?

Bern is a well-known place for romance. Also, Aberdeen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Bern is a very popular place to visit for couples. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Aberdeen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are many of the standard activities for couples such as interesting restaurants, theaters, and fun concerts.

Is Aberdeen or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Aberdeen is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Bern. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Aberdeen is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Aberdeen or Bern Better for Students?

Aberdeen is a popular place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Aberdeen is a good city to visit for students. The city is a nice affordable option for students who want to study at the University of Aberdeen.

Bern is not popular with students.

Is Aberdeen or Bern Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bern is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Aberdeen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Bern is fairly effecient and thorough. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Aberdeen has some public transit options. There are public buses through town and it's possible to pick up a Grasshopper ticket that lets you ride on most of the bus companies.

Is Aberdeen or Bern a more walkable city?

Aberdeen and Bern both are high quality when exploring on foot.

Aberdeen is very walkable. It's easy to walk to most of the city's attractions.

Bern is a very walkable city. It's fun to explore the old town on foot. It is compact enough to that you can see all of the highlights in a few hours.

For even more information, also check out Is Aberdeen Worth Visiting? and Is Bern Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bern or Aberdeen?

How long in Aberdeen or Bern?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Aberdeen and Bern. In our opinion, Bern has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Bern than Aberdeen. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Aberdeen, and 1-3 days is enough time in Bern.

Couples should spend more time in Bern than Aberdeen. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bern that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bern than Aberdeen if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Bern.

One day in Aberdeen or Bern?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Aberdeen. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

The beautiful city of Bern offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Aberdeen or Bern?

Aberdeen is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Bern is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bern, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Aberdeen or Bern?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Aberdeen. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Bern is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Aberdeen or Bern?

The historic city of Aberdeen offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Bern is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aberdeen and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Aberdeen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Aberdeen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aberdeen and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern than you might in Aberdeen.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aberdeen Expensive? and Is Bern Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Aberdeen or Bern?

Aberdeen has a larger population, and is about 51% larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Aberdeen and Bern, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Aberdeen or Bern?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Bern in the Summer?

Both Bern and Aberdeen are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Aberdeen because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

Aberdeen is cooler than Bern in the summer. The daily temperature in Aberdeen averages around 14°C (58°F) in July, and Bern fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

It's quite sunny in Bern. Aberdeen usually receives less sunshine than Bern during summer. Aberdeen gets 157 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Aberdeen usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bern. Aberdeen gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Bern in the Autumn?

Both Bern and Aberdeen during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Aberdeen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Aberdeen is cooler than Bern. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Aberdeen in October average around 9°C (49°F), and Bern averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Aberdeen often gets less sunshine than Bern. Aberdeen gets 93 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun.

Aberdeen usually gets more rain in October than Bern. Aberdeen gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Bern in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Aberdeen and Bern. Many travelers come to Aberdeen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bern can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Aberdeen. In January, Aberdeen is generally a little warmer than Bern. Daily temperatures in Aberdeen average around 3°C (38°F), and Bern fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Aberdeen usually receives less sunshine than Bern during winter. Aberdeen gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Aberdeen usually receives more rain than Bern. Aberdeen gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Bern in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Aberdeen as well as Bern. Many visitors come to Aberdeen in the spring for the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months.

Aberdeen is much colder than Bern in the spring. The daily temperature in Aberdeen averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Bern fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Aberdeen often gets less sunshine than Bern. Aberdeen gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun.

Aberdeen usually gets less rain in April than Bern. Aberdeen gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bern and Aberdeen