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

Should you visit Athens or Bern?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Bern. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Athens

Athens is a historic, ancient, and vibrant city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern

Bern is a cultural, historic, and charming city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Athens and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Bern?

You'll generally find more things to do in Athens than Bern. Athens is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Athens is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its shopping and impressive beauty. Athens is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. Also, Athens is famous for The Acropolis. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Athens is renowned for its sights and museums. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Athens that are not to be missed. As a historical capital of the world, this city has countless museums and archeological sites including the famous Acropolis, the National Archaeology Museum, and the Ancient Agora.

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 Athens or Bern? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Athens is renowned for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Athens is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.

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 Athens or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Athens is renowned for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Athens is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

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

Is Athens or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Athens is renowned for its historic old town. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its old town.

The old town of Athens is one of the most recognized in the world. The city's "historic triangle" is between Syntagma, Omonia, and Monastiraki Squares. This area is also at the political and financial heart of the city.

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 Athens or Bern?

Bern is great for its shopping areas. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bern. 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.

Athens is a great destination for shopping. Most neighborhoods have a shopping street but head to Ermou Street for some of the city's best shopping.

Is Athens or Bern Better for Families?

Both Athens and Bern are superb family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Athens. With its rich history, beautiful outdoor activities, and kid-friendly food, Athens is a fun place to explore with the whole family.

Bern is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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 Athens or Bern Better for Couples?

Bern is great for couples. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Bern is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Athens is a nice destination for couples. The city is historical, fascinating, and romantic, making it a beautiful place to explore as a couple.

Is Athens or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is renowned for backpackers. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Athens is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

Many backpackers 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.

Is Athens or Bern Better for Students?

Athens is a well-known place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Athens is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Athens and Bern both offer superb public transit to get you around.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Athens. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.

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

Is Athens or Bern a more walkable city?

Athens and Bern are superb when it comes to walkability.

Athens is a very walkable destination. You'll find the city's most walkable area's in the historical heart, where there are many pedestrian only streets and shopping areas.

Bern is very walkable. 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 Athens Worth Visiting? and Is Bern Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bern or Athens?

How long in Athens or Bern?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Athens and Bern. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than in Bern. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 1-3 days is enough time in Bern.

Families should spend more time in Athens than Bern. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Athens, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bern than Athens. 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 Athens than Bern 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 Athens.

One day in Athens or Bern?

Athens is a big city destination where you can fill many days. 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.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Athens or Bern?

Athens is a fun place to experience. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Bern is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Athens or Bern?

Athens is a vibrant big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Athens or Bern?

Athens is a vibrant city where you can fill many days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Bern. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, 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 Athens and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Athens much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Athens would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Athens 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 Athens.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Bern?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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 Athens or Bern?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Athens or Bern in the Summer?

Both Bern and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Athens is a little warmer than Bern. Typically, the summer temperatures in Athens in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Bern averages at about 21°C (70°F).

In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Bern. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in July than Bern. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Bern in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Bern. Many travelers come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Athens is generally much warmer than Bern. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 19°C (67°F), and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Bern during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Athens usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bern. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Athens or Bern in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Bern. Many visitors come to Athens in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Bern can be very cold during winter. Athens is much warmer than Bern in the winter. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Bern fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Athens often gets more sunshine than Bern. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in January than Bern. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Bern in the Spring?

Both Bern and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Athens is a little warmer than Bern. Typically, the spring temperatures in Athens in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Bern averages at about 11°C (52°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Bern during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Bern. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bern and Athens