A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Avignon vs. Bergen for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Avignon or Bergen?

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 Avignon and Bergen. 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.

Avignon

Avignon is a charming, scenic, and picturesque town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Bergen

Bergen is a nostalgic, friendly, and laid back city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Avignon and Bergen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Avignon or Bergen?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Avignon than Bergen. While Bergen is larger than Avignon, Avignon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Avignon is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and small town charm, while Bergen attracts visitors for its nightlife and shopping. Avignon is more touristy than Bergen and is popular for its architectural beauty and historical importance. It is also well known for Palais des Papes. Bergen is famous for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

How is Avignon different from Bergen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Avignon or Bergen?

Avignon is very popular for its sights and museums. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Avignon on the map. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

Bergen is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are some interesting local museums such as the Hanseatic Museum, the Edvard Grieg Museum, and the KODE Museums.

Is the Food Better in Avignon or Bergen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avignon is very popular for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Avignon is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bergen. The city's economy has long been centered around the fish trade and even today you'll find cod, shellfish, trout, and salmon on most menus. Sheep and mutton are also popular. Desserts and coffee are also a big part of the local culture.

Is Avignon or Bergen Better for Nightlife?

Bergen is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Bergen. It's a small city without a huge nightlife district, but there are bars and clubs in Bryggen and Old Bulls Plass. The city has enough students to keep things lively and fun.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Avignon or Bergen Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is very popular for its historic old town charm. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town.

Avignon has a world-famous historical area. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Bergen is a good destination for visiting its old town. The wooden buildings and compact streets have a quaint and nostalgic atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Avignon or Bergen?

Bergen is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bergen. The city center is filled with specialty boutiques as well as larger department stores. Shopping has long been a large part of the economy and you'll enjoy exploring the diversity of retail options.

Avignon is a great destination for shopping. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Avignon or Bergen Better for Families?

Bergen is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Bergen. There are some interesting educational opportunities for kids including the Bergen Aquarium, VilVite Science Centre, and Experience Bryggen. Other fun activities include Vannkanten Waterworld and the Fløibanen Funicular.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Avignon. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Avignon or Bergen Better for Couples?

Avignon and Bergen both superb destinations for a couple.

Avignon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Couples visit Bergen frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. There are many romantic activities near town like swimming in the fjords and walking through the parks. There are also spas and music concerts to enjoy.

Is Avignon or Bergen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Avignon and Bergen are both nice destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bergen. There are a few hostels and guesthouses around town where backpackers can meet other travelers.

Is Avignon or Bergen Better for Students?

Bergen is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Avignon is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Bergen. It's a very student-friendly city with many activities and a laid back atmosphere. The university facilities are spread out around town and the locals are welcoming and helpful.

Avignon is not popular with students.

Is Avignon or Bergen Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bergen is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

The public transit in Bergen can get you to most places easily. For the areas that are outside of the city center, you can take a local bus or the light rail to access them. These services are operated by Skyss.

You'll find some public transit in Avignon, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Avignon or Bergen a more walkable city?

Avignon is very popular for its ease of walking around. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Avignon on foot. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

Bergen is very walkable. The city center is flat and compact enough that it's fun to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Avignon Worth Visiting? and Is Bergen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bergen or Avignon?

How long in Avignon or Bergen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Avignon and Bergen. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Bergen than in Avignon. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Avignon, and 1-3 days is enough time in Bergen.

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

One day in Avignon or Bergen?

Avignon might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Bergen, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Avignon or Bergen?

Avignon 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.

In Bergen, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bergen has to offer.

Five days in Avignon or Bergen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. 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.

Bergen is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Avignon or Bergen?

Avignon is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bergen. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bergen. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in Norway, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Avignon and Bergen, we can see that Avignon is more expensive. And not only is Bergen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bergen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bergen 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 Avignon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avignon than you might in Bergen.

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

Which is Bigger, Avignon or Bergen?

Bergen has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Avignon and Bergen, 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 Avignon or Bergen?

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 Avignon or Bergen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Avignon as well as Bergen. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Avignon this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bergen for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Avignon is much warmer than Bergen in the summer. The daily temperature in Avignon averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Bergen fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

It's quite rainy in Bergen. Avignon usually gets less rain in July than Bergen. Avignon gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Avignon or Bergen in the Autumn?

Both Bergen and Avignon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Avignon for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, many visitors come to Bergen in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Avignon is much warmer than Bergen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Avignon in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Bergen averages at about 9°C (48°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. It's quite rainy in Avignon. In October, Avignon usually receives less rain than Bergen. Avignon gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Avignon or Bergen in the Winter?

Both Bergen and Avignon during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Avignon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bergen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Bergen can be very cold during winter. In January, Avignon is generally much warmer than Bergen. Daily temperatures in Avignon average around 7°C (44°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Avignon usually gets less rain in January than Bergen. Avignon gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Avignon or Bergen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Avignon and Bergen. Most visitors come to Avignon for the small town charm during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Bergen because of the small town charm.

Avignon is much warmer than Bergen in the spring. The daily temperature in Avignon averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Bergen fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Avignon usually receives less rain than Bergen. Avignon gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bergen and Avignon