A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basel vs. Bled for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Basel or Bled?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Bled, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Basel or Bled?

Basel

Basel is often overlooked as a tourist destination in Switzerland, but despite this, it does have a lot to offer visitors as well as a beautiful medieval historic center. Every year it also hosts a Carnival festival that is one of the most popular in Europe, competing with those in Venice and Rio de Janeiro in its popularity. There are also some excellent museums and great examples of regional architecture around town. Basel also serves as an excellent entry point to the Swiss Jura mountains and a jumping off point to visit more popular cities such as Zurich or Lucerne.

Bled

Bled is an incredibly scenic place, on the east side of Lake Bled. The lake is a beautiful, rich, emerald green. There's a small island in the middle of the lake where you'll find a nice white chapel. The lake is surrounded by striking green mountains, among which you'll find the Bled Castle overlooking the scene. Bled also offers access to the nearby Triglav National Park, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. Within the national park you'll find countless waterfalls and the lovely Lake Bohinj. You can find plenty of opportunities for mountain climbing, rafting, and hiking. There's even a cable car if you're looking for an easy way to get some good views of the mountains and landscape.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ljubljana, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Ljubljana.


Which place is cheaper, Bled or Basel?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Basel is $236, while the average daily cost in Bled is $112. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Basel and Bled in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Basel $143
    Bled $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Basel $286
    Bled $120
Compare Hotels in Basel and Bled

Looking for a hotel in Basel or Bled? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Basel


Hotels in Bled


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Basel Hotel Prices and Bled Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Basel $45
    Bled $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Basel

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Basel:

  • Round Trip Private Transfer From Basel EuroAirport to Feldberg: $87
  • Private transfer from Basel to Strasbourg with a local driver: $233
  • Private direct transfer from Basel to Lucerne with a local driver: $177
  • Private Transfer: Basel Airport BSL to Zurich in Luxury Van: $261
  • Private Transfer from Basel to Zurich with 3h Sightseeing Stops: $251
  • Private Transfer From Basel To Bern With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $224
  • Private One-way Transfer From Basel to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $186
  • Private Direct Transfer from Basel to Zurich: $205
  • ONE WAY: Basel Train Station (ZDH) to / from Basel transfer: $88
  • Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $119
  • Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Car: $157
  • Basel Airport Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Business Car: $108

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bled

Also for Bled, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $165
  • Private transfer from Tolmin to Ljubljana city: $206

Is it cheaper to fly into Basel or Bled?

Prices for flights to both Bled and Basel change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Basel $61
    Bled $30

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bled

For Bled, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food Tour Bled - Explore Slovenia Through Its Tastes: $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Basel $37
    Bled $13

Tours and Activities in Basel

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basel are as follows:

  • Alpine Majesty: Basel to Jungfraujoch Exclusive Private Tour: $821
  • Alpine Majesty: Private Tour to Mount Titlis from Basel: $650
  • Basel (Kleinbasel) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $15
  • Basel : Old Town Walking Tour: $107
  • Basel : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide: $82
  • Basel Adventure Tour - The city quiz: $37
  • Basel City Sightseeing Bus Tour: $27
  • Basel City: Private guided Segway Tour: $196
  • Basel Family Adventure: Exploring Historic & Artistic Gems: $543
  • Basel Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
  • Basel History Tour for Groups: $328
  • Basel Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $60

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bled

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bled's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Rafting
    $99

Tours and Activities in Bled

For Bled, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $42
  • From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $53
  • Motorcycle Tours in Slovenia: $55
  • Bled Slovenia: 3–Hour Rafting Experience: $59
  • Lake Sava River Rafting Experience with Hotel Pickup: $59
  • 3-Hour Family-Friendly Rafting Adventure: $59
  • Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour: $63
  • From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Bled Castle Tour: $65
  • Winter Triglav National Park Adventure - Half day trip from Bled: $71
  • Guided Kayaking Tour in a Transparent Kayak: $74
  • Guided Clear Kayak Tour in Bled: $75
  • Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Lesson and Tour: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Basel $33
    Bled $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Basel

Also in Basel, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl Meet People and Hidden Bars and Clubs: $33
  • Pinot Noir & Pinot Wine Tour to Baden-Württemberg: $279
  • Fantastic, full day, private wine tour to Alsace!: $285
  • Half Day Private Cheese & Wine Tasting in Vineyard in Basel: $289

Typical Alcohol Prices in Bled

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bled are as follows:


  • Bottle of Champagne
    $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Bled

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bled:

  • Slovenian wine tasting at Hotel Triglav Bled's wine cellar: $43
  • Wine Tasting Bled: $62
  • 2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $63
  • Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $64


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

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


Which is Bigger, Basel or Bled?

Basel has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bled. When comparing the sizes of Basel and Bled, 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 Basel or Bled?

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 Basel or Bled in the Summer?

Both Bled and Basel during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Basel this time of year.

In July, Basel is generally cooler than Bled. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 21°C (70°F), and Bled fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Bled, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basel. In the summer, Basel often gets less sunshine than Bled. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 288 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in July than Bled. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Basel 21°C (70°F) 
    Bled 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Basel or Bled in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Bled. Many travelers come to Basel for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Basel is cooler than Bled in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Bled fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Basel usually receives less sunshine than Bled during autumn. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Basel usually receives less rain than Bled. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Basel 13°C (56°F) 
    Bled 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Basel or Bled in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Basel as well as Bled. Many visitors come to Basel in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Basel can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Basel is much colder than Bled. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basel in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Bled averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Basel often gets less sunshine than Bled. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 96 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in January than Bled. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Basel 3°C (37°F) 
    Bled 5°C (41°F)

Should I visit Basel or Bled in the Spring?

Both Bled and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Basel for the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Basel is generally cooler than Bled. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 12°C (53°F), and Bled fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Basel usually receives less sunshine than Bled during spring. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Basel usually receives less rain than Bled. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Basel 12°C (53°F) 
    Bled 13°C (56°F)

Typical Weather for Bled and Basel

Basel Bled
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (37°F) 77 mm (3 in) 5°C (41°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Feb 5°C (40°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 7°C (44°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Mar 8°C (46°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 9°C (49°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Apr 12°C (53°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 13°C (56°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
May 16°C (60°F) 101 mm (4 in) 18°C (64°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Jun 19°C (66°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 22°C (71°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Jul 21°C (70°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 24°C (75°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Aug 21°C (69°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 24°C (74°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 20°C (68°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Oct 13°C (56°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 16°C (60°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 10°C (51°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 4°C (39°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 6°C (44°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)