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

Should you visit Beijing or Bern?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and Bern can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Beijing

Beijing is a jam-packed, cultural, and fascinating city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern

Bern is a beautiful, cultural, and historic city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Beijing and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Beijing or Bern?

You'll generally find more things to do in Beijing than Bern. Beijing is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Beijing is better known for its museums & sights, food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Beijing is more touristy than Bern and is known for its rich culture, many historical landmarks, its long running history, and its world class cuisine. Also, Beijing is famous for The Forbidden City. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Beijing different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Beijing 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 Beijing that are not to be missed. The city is filled with iconic landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. It's also essential that you plan a trip outside of town to the world renowned Great Wall of China. The trip takes about an hour and you can organize a tour through almost any hotel or tour company.

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 Beijing or Bern? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Beijing 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, Beijing is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city has a number of iconic dishes that have put it on the culinary map. The most notable dish is Peking Duck, which is a delectable crispy roast duck that is usually served with cucumber, scallions, sweet bean sauce and pancakes or other steamed buns. Hot pots are another must-try experience in the city, and, of course, you have to experience the dumplings. A huge part of a visit to Beijing is experiencing its long running culinary history.

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 Beijing or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Beijing is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Beijing offers plenty to do in the evening. Live performances are popular in the city, and range from concerts to magic shows and acrobatics. There is also an active bar scene around town. Some of the most popular nightlife areas include Sanlitun and Houhai.

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

Is Beijing or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a great destination for its historic old town charm. However, Beijing does not have a historic old town.

Bern is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. 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.

Beijing does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Beijing or Bern?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Bern and Beijing.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Beijing. There are many unique handicrafts that you can purchase around town. Popular souvenirs include silk, pearls, and snuff bottles with pictures inside. The city has many shopping streets as well as markets and shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Is Beijing or Bern Better for Families?

Bern is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Bern is known to be 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.

Beijing offers lots of family activities. The city offers a unique cultural immersion that kids and adults can enjoy. Wander through the Forbidden City or watch your kids be mesmerized by a Chinese acrobatics show. It's also fun to get lost in the Hutongs or test their culinary palates by visiting a snack street.

Is Beijing or Bern Better for Couples?

Bern is a great destination for couples. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Bern frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Beijing is a nice destination for couples. The culture, history, and food all make this a stunning place to visit. While romance doesn't immediately spring to mind when you think of Beijing, there are shows and fine dining restaurants that couples will enjoy. There are also many luxury hotels with spas and other amenities.

Is Beijing or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Beijing and Bern are excellent places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Beijing is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. The city has many hostels and budget-friendly options. There isn't the backpacker community vibe that you may get in other Asian cities, but if you organize an excursion through your hostel, you're sure to make a few friends along the way.

Bern is very popular with the backpacker crowd. 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 Beijing or Bern Better for Students?

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

Beijing is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. Students will enjoy the culture, food, and academic opportunities that the universities offer. There is also a decent nightlife scene and affordable places where students can live.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Beijing and Bern.

Beijing offers a very effecient public transportation network. The system can be crowded and confusing at first, but it's one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around town. There's a subway system as well as buses, trolleybuses, and suburban rail.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Bern. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Is Beijing or Bern a more walkable city?

Bern is a great destination for its ease of walking around. However, Beijing is a city with minimal options for its walkability.

Bern is a very walkable destination. 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.

Beijing is generally not a very walkable city. While parts of the city are fun to explore on foot, the city itself is very large with long blocks that aren't pedestrian-friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Bern or Beijing?

How long in Beijing or Bern?

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

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

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

One day in Beijing or Bern?

Beijing is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Bern, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Beijing or Bern?

Beijing is a fun place to experience. 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.

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

Five days in Beijing or Bern?

Beijing is a massive big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Bern is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Beijing or Bern?

Beijing is a fascinating city where you can fill many days. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bern. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, 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 Beijing and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beijing is in Asia and Bern is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Beijing.

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

Which is Bigger, Beijing or Bern?

Beijing has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Beijing 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 Beijing 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 Beijing or Bern in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Bern. Many travelers come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Beijing is a little warmer than Bern. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beijing in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Bern averages at about 21°C (70°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives less sunshine than Bern during summer. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun in the summer.

Beijing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Beijing usually receives more rain than Bern. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Beijing or Bern in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Bern. Many visitors come to Beijing in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Beijing is generally around the same temperature as Bern. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (56°F), and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the autumn, Beijing often gets more sunshine than Bern. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun.

Beijing usually gets less rain in October than Bern. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Beijing or Bern in the Winter?

Both Bern and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Bern can be very cold. Beijing can be very cold during winter. Beijing is much colder than Bern in the winter. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around -4°C (26°F) in January, and Bern fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Bern during winter. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Beijing usually receives less rain than Bern. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Beijing or Bern in the Spring?

Both Bern and Beijing during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Beijing because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

In the spring, Beijing is a little warmer than Bern. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beijing in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Bern averages at about 11°C (52°F).

It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the spring, Beijing often gets more sunshine than Bern. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun.

Beijing usually gets less rain in April than Bern. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bern and Beijing