A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Belfast vs. Bern for Families, Couples, Backpackers, and Food

Should you visit Belfast or Bern?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Belfast or Bern, 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.

Belfast

Belfast is a affordable, under-rated, and authentic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife 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.

Belfast and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Belfast or Bern?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Bern than Belfast. While Belfast is larger than Bern, Bern has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Bern is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Belfast is known for its big city activities. Belfast is popular for being the birthplace of the Titanic and the location of the era of the "Troubles". Bern is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. It is also home to The Zytglogge Clock Tower.

How is Belfast different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Bern is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Bern can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Bern is a nice place to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Belfast is not a good city for its restaurants.

Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Belfast. While many restaurants have moved towards more modern cuisines, there are still places that hold tight to the traditions of the area. Traditional dishes include pasties, full Irish breakfasts, and oysters.

Is Belfast or Bern Better for Nightlife?

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

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Belfast. The city has a number of bars and clubs with local DJs or musicians.

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

Is Belfast or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a well-known place for its historic old town. However, Belfast does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Bern to see the historical old town. 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.

Belfast does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Belfast or Bern?

Bern is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Belfast 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 Belfast. The main shopping areas in the city are Victoria Square Shopping Centre and CastleCourt.

Is Belfast or Bern Better for Families?

Bern is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

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.

Belfast is a family-friendly city. The city has several great kid-friendly museums, a zoo, and a few indoor or outdoor activity centers where you can let kids play and explore.

Is Belfast or Bern Better for Couples?

Bern is a well-known place for romance. However, Belfast is not a good city 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.

Most people don't think of Belfast as a couple's destination. There are gardens and parks to explore, several nice hotels with spas, and an Observatory on the 23rd floor of the Grand Central Hotel.

Is Belfast or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Belfast is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Belfast is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a reasonably affordable destination with a few hostels to choose from, but most backpackers don't make their way to this city.

Is Belfast or Bern Better for Students?

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

Belfast is a good city to visit for students. The city's affordability has made it a popular option for international students headed to the area.

Bern is not popular with students.

Is Belfast 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. However, Belfast is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Belfast. There is a bus service in the city.

Is Belfast or Bern a more walkable city?

Bern is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

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.

Belfast is a somewhat walkable place.

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

Should I spend more time in Bern or Belfast?

How long in Belfast or Bern?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Belfast and Bern. In our opinion, Bern has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Bern than Belfast. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Bern than Belfast. 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 Belfast. 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 Belfast 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 Belfast or Bern?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Belfast. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

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 Belfast or Bern?

Belfast is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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.

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 Belfast or Bern?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the under-rated destination of Belfast. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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 Belfast or Bern?

The affordable city of Belfast offers nightlife and shopping. 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.

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 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 Belfast and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Belfast much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Belfast would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belfast 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 Belfast.

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

Which is Bigger, Belfast or Bern?

Belfast has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Belfast 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 Belfast 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 Belfast or Bern in the Summer?

Both Bern and Belfast are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Belfast in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Belfast is cooler than Bern in the summer. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 15°C (59°F) in July, and Bern fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

It's quite sunny in Bern. Belfast usually receives less sunshine than Bern during summer. Belfast gets 151 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Belfast usually receives more rain than Bern. Belfast gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Belfast or Bern in the Autumn?

Both Bern and Belfast during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Belfast for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Bern because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Belfast is cooler than Bern. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Belfast in October average around 9°C (48°F), and Bern averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Belfast often gets less sunshine than Bern. Belfast gets 92 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun.

Belfast usually gets more rain in October than Bern. Belfast gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Belfast or Bern in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Belfast and Bern. The winter months attract visitors to Belfast because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

It's quite cold in Bern in the winter. The weather in Belfast can be very cold. In January, Belfast is generally much warmer than Bern. Daily temperatures in Belfast average around 4°C (39°F), and Bern fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Belfast usually receives less sunshine than Bern during winter. Belfast gets 50 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Belfast usually receives more rain than Bern. Belfast gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Belfast or Bern in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Belfast as well as Bern. The activities around the city are the main draw to Belfast this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bern for the natural beauty.

Belfast is cooler than Bern in the spring. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Bern fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Belfast often gets less sunshine than Bern. Belfast gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun.

Belfast usually gets less rain in April than Bern. Belfast gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bern and Belfast