A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bergen vs. Genoa for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Bergen or Genoa?

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

Should I visit Bergen or Genoa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Bergen

Bergen is a nostalgic, friendly, and laid back city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Genoa

Genoa is a historic, vibrant, and colorful port city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bergen and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bergen or Genoa?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Genoa than Bergen. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Genoa is very popular for its museums, food, beaches, and impressive beauty, while Bergen attracts visitors for its shopping and small town charm. Genoa is more touristy than Bergen and is popular for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. It is also well known for The Via Garibaldi Palaces. Bergen is famous for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

How is Bergen different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Genoa offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city has a long history and it is filled with monuments, palaces, and museums. Popular places to visit include the Via Garibaldi Palaces, the aquarium (one of the largest in Europe), the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and Santi Ambrogio.

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 Bergen or Genoa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Dining out in Genoa is an experience not to be missed. The city's maritime roots have influenced its cuisine and you'll find seafood in many local dishes. Other classic Genoese flavors include pesto, anchovies, fried squid, and focaccia and cheese.

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 Bergen or Genoa Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are nice in both Bergen and Genoa.

There's a variety of activities in the evening 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Genoa. The city lights up at night and it's fun to experience the activity and energy. There's a nice evening atmosphere with many people out and about. You can grab drinks in Piazza Lavagna or see live music in Porto Antico. There are also many bars and clubs around town.

Is Bergen or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Genoa is a moderate port city for the beach. However, Bergen is not a beach destination.

The beach in Genoa is worth checking out. While many people head to other nearby towns to enjoy the beach, you will also find a beach just ten minutes from the old town by bus. Boccadasse is one of the closest beaches to town. It's also possible to do a day trip to other more famous beaches in the area, but you need to be prepared to travel a bit farther.

Bergen is not a beach destination.

Is Bergen or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the nice old towns in both Bergen and Genoa.

Bergen offers a nice historic old town area. The wooden buildings and compact streets have a quaint and nostalgic atmosphere.

Genoa is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old town is large and complex, with many different time periods represented in the architecture and development style.

Is the Shopping Better in Bergen or Genoa?

Bergen is great for its shopping areas. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city 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.

Genoa is a great destination for shopping. You can pick up a number of different souvenirs around town including baskets, t-shirts, and local pesto. Popular shopping areas include Galleria Mazzini, Via Roma, and Via XX Settembr.

Is Bergen or Genoa Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bergen or Genoa.

Bergen is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Genoa is a very family-friendly destination. The city is home to the second biggest aquarium in Europe as well as the Galata Maritime Museum and the Nazario Sauro Submarine. In the port there's also Vascello Nettuno, which was a pirate ship that was used in the filming of the movie 'Pirates' by Roman Polanski. Other fun kid-friendly attractions include La Biosfera, The Children's Museum, and the Bigo Lift.

Is Bergen or Genoa Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bergen and Genoa make for a very good place to visit.

Bergen is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Genoa makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a beautiful port city with charming neighborhoods and some great restaurants. Couples will enjoy exploring this beautiful city and visiting its palaces and cathedrals.

Is Bergen or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Genoa is notable for backpackers. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Genoa is a very popular port city for backpackers and budget travelers. There are a number of affordable hostels in the area, and while this isn't the top backpacker destination in Italy, it is a nice place to spend some time.

Bergen is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a few hostels and guesthouses around town where backpackers can meet other travelers.

Is Bergen or Genoa Better for Students?

Genoa is notable for students. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Genoa is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. It's a popular study abroad destination so you'll find a number of international students in the area. The city is also well connected for exploring the region.

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.

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

Both Bergen and Genoa offer very good public transit options.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Bergen. 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.

Public transit in Genoa is fairly effecient and thorough. There's a wide range of different public transit options that are all operated by AMT. The system includes buses, an underground (one line), funiculars (two), lifts (ten), a boat, cogwheel and narrow gauge railways.

Is Bergen or Genoa a more walkable city?

Bergen and Genoa both are very good when exploring on foot.

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

Genoa is very walkable. The old town, where most tourists spend the majority of their time, is easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Bergen?

How long in Bergen or Genoa?

It's fun to spend time in either Bergen or Genoa. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Genoa due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bergen, and 2-4 days is enough time in Genoa.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Genoa than Bergen 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 Genoa.

One day in Bergen or Genoa?

In Bergen, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this friendly destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Genoa. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bergen or Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bergen. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Genoa 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 Bergen or Genoa?

Bergen is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Bergen. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Genoa. 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 Bergen or Genoa?

You'll find food and shopping around the friendly destination of Bergen. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the colorful destination of Genoa. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 Norway, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Norway, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bergen and Genoa, we can see that Genoa 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 Genoa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Genoa 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 Bergen Expensive? and Is Genoa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bergen or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bergen. When comparing the sizes of Bergen and Genoa, 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 Bergen or Genoa?

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 Bergen or Genoa in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bergen as well as Genoa. Many travelers come to Bergen for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Genoa in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Bergen is much colder than Genoa in the summer. The daily temperature in Bergen averages around 15°C (58°F) in July, and Genoa fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Bergen usually gets more rain in July than Genoa. Bergen gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bergen or Genoa in the Autumn?

Both Genoa and Bergen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bergen in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Genoa for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Bergen is much colder than Genoa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bergen in October average around 9°C (48°F), and Genoa averages at about 19°C (66°F).

It's quite rainy in Bergen. In October, Bergen usually receives more rain than Genoa. Bergen gets 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bergen or Genoa in the Winter?

Both Genoa and Bergen during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bergen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Genoa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bergen can be very cold during winter. In January, Bergen is generally much colder than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Bergen average around 2°C (35°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. Bergen usually gets more rain in January than Genoa. Bergen gets 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bergen or Genoa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bergen and Genoa. The spring months attract visitors to Bergen because of the small town charm. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Genoa this time of year.

Bergen is much colder than Genoa in the spring. The daily temperature in Bergen averages around 6°C (43°F) in April, and Genoa fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Bergen usually receives more rain than Genoa. Bergen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Bergen