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

Should you visit Bern or Alesund?

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

Should I visit Bern or Alesund? 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.

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.

Alesund

Alesund is a laid back, welcoming, and friendly city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Alesund: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Alesund?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Alesund. Although Bern and Alesund are both popular with visitors, Alesund has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Alesund is more popular for its food and big city activities, while Bern is known for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Bern is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Alesund is popular for its nouveau architecture, beautiful views, and access to the fjords. It is also home to the Art Nouveau Center.

How is Bern different from Alesund?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Bern is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Bern offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Alesund offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Check out the Atlantic Sea-Park and the Sunnmøre Museum. Also visit the small but interesting Fisheries Museum & Ålesund Museum.

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

Alesund is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Alesund makes for a great culinary experience. As Norway's largest fishing port, you'll find plenty of seafood offerings around town. A favorite is bacalao de noruega (dried and salted clipfish), but also make sure you try the lobster soup.

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 Bern or Alesund Better for Nightlife?

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

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Alesund. There are plenty of bars around town as well as nightclubs and live music venues.

Is Bern or Alesund Better for its Old Town?

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

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Bern. 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.

Alesund does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Alesund?

Bern is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Alesund 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 Alesund. There are a number of shopping streets around town including the shopping areas in Aspøya, which are known for their homemade souvenirs.

Is Bern or Alesund Better for Families?

Bern is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Alesund 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.

Alesund is a family-friendly city. There's an aquarium and several great parks including Tueneset Naturlekeplass, which is near the aquarium. There's also hiking in the area and other outdoor adventures.

Is Bern or Alesund Better for Couples?

Bern is a well-known place for romance. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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.

Alesund makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a beautiful setting with spectacular views and fun restaurants. There are many great hikes in the area, and many visitors like to use this town as a base for exploring nearby places.

Is Bern or Alesund Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Alesund 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.

Alesund is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a limited number of hostels in town so apartments may be the best option for backpackers. It's also hard to get around the region without a car.

Is Bern or Alesund Better for Students?

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

Alesund is a good city to visit for students. There's a small student population, which means that the group stays close and everyone is very welcoming. The town also makes a great base for exploring this part of Norway.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Bern is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Bern can move around easily with public transportation. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Alesund has some public transit options. There is a public bus system around town.

Is Bern or Alesund a more walkable city?

Bern is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, Alesund 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.

Alesund is a somewhat walkable place. The city center can be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Alesund or Bern?

How long in Bern or Alesund?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bern and Alesund. In our opinion, Bern has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bern than Alesund. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 2-3 days is enough time in Alesund.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bern than Alesund 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 Bern or Alesund?

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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Alesund. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Bern or Alesund?

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.

Alesund 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.

Five days in Bern or Alesund?

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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the scenic destination of Alesund. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Alesund?

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.

The friendly city of Alesund offers nightlife and food. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Norway, and The Best Contiki Tours to Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Alesund, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Alesund much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alesund would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alesund 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 Alesund.

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Alesund?

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

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 Bern or Alesund in the Summer?

Both Alesund and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Alesund this time of year.

Bern is much warmer than Alesund in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Alesund fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In July, Bern usually receives less rain than Alesund. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Alesund in the Autumn?

Both Alesund and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Alesund for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

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

Alesund gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bern usually gets less rain in October than Alesund. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Alesund in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Alesund. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Alesund in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Alesund can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. In January, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Alesund. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Alesund fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Alesund receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Alesund. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Alesund in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Alesund. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Alesund for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

Alesund can be very cold during spring. Bern is much warmer than Alesund in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Alesund fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Bern usually gets less rain in April than Alesund. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Alesund and Bern