Should you visit Bern or Amsterdam?
Should I visit Bern or Amsterdam? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital, and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. There are over one million residents in the metro area. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that criss cross across the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The architecture, bridges, and cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
Which city is cheaper, Amsterdam or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $199, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is $157. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Bern and Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $128. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Bern the cost is $256 on average.
A hotel room in Amsterdam is about $182 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
The price of a meal in Bern can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $48 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $19 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
In Amsterdam travelers spend around $39 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bern $48
Amsterdam $39
Typical Food prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
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Live online cooking class from Classic European 2-course meal:
$23
-
Three course lunch/dinner voucher:
$42
-
Withlocals the 10 Tastings: Amsterdam's Favourite Private Food Tour with a Local:
$50
-
Private Pizza Canal Cruise Amsterdam:
$62
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Dinner with an Amsterdam artist on the river:
$62
-
Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café:
$63
-
Amsterdam Small Group Food Tour:
$69
-
Food Tour in the Albert Cuyp Market Amsterdam:
$73
-
Delicious Dutch Dinner in an Amsterdam Canalhouse:
$75
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The Pizzaboat Amsterdam Min. 8 pax:
$75
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Small-Group Guided Sunset Canoe Tour in Waterland with Dinner:
$76
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Joy of Life - Bistro Dinner on an Amsterdam Canal:
$84
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Bern is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $26 per person, per day, on local transportation in Bern.
The average price of local transportation around Amsterdam is $19 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Basel City - One Way:
$586
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Bern City - One Way:
$105
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Zurich City - One Way:
$661
-
Private Transfer from Bern City Center to Zurich City Center:
$318
-
Private transfer from Bern City to Zurich Airport:
$416
Typical Local Transportation prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
-
Ultra - Amsterdam Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Amsterdam City Centre:
$9.55
-
Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol:
$9.55
-
Ultra - Amsterdam Private Transfer from City Centre to Amsterdam Cruise Port:
$9.55
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Private Departure Transfer from Amsterdam City Center to Airport Schiphol (AMS):
$32
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Private Airport Transfer from Amsterdam to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS):
$32
-
Private Transfer from PTA Cruise Terminal to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS):
$32
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Amsterdam City to Airport:
$34
-
Premium Private Transfer from Amsterdam Hotels to Airport:
$35
-
Private Amsterdam Airport departure Transfer:
$38
-
Private Departure Transfer from Amsterdam City to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport:
$39
-
Private Transfer from Amsterdam City Center to Zaanse Schans:
$40
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Amsterdam local transfers:
$42
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Amsterdam?
Prices for flights to both Amsterdam and Bern 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Bern typically cost an average of $27 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Amsterdam's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $35 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
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Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$45
-
Bern Capital City Small Group Tour:
$90
-
Best Introduction Tour of Bern with a Local:
$91
-
Schilthorn Piz Gloria (James Bond Location) Small Group Tour from Bern:
$179
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GAILY TOUR in BERN - Gay & Lesbian Tour:
$187
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Bern Capital City Private Tour:
$194
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Zermatt Village Matterhorn Area plus Mt. Gornergrat Small Group Tour from Bern:
$227
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Adventure: Diamond Skull Virtual Reality:
$230
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Private tour of the best of Bern - Sightseeing, Food & Culture with a local:
$249
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Layover in Bern a Private Tour with a local: Best Highlights of Bern:
$249
-
Zermatt Village Matterhorn Area plus Mt. Gornergrat Private Tour from Bern:
$305
-
Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Small Group Tour from Bern:
$329
Typical Entertainment prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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An Amsterdam introduction: Explore the origins of Amsterdam on an audio tour:
$5.00
-
A tasty stroll through Pijp: An audio tour of some of Amsterdam great food spots:
$5.00
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Amsterdam West Specialty Coffee Spots Cycling Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.41
-
Amsterdam Red Light District Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.41
-
Vondelpark and Old West Neighbourhood Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.48
-
Amsterdam Private Tour: Red Light District Exploration Game:
$5.65
-
The Red Light District self-guided Virtual Experience: The Highlights:
$7.45
-
Absolutely Tip-Based Walking Tour With Super Local Guide (2,5 Hours):
$8.09
-
Amsterdam Red Light District: A Walking Audio Tour on your Phone (1hour):
$9.94
-
Silent Disco Club Experience:
$9.95
-
Small-Group Cheese Tasting Experience in Amsterdam:
$12
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Self-Guided City Experience:
$12
Alcohol
The average person spends about $21 on alcoholic beverages in Bern per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Amsterdam may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $22 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Distillery Tour & Tasting:
$22
-
Amsterdam Bar Crawl:
$27
-
Amsterdam Shared Bar Crawl:
$31
-
Private Amsterdam Red Light District and pub tour:
$61
-
4 hour Amsterdam Brewery Tour:
$81
-
High Class Culinary Lunch in Amsterdam - Self-Guided Food & Wine Tour:
$102
-
Drew's 3-Hour Amsterdam Brewery and Bar Tour to Top Rated Bars:
$106
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Discover 3 gastronomic restaurants in Amsterdam - self-guided food & wine tour:
$129
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Experience 4 Culinary Restaurants in Amsterdam Self-Guided Food & Wine Tour:
$152
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Amsterdam Bachelor Party Bar Crawl:
$488
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Amsterdam, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Amsterdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Amsterdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam.
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