A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Antwerp for Attractions, Nightlife, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Bern or Antwerp?

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

Should I visit Bern or Antwerp? 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 beautiful, cultural, and historic city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Antwerp

Antwerp is a cultural, historical, and youthful port city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Antwerp: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Antwerp?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Antwerp than Bern. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Antwerp is very popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Bern attracts visitors for its impressive beauty. Bern is more touristy than Antwerp and is known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Antwerp is famous for its historic train station, festive chocolate shops, decadent waffle stands, and down-to-earth old town. It is also well known for Antwerpen-Centraal.

How is Bern different from Antwerp?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Antwerp 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 Antwerp?

Both Bern and Antwerp have great landmarks and museums for visitors.

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.

Many visitors head to Antwerp specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city has a number of cathedrals, museums, and art galleries that are fun to explore. The history and culture of the town is best experienced by wandering the streets and soaking up the architecture.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at nice restaurants in both Bern and Antwerp.

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

Antwerp has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. People with a sweet tooth will enjoy the chocolates and biscuits that make this city famous. You'll also find plenty of fries and casual dining options to choose from. Local favorites include mussels and fish and chips, and of course, you must try the beer!

Is Bern or Antwerp Better for Nightlife?

Antwerp 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.

Antwerp offers plenty to do in the evening. With its large student population and young vibe, you'll find an active nightlife scene around town. Many of the the clubs and bars are concentrated in the docklands, but you'll also find places to hang out everywhere around town.

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

Is Bern or Antwerp Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the great old towns in both Bern and Antwerp.

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.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Antwerp. The old city has a long running history and many unique spots to explore. At the heart of the old town is Grote Markt, which is surrounded by beautiful buildings and cobblestone streets. There are a diversity of restaurants including local cuisines, Italian restaurants, and a number of different ethnic food. You'll also find local chocolate shops, waffle vendors, and ice cream.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Antwerp?

Antwerp is renowned for shopping. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Antwerp is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has become known for its fashion scene. The main shopping street is Meir, which is where you'll find a variety of European fashion chains. It's also fun to buy chocolates, art, or other souvenirs around town. You'll find both locals and tourists perusing the main shopping areas around town.

Bern is well-known for its shopping. 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 Bern or Antwerp Better for Families?

Bern is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Antwerp is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Bern is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Antwerp offers lots of family activities. Favorite kid-friendly activities around town include taking a ride on the Ferris Wheel, going to the local zoo, or exploring the indoor play area Plopsa Station. Kids will also enjoy exploring the underground canals or taking a boat ride. Chocolate lovers will have fun checking out the many chocolate shops around town.

Is Bern or Antwerp Better for Couples?

Bern is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Antwerp is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

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.

Antwerp is a good city for couples to visit. The city has a wonderful café culture with great restaurants and beautiful neighborhoods to explore. There are many great restaurants as well as plenty of shopping opportunities.

Is Bern or Antwerp Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is well known for backpackers. Also, Antwerp is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bern is a great city to visit for backpackers. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

It's common for backpackers to visit Antwerp. With a handful of hostels and a variety of free activities, this is an affordable place to visit. It's often overlooked by backpackers so those that visit will be rewarded. It has a vibe of authenticity which is great for backpacker's who are a bit jaded from the tourism scene.

Is Bern or Antwerp Better for Students?

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

Antwerp is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. There's a good student culture and a lot of activities that give the city a fun and youthful vibe. It's a relatively big city with a lot of transportation connections, so it makes a great base for exploring other areas.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Bern is well known for its public transit. Also, Antwerp is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Bern has some very good public transit options. There are trams and buses that run around town.

While Antwerp offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are both tram and bus lines around town. The city also has a large and impressive train station with many connections, making it a good base for exploring other areas.

Is Bern or Antwerp a more walkable city?

Bern and Antwerp both are great when exploring on foot.

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.

Antwerp is a very walkable city. The old town can be comfortably explored on foot, particularly the area around Grote Markt.

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

Should I spend more time in Antwerp or Bern?

How long in Bern or Antwerp?

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

Families should spend more time in Bern than Antwerp. 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 Antwerp. 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 Antwerp 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 Antwerp?

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 Antwerp. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Antwerp?

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.

Antwerp is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the shopping. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Antwerp?

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 vibrant destination of Antwerp. This port city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Antwerp?

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 youthful port city of Antwerp offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Belgium, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Brussels.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Antwerp?

Antwerp has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Antwerp, 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 Antwerp?

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 Antwerp in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Antwerp. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Antwerp for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bern is a little warmer than Antwerp. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Antwerp averages at about 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Antwerp this time of the year. In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives more sunshine than Antwerp during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Antwerp receives 202 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Antwerp. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Antwerp in the Autumn?

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

In October, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Antwerp. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Antwerp fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets more sunshine than Antwerp. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Antwerp receives 105 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Antwerp. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Antwerp in the Winter?

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

Antwerp can be very cold during winter. Bern can get quite cold in the winter. Bern is cooler than Antwerp in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Antwerp fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Antwerp during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Antwerp receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Antwerp. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Antwerp in the Spring?

Both Antwerp and Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Antwerp because of the activities around the city.

In the spring, Bern is a little warmer than Antwerp. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Antwerp averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Antwerp. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Antwerp receives 158 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Antwerp. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Antwerp and Bern