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

Should you visit Bern or Arles?

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

Should I visit Bern or Arles? 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. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Arles

Arles is a historic, charming, and compact town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Arles?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Arles than Bern. While Bern is larger than Arles, Arles has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Arles is better known for its museums, food, and historical sights, while Bern is more popular for its shopping. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Arles is well known for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. Also, Arles is famous for L'Amphithéâtre Romain.

How is Bern different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Arles is renowned for its sights and museums. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Arles that are not to be missed. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

Many visitors head to Bern specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

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

Arles 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, Arles makes for a great culinary experience. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

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 Arles Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Arles are notable 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 Arles. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Bern or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is renowned for its historic old town. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its old town.

The old town of Arles is one of the most recognized in the world. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Arles?

Bern is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Bern. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Bern or Arles Better for Families?

Bern is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Bern is known to be 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.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Bern or Arles Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Arles make for a great place to visit.

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.

Arles makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Is Bern or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is well known for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

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

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

Many visitors use the public transit system in Bern. There are trams and buses that run around town.

While Arles offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Bern or Arles a more walkable city?

Bern and Arles 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.

Arles is a very walkable city. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Arles or Bern?

How long in Bern or Arles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bern or Arles to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bern than Arles because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arles.

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

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

In Bern, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this cultural destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Arles. 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 Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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.

Arles is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the museums. 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 Arles?

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

You'll find museums and nightlife around the compact destination of Arles. This town 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 Arles?

You'll find food and shopping around the cultural destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The compact town of Arles 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 Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Arles?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Arles, 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 Arles?

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 Arles in the Summer?

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

In July, Bern is generally cooler than Arles. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arles this time of the year. In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Arles during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Arles. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Arles in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bern as well as Arles. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Arles in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Bern is cooler than Arles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets less sunshine than Arles. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Arles. Bern usually gets less rain in October than Arles. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Arles in the Winter?

Both Arles 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 Arles for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Bern can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Arles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Arles averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Arles during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Arles. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Arles in the Spring?

Both Arles 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 Arles because of the natural beauty.

In April, Bern is generally cooler than Arles. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Arles. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Arles. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Arles and Bern