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

Should you visit Bern or Avignon?

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

Should I visit Bern or Avignon? 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 charming, beautiful, and cultural city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Avignon

Avignon is a charming, scenic, and picturesque town. This is also a fantastic small town with plenty of charm and local activities. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

Bern and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Avignon?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Avignon than Bern. While Bern is larger than Avignon, Avignon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Avignon is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, and small town charm, while Bern is more popular for its nightlife, shopping, and impressive beauty. Avignon is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its architectural beauty and historical importance. Also, Avignon is famous for Palais des Papes. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Bern different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Avignon 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 Avignon that are not to be missed. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

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 Avignon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avignon is renowned for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Avignon is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

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 Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Bern is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

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

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Bern or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Avignon 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 Avignon is one of the most recognized in the world. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

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 Avignon?

Bern is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas 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.

Avignon is a great destination for shopping. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Bern or Avignon Better for Families?

Bern is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Bern. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Avignon. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Bern or Avignon Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Avignon make for a superb 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.

Avignon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Is Bern or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers 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.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

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

Bern is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

The public transit in Bern can get you to most places easily. There are trams and buses that run around town.

You'll find some public transit in Avignon, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Bern or Avignon a more walkable city?

Avignon is renowned for its walkability. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Avignon on foot. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

Bern is a very walkable city. 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.

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

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Bern?

How long in Bern or Avignon?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bern or Avignon to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bern than Avignon 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 Avignon.

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

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

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.

Avignon is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and food. 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 Avignon?

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.

Avignon is a fun place to experience. 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 Avignon?

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.

Avignon is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. 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 Avignon?

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.

Because Avignon is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Avignon, we can see that Avignon is more expensive. And not only is Bern much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bern would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bern 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 Avignon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avignon than you might in Bern.

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Avignon?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Avignon, 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 Avignon?

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 Bern or Avignon in the Summer?

Both Avignon and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Avignon because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

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

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 354 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Avignon. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Avignon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Avignon. The autumn months attract visitors to Bern because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Avignon this time of year.

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

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Avignon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Avignon. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Avignon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as Avignon. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Avignon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

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

In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 146 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in January than Avignon. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Avignon in the Spring?

Both Avignon and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bern for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Avignon in the spring for the small town charm.

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

It's quite sunny in Avignon. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Avignon. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Bern