Which place is cheaper, Bad Gastein or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or Bad Gastein?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern or Bad Gastein? 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.
Where Should I go: Bern or Bad Gastein?
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.
Bad Gastein
Located in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg, Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town known for hotels and villas built into steep and forested slopes. While the town is most visited in the winter for skiing purposes, it is also a home base for many hiking opportunities throughout the summer.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $249Bad Gastein $130
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $249, while the average daily cost in Bad Gastein is $130. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bern and Bad Gastein in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $161Bad Gastein $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $322Bad Gastein $132
Compare Hotels in Bern and Bad Gastein
Looking for a hotel in Bern or Bad Gastein? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bern Hotel Prices and Bad Gastein Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $33Bad Gastein $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $191
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $213
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $227
- Private Transfer from Bern to Zurich with 2h of Sightseeing: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Bad Gastein?
Prices for flights to both Bad Gastein 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBern $60Bad Gastein $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.
- Cooking delicious Spanish paella in Switzerland.: $57
- Bern Food Market: Brunch & Local Food Tour: $62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $34Bad Gastein $23
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.36
- Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $6.95
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $7.43
- Escape Game and Tour: $8.56
- Self-Guided Tour of Bern's Fountains, Clocktowers, and Legends: $9.99
- Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- City Sightseeing Self-Guided Walking Tour Game: $15
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Thun Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Fribourg Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $27Bad Gastein $8.42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Bad Gastein, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Bad Gastein much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bad Gastein would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bad Gastein 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 Bad Gastein.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Bad Gastein Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or Bad Gastein?
Bern has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bad Gastein. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Bad Gastein, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.