A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Baltimore for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Bern or Baltimore?

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

Should I visit Bern or Baltimore? 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.

Baltimore

Baltimore is a vibrant, diverse, and colorful 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 Baltimore: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Baltimore?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Baltimore than Bern. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Baltimore is very popular for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Bern attracts visitors for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Baltimore is more touristy than Bern and is known for the Inner Harbor and its many water based activities. It is also well known for the National Aquarium. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Bern different from Baltimore?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Baltimore 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 Baltimore specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is known for its historic ships that are found in the Inner Harbor. There are many other museums around town as well like the American Visionary Art Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Many days can be filled exploring the many art, history, or science museums in the area.

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

Baltimore 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, Baltimore makes for a great culinary experience. The city's location near the Chesapeake Bay means that there are many great local seafood dishes. Blue crab is a regional favorite and is often served as crab soup, crab dip, or crab cakes. You'll find many famous restaurants in the Inner Harbor, but if you want something more local you should check out Little Italy or Fells Point.

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 Baltimore Better for Nightlife?

Baltimore 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.

Baltimore offers plenty to do in the evening. It's a vibrant city with many night time activities like breweries, night clubs, and cocktail bars. There's even outside the box activities like ballroom dancing or arcade bars.

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 Baltimore Better for its Old Town?

Bern is well known for its old town. However, Baltimore does not have a historic old town.

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.

Baltimore does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Baltimore?

Both Bern and Baltimore are great shopping destinations.

Bern is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Baltimore is well-known for its shopping. Shopping is a great way to experience the different neighborhoods around town. For high end shopping head to Harbor East. For a bit more history check out Federal Hill. Hampden is known for its quirky style and Fell's Point is particularly popular with tourists.

Is Bern or Baltimore Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Baltimore.

Bern is 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.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Baltimore is very family-friendly. The National Aquarium is a highlight for many families. It's an impressive aquarium with dolphins, sharks, puffins, and fish. Also in town is the Port Discovery Children’s Museum which has many interactive exhibits. The Maryland Science Center, the Maryland Zoo, and the many historic ships in the harbor also offer educational opportunities for kids. For something a bit different, check out Urban Pirates in the Inner Harbor.

Is Bern or Baltimore Better for Couples?

Bern is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Baltimore 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.

Baltimore is a good city for couples to visit. Most visitors spend the majority of their time around the Inner Harbor. There are restaurants and romantic hotels that are perfect for couples. The city also has many entertainment options and other activities that make for a great date night.

Is Bern or Baltimore Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is well known for backpackers. Also, Baltimore 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 Baltimore. There are a couple of hostels around town, but most international travelers overlook this city.

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

Both Bern and Baltimore offer great public transit options.

Visitors to Bern can move around easily with public transportation. There are trams and buses that run around town.

The public transit in Baltimore can get you around easily. There are water taxis and a free downtown bus service that's called the Charm City Circulator. MTA also operates a metro and a light rail system.

Is Bern or Baltimore a more walkable city?

Bern and Baltimore 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.

Baltimore is a very walkable city. The downtown area is the most walkable part of the city. In particular, the Inner Harbor and Fells Point are particularly walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Baltimore or Bern?

How long in Bern or Baltimore?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bern and Baltimore. In our opinion, Bern has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bern than Baltimore. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 2-3 days is enough time in Baltimore.

Couples should spend more time in Bern than Baltimore. 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 Baltimore 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 Baltimore?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Bern. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bern has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Baltimore. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Bern or Baltimore?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Baltimore is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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 Baltimore?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural city of Bern. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Baltimore. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Baltimore?

Bern is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The colorful city of Baltimore offers nightlife and food. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Baltimore, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Baltimore much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern is in Europe and Baltimore is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Baltimore would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Baltimore 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 Baltimore.

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Baltimore?

Baltimore has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Baltimore, 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 Baltimore?

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 Baltimore in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Bern is cooler than Baltimore. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Baltimore averages at about 78°F (25°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Baltimore this time of the year. In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Baltimore during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Baltimore receives 283 hours of full sun in the summer.

Baltimore receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Bern usually receives less rain than Baltimore. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Baltimore in the Autumn?

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

In October, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Baltimore. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Baltimore fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In the autumn, Bern often gets less sunshine than Baltimore. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Baltimore receives 196 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Baltimore. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Baltimore in the Winter?

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

Baltimore can be very cold during winter. Bern can get quite cold in the winter. Bern is much warmer than Baltimore in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Baltimore fluctuates around 32°F (0°C).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Baltimore during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Baltimore receives 153 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Baltimore. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Baltimore in the Spring?

Both Baltimore 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 Baltimore because of the activities around the city.

In the spring, Bern is around the same temperature as Baltimore. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Baltimore averages at about 54°F (12°C).

In Baltimore, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Baltimore. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Baltimore receives 225 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in April than Baltimore. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Baltimore and Bern