A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Basse-Terre for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bern or Basse-Terre?

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

Should I visit Bern or Basse-Terre? 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 Basse-Terre?

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.

Basse-Terre

In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Basse-Terre?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Basse-Terre, 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 Basse-Terre?

Bern has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Basse-Terre experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Basse-Terre in the Summer?

Both Basse-Terre and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Bern is cooler than Basse-Terre in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Basse-Terre during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Basse-Terre receives 245 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. In July, Bern usually receives less rain than Basse-Terre. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Basse-Terre in the Autumn?

Both Basse-Terre and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round.

In the autumn, Bern is much colder than Basse-Terre. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Basse-Terre averages at about 27°C (80°F).

In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Bern often gets less sunshine than Basse-Terre. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basse-Terre receives 217 hours of full sun.

Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bern usually gets less rain in October than Basse-Terre. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Basse-Terre in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Basse-Terre. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. In January, Bern is generally much colder than Basse-Terre. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Basse-Terre during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Basse-Terre receives 236 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Basse-Terre. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Basse-Terre in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Basse-Terre. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year.

Bern is much colder than Basse-Terre in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Basse-Terre. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basse-Terre receives 240 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. Bern usually gets less rain in April than Basse-Terre. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Basse-Terre and Bern