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

Should you visit Bern or Beaune?

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

Should I visit Bern or Beaune? 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.

Beaune

Beaune is a quaint, vineyard-filled, and cultural town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Beaune: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Beaune?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Beaune. Although Bern and Beaune are popular destinations, Beaune has more sights and attractions for tourists. Beaune is very popular for its food, historical sights, and small town charm, while Bern attracts visitors for its shopping and impressive beauty. Beaune is more touristy than Bern and is known for its surrounding vineyards and world-renowned wines. It is also well known for The Surrounding Vineyards. 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 Beaune?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Beaune have superb 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 Beaune specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Top sights and museums around town include Hôtel-Dieu (a former hospital), Château de Savigny, and Château de la Rochepot.

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

Beaune 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, Beaune is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The restaurant scene is made up of small, narrow, local bistros that serve local dishes with regional ingredients. Many of the menus are focused on wine with the dishes designed specifically to compliment the wines. This is a tourist town, and you'll find many visitors come specifically to enjoy the French cuisine.

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 Beaune Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Beaune are nice 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 Beaune. You'll find bars and pubs as well as many places to sip French wine and enjoy the evening.

Is Bern or Beaune Better for its Old Town?

Beaune 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 Beaune is one of the most recognized in the world. The old town is walled and compact. It is centered around the medieval hospital complex and it is filled with cobblestone streets and shops.

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 Beaune?

Bern is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Bern is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Beaune has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Boutiques, wine shops, and independent vendors are fun to explore in town.

Is Bern or Beaune Better for Families?

Bern is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Bern is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Beaune offers lots of family activities. The town has museums like Hospices de Beaune, Hotel-Dieu (a formal hospital), as well as vineyards that you can hike through. Many people enjoy taking a hot air balloon ride while they're in the region.

Is Bern or Beaune Better for Couples?

Beaune is renowned for romance. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Beaune makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Couples will enjoy exploring vineyards, sipping French wine, and wandering through the charming old town. There are breathtaking hot air balloon rides and wonderful French restaurants that make for a romantic trip.

Bern makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Is Bern or Beaune Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a great destination for backpackers. However, Beaune is a town with minimal options 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.

Beaune is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a charming town, but it's not on many backpacker's itineraries. There are also a limited number of hostels to choose from.

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

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

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

While Beaune offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. While you can walk around the historic center, it's possible to take a bus if you're traveling further.

Is Bern or Beaune a more walkable city?

Beaune 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 Beaune on foot. It's a walkable town that's perfect for taking a stroll.

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 Beaune Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Beaune or Bern?

How long in Bern or Beaune?

It's fun to spend time in either Bern or Beaune. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Beaune due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 2-4 days is enough time in Beaune.

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

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

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Beaune. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Beaune?

Bern is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Beaune is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. 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 Beaune?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vineyard-filled destination of Beaune. 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 Beaune?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Bern. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The quaint town of Beaune 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Beaune?

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

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 Beaune in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Beaune. Most visitors come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Beaune because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bern is around the same temperature as Beaune. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Beaune averages at about 21°C (70°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beaune this time of the year. In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 266 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Beaune. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Beaune in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bern as well as Beaune. The autumn months attract visitors to Bern because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Beaune this time of year.

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

In the autumn, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 121 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Beaune. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Beaune in the Winter?

Both Beaune and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Beaune for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Beaune. It's quite cold in Bern in the winter. Bern is cooler than Beaune in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Beaune fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Beaune during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 53 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Beaune. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Beaune in the Spring?

Both Beaune and Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Beaune in the spring for the small town charm.

In the spring, Bern is around the same temperature as Beaune. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Beaune averages at about 11°C (53°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Beaune. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 178 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Beaune. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Beaune and Bern