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

Should you visit Bern or Bled?

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

Should I visit Bern or Bled? 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 Bled?

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.

Bled

Bled is an incredibly scenic place, on the east side of Lake Bled. The lake is a beautiful, rich, emerald green. There's a small island in the middle of the lake where you'll find a nice white chapel. The lake is surrounded by striking green mountains, among which you'll find the Bled Castle overlooking the scene. Bled also offers access to the nearby Triglav National Park, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. Within the national park you'll find countless waterfalls and the lovely Lake Bohinj. You can find plenty of opportunities for mountain climbing, rafting, and hiking. There's even a cable car if you're looking for an easy way to get some good views of the mountains and landscape.

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 Ljubljana, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Ljubljana.


Which place is cheaper, Bled or Bern?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $249, while the average daily cost in Bled is $112. 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 Bled in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bern $161
    Bled $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bern $322
    Bled $120
Compare Hotels in Bern and Bled

Looking for a hotel in Bern or Bled? 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.

Hotels in Bern


Hotels in Bled


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 Bled Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bern $33
    Bled $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:

  • Private Transfer from Bern to Zurich with 2h of Sightseeing: $300
  • Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $227
  • Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $213
  • Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $191
  • Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bled

Also for Bled, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $165
  • Private transfer from Tolmin to Ljubljana city: $206

Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Bled?

Prices for flights to both Bled 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bern $60
    Bled $30

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bled

For Bled, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food Tour Bled - Explore Slovenia Through Its Tastes: $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bern $34
    Bled $13

Tours and Activities in Bern

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:

  • 007 Elegance:Exclusive Private Tour to Schilthorn from Bern: $627
  • Alpine Heights: Small Group Tour to Jungfraujoch from Bern: $592
  • Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $80
  • Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $59
  • Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $6.95
  • Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $161
  • Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $60
  • Bern Old City Walking Tour: $459
  • Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $534
  • Bern Private Walking Tour: $334
  • Bern Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.36

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bled

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bled's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Rafting
    $99

Tours and Activities in Bled

For Bled, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $42
  • From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $53
  • Motorcycle Tours in Slovenia: $55
  • Bled Slovenia: 3–Hour Rafting Experience: $59
  • Lake Sava River Rafting Experience with Hotel Pickup: $59
  • 3-Hour Family-Friendly Rafting Adventure: $59
  • Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour: $63
  • From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Bled Castle Tour: $65
  • Winter Triglav National Park Adventure - Half day trip from Bled: $71
  • Guided Kayaking Tour in a Transparent Kayak: $74
  • Guided Clear Kayak Tour in Bled: $75
  • Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Lesson and Tour: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bern $27
    Bled $15

Typical Alcohol Prices in Bled

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bled are as follows:


  • Bottle of Champagne
    $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Bled

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bled:

  • Slovenian wine tasting at Hotel Triglav Bled's wine cellar: $43
  • Wine Tasting Bled: $62
  • 2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $63
  • Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $64


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

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


Which is Bigger, Bern or Bled?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bled. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Bled, 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 Bled?

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 Bled in the Summer?

Both Bled and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Bern is cooler than Bled in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Bled fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Bled, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets less sunshine than Bled. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 288 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in July than Bled. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Bern 21°C (70°F) 
    Bled 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Bern or Bled in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Bled. Most visitors come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Bern is cooler than Bled. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Bled averages at about 16°C (60°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Bled during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Bled. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Bern 13°C (55°F) 
    Bled 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Bern or Bled in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as Bled. The winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Bern can be very cold. In January, Bern is generally much colder than Bled. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Bled fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than Bled. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 96 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in January than Bled. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Bern 3°C (37°F) 
    Bled 5°C (41°F)

Should I visit Bern or Bled in the Spring?

Both Bled and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

Bern is cooler than Bled in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Bled fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Bled during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives less rain than Bled. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Bern 11°C (52°F) 
    Bled 13°C (56°F)

Typical Weather for Bled and Bern

Bern Bled
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (37°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 5°C (41°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Feb 4°C (40°F) 51 mm (2 in) 7°C (44°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Mar 8°C (46°F) 50 mm (2 in) 9°C (49°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 13°C (56°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
May 15°C (60°F) 76 mm (3 in) 18°C (64°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Jun 19°C (65°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 22°C (71°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Jul 21°C (70°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 24°C (75°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Aug 20°C (69°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 24°C (74°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 20°C (68°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Oct 13°C (55°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 16°C (60°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 10°C (51°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 4°C (38°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 6°C (44°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)