A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Calais for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Bern or Calais?

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

Should I visit Bern or Calais? 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. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Calais

Calais is a authentic, undiscovered, and coastal city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for beaches, shopping, and museums.

Bern and Calais: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Calais?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Calais than Bern. While Bern is larger than Calais, Calais has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Calais is better known for its beaches and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Bern is more touristy than Calais and is known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Calais is well known for being a gateway for travelers to France. Also, Calais is famous for The Town Hall.

How is Bern different from Calais?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

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.

Calais is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's a port city with a few good museums and landmarks to see. Check out the Town Hall, Burghers of Calais, La Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode, and Musée de la Guerre de Calais, as well as the Calais Lighthouse.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at notable restaurants in both Bern and Calais.

Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Calais has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The region is known for its mackerel, andouillette sausage, and endive and ham gratin. If you're passing through, this is also a good place to stock up on wine and cheese.

Is Bern or Calais Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Calais are notable 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 Calais. You'll find bars and pubs around town as well as a few clubs. Places range from trendy and high end to local dive bars.

Is Bern or Calais Better for Beaches?

Calais is a popular place for its beaches. However, Bern is not a beach destination.

Calais is a good option for a beach vacation. There are some sandy beaches near town that have nice stretches of sand and plenty of sand dunes. Many locals enjoy sunbathing at the beaches.

Bern is not a beach destination.

Is Bern or Calais Better for its Old Town?

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

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting 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.

Calais does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Calais?

Bern is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Bern. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Calais. Many visitors stock up on wine and cheese when they're passing through. It's common to head straight to Auchan or Carrefour to stock up on some items.

Is Bern or Calais Better for Families?

Bern is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Bern is known to be 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.

Calais offers lots of family activities. There's the Nausicaa Aquarium, the Museum of the Atlantic Wall, and the Second World War Museum. There are also beaches and parks to explore as well as some nice playgrounds.

Is Bern or Calais Better for Couples?

Bern is well known for couples. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

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.

Calais is a nice destination for couples. Couples can picnic with wine and cheese or eat their way through the town's great restaurants. There are also some nice beaches where people enjoy sunbathing or relaxing.

Is Bern or Calais Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is well known for backpackers. However, Calais is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bern is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Calais is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. This part of France is often overlooked by tourists so you won't find many backpackers or hostels in the area. It does offer a glimpse into an authentic side of France.

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

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

Many visitors use the public transit system in Bern. There are trams and buses that run around town.

While Calais offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city has 13 bus lines that run through town and into the surrounding areas. If you're arriving by ferry from the UK, there are shuttle buses that connect the ferry terminal to the train station.

Is Bern or Calais a more walkable city?

Bern is well known for its ease of walking around. Also, Calais is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Bern is a very walkable destination. 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.

Calais is somewhat walkable. Parts of the town are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Calais or Bern?

How long in Bern or Calais?

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

Families should spend more time in Bern than Calais. 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 Bern than Calais. 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 Calais 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 Calais?

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 Calais. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Calais?

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.

Calais 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 Calais?

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 authentic destination of Calais. 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 Calais?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful 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 undiscovered city of Calais 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 Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Calais?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Calais. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Calais, 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 Calais?

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 Calais in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Calais. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

In July, Bern is generally a little warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives more sunshine than Calais during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Calais. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Calais in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bern as well as Calais. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Bern is around the same temperature as Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Calais. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Calais in the Winter?

Both Calais and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Calais can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Calais during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives more rain than Calais. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Calais in the Spring?

Both Calais and Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

In April, Bern is generally a little warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Calais. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Calais. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Calais and Bern