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

Should you visit Bern or Connemara?

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

Should I visit Bern or Connemara? 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 historic, charming, and beautiful city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Connemara

Connemara is a remote, dramatic, and breathtaking region. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, beaches, and hiking.

Bern and Connemara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Connemara?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Bern than Connemara, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Bern is better known for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Connemara is more popular for its food, beaches, and hiking. Bern is more touristy than Connemara and is known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Also, Bern is famous for The Zytglogge Clock Tower. Connemara is well known for its bog-filled landscape and its hidden coves.

How is Bern different from Connemara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Connemara is not as famous, but is still a good region to visit for its museums and history.

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.

Connemara is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. While most people visit the region for the natural beauty, you will also find Kylemore Abbey, Ballynahinch Castle, and Clifden Castle nearby.

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

Connemara 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, Connemara makes for a great culinary experience. The area has been influenced by the improving food scene in nearby regions. You'll find everything from fine dining restaurants to food trucks that use local ingredients and recipes. The area has no shortage of seafood, shellfish, and even Connemara lamb.

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 Connemara Better for Nightlife?

Bern is a popular place for its evening party scene. However, Connemara is not a good region for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Connemara doesn't offer many options. You'll find some bars in the area but most people visit for the natural beauty, not the nightlife scene.

Is Bern or Connemara Better for Beaches?

Connemara is a well-known place for its beaches. However, Bern is not a beach destination.

Connemara is considered a top beach destination. You'll find wide stretches of sandy beach as well as hidden coves that offer a peaceful retreat. Some of the best beaches in the area include Dog’s Bay Beach, Trá an Dóilín, and Glassilaun Beach.

Bern is not a beach destination.

Is Bern or Connemara Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a well-known place for its historic old town charm. However, Connemara 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.

Connemara does not have a historic old town.

Is Bern or Connemara Better for Hiking?

Connemara is renowned for the nearby hiking options. However, Bern is not a hiking destination.

People visit Connemara specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. The landscape is considered to be some of the most beautiful in all of Ireland and there are many walks and hikes that let you experience it. Some of the best hikes are The Cong and Clonbur Forest Trail, the Claddaghduff Quay to Omey Island Walk, and Mount Gable Walk.

Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Connemara?

Bern is a well-known place for its shopping areas. However, Connemara is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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.

Connemara is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Bern or Connemara Better for Families?

Bern is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. However, Connemara is not a good region 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.

Connemara is not always a place people visit with their families. There are plenty of places to explore outdoors such as Connemara National Park as well as the nearby beaches. You'll also find several playgrounds in the area.

Is Bern or Connemara Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Connemara make for a high quality place to visit.

Bern is a very popular place to visit for couples. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Connemara makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You'll find romantic hotels and beautiful walks through hidden coves and dramatic countryside. Couples will enjoy exploring castles and getting lost in the beauty.

Is Bern or Connemara Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Connemara is not a good region 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.

Connemara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While there is a hostel in the area, you really need a car to explore the area in depth. This turns off a lot of backpackers.

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

Bern is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Connemara is not a good region for times when you don't have a car.

Bern offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Public transit is quite limited in Connemara. There are a few buses in the area but you really need a private vehicle to get around to most places.

Is Bern or Connemara a more walkable city?

Bern is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. However, Connemara is not a good region 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.

Connemara is not a very walkable city. You really need a vehicle to experience everything that the region has to offer.

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

Should I spend more time in Connemara or Bern?

How long in Bern or Connemara?

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

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

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 museums and food when visiting the destination of Connemara. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 Connemara?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the charming 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.

Connemara is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the hiking. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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 Connemara?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the beautiful 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 food around the remote destination of Connemara. This region offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Connemara?

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 remote region of Connemara offers food and museums. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 10-Day Tours in Ireland, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Ireland.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Bern or Connemara?

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 Connemara in the Summer?

Both Connemara 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. Also, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Connemara this time of year.

In July, Bern is generally a little warmer than Connemara. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Connemara fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives more sunshine than Connemara during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Connemara receives 142 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Connemara. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Connemara receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Connemara in the Autumn?

Both Connemara 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. Also, many travelers come to Connemara for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

Bern is a little warmer than Connemara in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Connemara fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets more sunshine than Connemara. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Connemara receives 96 hours of full sun.

Connemara gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bern usually gets less rain in October than Connemara. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Connemara receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Connemara in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Connemara. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Connemara in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Connemara. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Connemara averages at about 6°C (42°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Connemara during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Connemara receives 59 hours of full sun in the winter.

Connemara receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Connemara. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Connemara receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Connemara in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Connemara. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Connemara for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Bern is generally a little warmer than Connemara. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Connemara fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Connemara. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Connemara receives 153 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Connemara. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Connemara receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Connemara and Bern