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

Should you visit Bern or Dallas?

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

Should I visit Bern or Dallas? 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. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Dallas

Dallas is a active, upscale, and chic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Dallas: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Dallas?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Dallas than Bern. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Dallas is very popular for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Bern attracts visitors for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Bern is more touristy than Dallas and is known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Dallas is famous for its Tex Mex cuisine, upscale shopping venues, and cowboy culture. It is also well known for the Sixth Floor Museum.

How is Bern different from Dallas?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Dallas have great 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 Dallas specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Museums range from historical to art and science with some of the favorites being the Dallas Contemporary Museum, the African American Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The city is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the Nasher Sculpture Center. A must-see is the Sixth Floor Museum, which is in historic Dealey Plaza and is where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed JFK. Today there's a museum that goes over the events of that day.

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

Dallas 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, Dallas makes for a great culinary experience. There's a perfect combination of Texas cuisine and international flavors. You'll find Texas barbecue, Tex Mex, and steakhouses intermixed with Thai, Japanese, and Caribbean cuisine. There's also a great food truck scene and many local eateries.

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 Dallas Better for Nightlife?

Dallas is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Dallas offers plenty to do in the evening. Head to East Dallas for the most active clubs with large dance floors and great music. The city also has rooftop lounges and plenty of live music as well as comedy clubs.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Is Bern or Dallas Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a well-known place for its old town. However, Dallas does not have a historic old town.

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.

Dallas does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Dallas?

Both Bern and Dallas are great shopping destinations.

Bern is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Dallas is well-known for its shopping. You'll find a very diverse shopping scene around town, with everything from quirky local vendors to upscale fashion boutiques. There are cowboy outfitters where you can get a feel for the Texas style, but there are also posh shopping centers and local flea markets.

Is Bern or Dallas Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Dallas.

Bern is 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.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Dallas is very family-friendly. The city is filled with families, and you'll find many kid-friendly activities around town. For some outdoor time you can visit the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden or the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The Dallas Zoo is a favorite for many kids and there are also a number of kid-friendly museums around town such as the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas World Aquarium.

Is Bern or Dallas Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Dallas make for a great 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.

Dallas makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Head to the observation deck at Reunion Tower for spectacular views of the night skyline. The city also has many great comedy clubs and performing arts venues as well as fine dining restaurants that make for a great date night.

Is Bern or Dallas Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Dallas is not a good city 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.

Dallas is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While there are a couple of hostels around town, this isn't a popular destination for the backpacker crowd.

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

Bern is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Dallas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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.

Dallas has some public transit options. While it's still very much a car-centered city, the public transportation system, DART, is one of the fastest growing in the country. It includes both light rail and bus service.

Is Bern or Dallas a more walkable city?

Bern is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Dallas is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

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.

Dallas is generally not a very walkable city. The city is not particularly walkable, but there are several more walkable areas such as Ellum and Uptown.

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

Should I spend more time in Dallas or Bern?

How long in Bern or Dallas?

It's fun to spend time in either Bern or Dallas. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Dallas 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 Dallas.

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

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 Dallas. 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 Dallas?

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.

Dallas 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 Dallas?

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 chic destination of Dallas. 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 Dallas?

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 active city of Dallas 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Dallas?

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

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 Dallas in the Summer?

Both Dallas and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Dallas for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bern is cooler than Dallas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Dallas averages at about 88°F (31°C).

It's quite sunny in Dallas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Dallas during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Dallas receives 337 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dallas. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Dallas receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Dallas in the Autumn?

Both Dallas and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Dallas in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Bern is generally much colder than Dallas. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Dallas fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

In Dallas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Bern often gets less sunshine than Dallas. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dallas receives 222 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Dallas. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Dallas receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Dallas in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Dallas. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Dallas for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Bern can get quite cold in the winter. Bern is much colder than Dallas in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Dallas fluctuates around 46°F (8°C).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Dallas during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Dallas receives 183 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives more rain than Dallas. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Dallas receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Dallas in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Dallas. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Dallas because of the activities around the city.

In the spring, Bern is much colder than Dallas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Dallas averages at about 68°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dallas. In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Dallas. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dallas receives 251 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in April than Dallas. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Dallas receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Dallas and Bern