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

Should you visit Bern or Dresden?

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

Should I visit Bern or Dresden? 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.

Dresden

Dresden is a architectural, cultural, and park-filled 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 Dresden: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Dresden?

You'll generally find more things to do in Dresden than Bern. Dresden is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Dresden is better known for its nightlife and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its museums, shopping, and impressive beauty. Dresden is more touristy than Bern and is known for its beautiful palaces, castles, and many landmarks (such as the Baroque Zwinger Palace, Semperoper Opera House and the Church of Our Lady). Also, Dresden is famous for Dresden Frauenkirche and The Royal Palace. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Bern different from Dresden?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Dresden 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.

Dresden is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's rich in culture and baroque architecture. Some of the main sights around town include Dresden Frauenkirche, the Dresden Royal Palace and Museums, the Zwinger and Old Masters Picture Gallery, and the Semper Opera.

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

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

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

Dresden has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The food features a number of Saxon specialties, which are typically hearty and heavy on the meat. If you have a sweet tooth, you'll also appreciate the many sweets that you can find around town. You should make sure you try a Fettbemme (open faced sandwich), Eierschecke (a cake), and Sächsische Kartoffelsuppe (potato soup) while you're in town.

Is Bern or Dresden Better for Nightlife?

Dresden 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.

Dresden offers plenty to do in the evening. Head to Neustadt for the highest concentration of bars and clubs. There's a diversity of trendy clubs and casual bars. Bar hopping is easy as most places are accessible by public transit.

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 Dresden Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the high quality old towns in both Bern and Dresden.

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.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Dresden. Much of the city's old town has been rebuilt, but that's not to say it isn't beautiful. The main square and surrounding area are where you'll find the majority of the city's main sights.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Dresden?

Bern is a great destination for its shopping areas. Also, Dresden 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 Dresden. Kunsthofpassage Dresden is a network of streets where you'll find crafts, art, and other eclectic items for sale. Prager Strasse is a popular shopping street near old town and Seestrasse is where you'll find all of the trendy brands that are popular throughout Europe. The city also has many shopping malls.

Is Bern or Dresden Better for Families?

Bern is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Dresden is a city with minimal options 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.

For families, Dresden is not always the best place to visit. It doesn't have quite the abundance of activities for kids that you may find in other Germany cities, but that doesn't mean that kids will be bored. There's the Dresden Zoo, the Dresdner Parkeisenbahn (a small steam rail), and the Saxon Folk Art Museum. Families can also take a guided to of the Transparent Factory, which is owned by Volkswagon and provided information on the manufacturing of automobiles.

Is Bern or Dresden Better for Couples?

Bern is a great destination for couples. Also, Dresden 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.

Dresden is a nice destination for couples. Couples can explore the old town or walk through one of the city's many parks. The city has many cultural activities. In the new town you'll find many great bars and fascinating restaurants.

Is Bern or Dresden Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

Dresden is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and the city itself is not particularly expensive.

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

Bern is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Dresden 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 Dresden offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city has two major train stations as well as tram and bus lines around town.

Is Bern or Dresden a more walkable city?

Bern and Dresden both are high quality when exploring on foot.

Bern is very walkable. 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.

Dresden is a very walkable city. Particularly in the compact city center you'll find Dresden to be very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Dresden or Bern?

How long in Bern or Dresden?

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

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

In Bern, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Dresden. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Dresden?

In Bern, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bern has to offer.

Dresden is a fun place to experience. 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 Dresden?

Bern is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Dresden. This city 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 Dresden?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bern. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The cultural city of Dresden 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Dresden?

Dresden has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Dresden, 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 Dresden?

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 Dresden in the Summer?

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

In July, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Dresden. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Dresden fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In July, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dresden. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Dresden in the Autumn?

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

Bern is a little warmer than Dresden in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Dresden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Dresden. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Dresden in the Winter?

Both Dresden 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 Dresden in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Dresden can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. In the winter, Bern is much warmer than Dresden. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Dresden averages at about 1°C (33°F).

In January, Bern usually receives more rain than Dresden. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Dresden in the Spring?

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

In April, Bern is generally a little warmer than Dresden. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Dresden fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Dresden. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Dresden and Bern