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

Should you visit Bern or Dusseldorf?

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

Should I visit Bern or Dusseldorf? 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. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf is a historic, fun-filled, and cultural 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 Dusseldorf: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Dusseldorf?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Dusseldorf than Bern, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Dusseldorf is more popular for its food and big city activities, while Bern is known for its museums, shopping, and impressive beauty. Bern is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Dusseldorf is popular for its music and art scene, as well as being the fashion capital of Germany. It is also home to Altstadt (the Old Town).

How is Bern different from Dusseldorf?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Dusseldorf is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Bern. 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.

Dusseldorf offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are museums, palaces, and many cultural sights. Make sure you check out Schloss Benrath, the Rheinturm, the North Rhine-Westphalia Art Collection, and Museum Kunstpalast.

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

Dusseldorf 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, Dusseldorf makes for a great culinary experience. You'll find a mix of regional specialties and international restaurant options. Traditional dishes include Rheinischer Sauerbraten (Rhine style marinated roast), Haxe (shin), Flönz (blood sausage), and Ähzezupp (pea soup).

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 Dusseldorf Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Dusseldorf are good 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 Dusseldorf. You'll find the highest concentration of bars and pubs in the old town area. Try to find a brewerie where you can try Dusseldorf's famous altbier.

Is Bern or Dusseldorf Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the superb old towns in both Bern and Dusseldorf.

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 Dusseldorf. The old town is popular for its bars and pubs, which serve up the local altbier. The atmosphere is charming and there are restaurants that spill out onto the streets.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Dusseldorf?

Bern is a great destination for shopping. Also, Dusseldorf is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

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.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Dusseldorf. Head to the popular shopping street of Königsallee. You'll find luxury brands and boutique shops. The city also has department stores and large shopping malls.

Is Bern or Dusseldorf Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Dusseldorf.

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, Dusseldorf is very family-friendly. It has many great playgrounds and parks where kids can run around. Animal lovers will appreciate Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum and Grafenberger Wald which has about 100 animals. If the weather's nice you can head to Unterbacher See, which is a lakefront beach. Other kid-friendly activities in town include the Neanderthal Museum and Museum Kunstpalast.

Is Bern or Dusseldorf Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Dusseldorf make for a superb 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.

Dusseldorf makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There is live theater, spa hotels, historic palaces, and many parks and gardens where couples can enjoy their time together. Popular activities for couples in town include visiting Rheinturm, taking a Rhine River cruise, and exploring Schloss Dyck.

Is Bern or Dusseldorf Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Dusseldorf is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Bern. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Dusseldorf. There are plenty of hostels and activities around town. There are also affordable restaurants and a nice nightlife scene.

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

Dusseldorf is renowned for its public transit. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Dusseldorf has a great public transit system. All of the public transportation in town is operated by Rheinbahn. There's a city railway, (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses. Dusseldorf is also easily connected to the many other nearby towns and cities including Cologne.

The public transit in Bern can get you around easily. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Is Bern or Dusseldorf a more walkable city?

Bern and Dusseldorf both are superb 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.

Dusseldorf is a very walkable city. It's easy to explore most of the city on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Dusseldorf or Bern?

How long in Bern or Dusseldorf?

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bern than Dusseldorf 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 Dusseldorf?

With museums and nightlife around the historic city of Bern, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bern, one day is sufficent for most.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Dusseldorf. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Dusseldorf?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Bern, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Dusseldorf 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 Dusseldorf?

Bern, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Dusseldorf. 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 Dusseldorf?

Bern is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The historic city of Dusseldorf 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 Munich, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Dusseldorf?

Dusseldorf has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Dusseldorf, 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 Dusseldorf?

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 Dusseldorf in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Dusseldorf. Most visitors come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Dusseldorf because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Bern is a little warmer than Dusseldorf in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Dusseldorf fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives more sunshine than Dusseldorf during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Dusseldorf receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives less rain than Dusseldorf. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Dusseldorf receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Dusseldorf in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bern as well as Dusseldorf. The autumn months attract visitors to Bern because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Dusseldorf this time of year.

In the autumn, Bern is around the same temperature as Dusseldorf. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Dusseldorf averages at about 12°C (53°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets more sunshine than Dusseldorf. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dusseldorf receives 112 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Dusseldorf. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Dusseldorf receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Dusseldorf in the Winter?

Both Dusseldorf and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Dusseldorf for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Dusseldorf. It's quite cold in Bern in the winter. In January, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Dusseldorf. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Dusseldorf fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Dusseldorf during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Dusseldorf receives 45 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Dusseldorf. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Dusseldorf receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Dusseldorf in the Spring?

Both Dusseldorf and Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Dusseldorf in the spring for the activities around the city.

Bern is a little warmer than Dusseldorf in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Dusseldorf fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dusseldorf. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dusseldorf receives 155 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Dusseldorf. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Dusseldorf receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Dusseldorf and Bern