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

Should you visit Bern or Frankfurt?

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

Should I visit Bern or Frankfurt? 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 charming, beautiful, and cultural city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a accessible, modern, and connected city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Frankfurt: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Frankfurt?

You'll generally find more things to do in Frankfurt than Bern. Frankfurt is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Frankfurt is better known for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Frankfurt is well known for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife. Also, Frankfurt is famous for The Old Town Center.

The Old Town Center

How is Bern different from Frankfurt?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

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

Frankfurt 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, Frankfurt makes for a great culinary experience. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

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 Frankfurt Better for Nightlife?

Frankfurt 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.

Frankfurt offers plenty to do in the evening. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

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 Frankfurt Better for its Old Town?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its 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.

Many visitors go to Frankfurt to see the historical old town. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Frankfurt?

Both Bern and Frankfurt 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.

Frankfurt is well-known for its shopping. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

Is Bern or Frankfurt Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Frankfurt.

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, Frankfurt is very family-friendly. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

Is Bern or Frankfurt Better for Couples?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Bern makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Frankfurt is a nice destination for couples. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

Is Bern or Frankfurt Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Bern and Frankfurt are great destinations for backpackers.

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.

Many backpackers visit Frankfurt. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

Is Bern or Frankfurt Better for Students?

Frankfurt is renowned for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Frankfurt. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Frankfurt 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.

Frankfurt has a great public transit system. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

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

Is Bern or Frankfurt a more walkable city?

Bern and Frankfurt both are great 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.

Frankfurt is a very walkable city. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Frankfurt or Bern?

How long in Bern or Frankfurt?

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

Couples should spend more time in Bern than Frankfurt. 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 Frankfurt than Bern 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 Frankfurt.

One day in Bern or Frankfurt?

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.

Frankfurt is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Frankfurt?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the beautiful 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.

Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the charming 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 nightlife around the energetic big city of Frankfurt. 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 Frankfurt?

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 connected city of Frankfurt 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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, and The Best Adventure Tours to Germany.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Frankfurt?

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

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Bern or Frankfurt in the Summer?

Both Frankfurt and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Frankfurt for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Frankfurt. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Frankfurt fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

In Frankfurt, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets more sunshine than Frankfurt. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 225 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Frankfurt. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Frankfurt in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Frankfurt. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Frankfurt in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

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

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Frankfurt during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 103 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Frankfurt. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Frankfurt in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as Frankfurt. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Frankfurt for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Frankfurt can be very cold during winter. Bern can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Bern is much warmer than Frankfurt. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Frankfurt averages at about 1°C (34°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets more sunshine than Frankfurt. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 41 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in January than Frankfurt. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Frankfurt in the Spring?

Both Frankfurt and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the activities around the city.

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

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Frankfurt during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 163 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Frankfurt. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Frankfurt and Bern