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

Should you visit Bern or Galway?

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

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

Galway

Galway is a vibrant, lively, and friendly 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 Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Galway?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Galway than Bern. While Bern is larger than Galway, Galway has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Galway is more popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Bern is known for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Bern is more touristy than Galway and is known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Galway is popular for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music. It is also home to The Galway Market.

How is Bern different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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.

Galway offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Popular landmarks and sights in town include Eyre Square, St. Nicholas' Church, the Galway Cathedral, and the Galway City Museum.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at good restaurants in both Bern and Galway.

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

Galway has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

Is Bern or Galway Better for Nightlife?

Galway 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.

Galway offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife scene is among the best in Ireland. The city embraces the friendly Irish hospitality and there are laid back pubs and bars around town as well as a few trendy nightclubs.

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 Galway Better for its Old Town?

Bern is notable for its historic old town. However, Galway does not have a historic old town.

Bern is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. 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.

Galway does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Galway?

Bern is notable for shopping. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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 Galway. You'll find shopping both in the city center as well as at suburban shopping malls. For some of the best shopping head to The Latin Quarter, The Westend or the outdoor market which is found in Church lane by St Nicholas' Church.

Is Bern or Galway Better for Families?

Bern is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

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.

Galway is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy the National Aquarium Galway or simply wandering around the Latin Quarter. About 15 minutes outside of the city is the Wildlands Adventure Park which has ziplines, ropes courses, and other adrenaline filled activities. Brigit's Garden is another fun place to let kids stretch their legs.

Is Bern or Galway Better for Couples?

Bern is notable for romance. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

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.

Galway makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are nice restaurants, beautiful walks, and a few parks to explore. There are also several romantic places just outside of town that make for a great day trip.

Is Bern or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Bern and Galway are excellent 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 Galway. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

Is Bern or Galway Better for Students?

Galway is a popular place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Galway is a good city to visit for students. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

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

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Bern. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Galway has some public transit options. There are two bus companies in Galway, Bus Eireann and City Direct.

Is Bern or Galway a more walkable city?

Bern and Galway both are excellent 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.

Galway is a very walkable city. If you stay in central Galway, the area is generally compact and walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Galway or Bern?

How long in Bern or Galway?

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

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

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 Galway. 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 Galway?

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.

Galway 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 Galway?

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 vibrant destination of Galway. 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 Galway?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic 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 friendly city of Galway 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 Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Galway?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 72% larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Galway, 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 Galway?

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 Galway in the Summer?

Both Galway and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Galway for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Bern is a little warmer than Galway in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Galway 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 Galway during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun in the summer.

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

Should I visit Bern or Galway in the Autumn?

Both Galway and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Galway because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Bern is a little warmer than Galway. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Galway averages at about 11°C (52°F).

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

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

Should I visit Bern or Galway in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Galway. The winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Galway this time of year.

The weather in Bern can be very cold. In January, Bern is generally much colder than Galway. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Galway fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

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

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

Should I visit Bern or Galway in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Galway. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Galway for the activities around the city.

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

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

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

Typical Weather for Galway and Bern