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

Should you visit Bern or Genoa?

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

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

Genoa

Genoa is a historic, vibrant, and colorful port city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Genoa?

You'll generally find more things to do in Genoa than Bern. Genoa is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Genoa is better known for its food and beaches, while Bern is more popular for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Genoa is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Also, Genoa is famous for The Via Garibaldi Palaces. 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 Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Genoa have very good 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 Genoa specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city has a long history and it is filled with monuments, palaces, and museums. Popular places to visit include the Via Garibaldi Palaces, the aquarium (one of the largest in Europe), the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and Santi Ambrogio.

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

Genoa 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, Genoa makes for a great culinary experience. The city's maritime roots have influenced its cuisine and you'll find seafood in many local dishes. Other classic Genoese flavors include pesto, anchovies, fried squid, and focaccia and cheese.

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 Genoa Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Genoa are notable 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 Genoa. The city lights up at night and it's fun to experience the activity and energy. There's a nice evening atmosphere with many people out and about. You can grab drinks in Piazza Lavagna or see live music in Porto Antico. There are also many bars and clubs around town.

Is Bern or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Genoa is a moderate port city for its beaches. However, Bern is not a beach destination.

Genoa is a good spot to see the beach. While many people head to other nearby towns to enjoy the beach, you will also find a beach just ten minutes from the old town by bus. Boccadasse is one of the closest beaches to town. It's also possible to do a day trip to other more famous beaches in the area, but you need to be prepared to travel a bit farther.

Bern is not a beach destination.

Is Bern or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

Bern is great for its historic old town charm. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its historic old town.

Many visitors go to Bern to see the historical old town. 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 Genoa to see the historical old town. The old town is large and complex, with many different time periods represented in the architecture and development style.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Genoa?

Bern is great for its shopping areas. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas 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.

Genoa is a great destination for shopping. You can pick up a number of different souvenirs around town including baskets, t-shirts, and local pesto. Popular shopping areas include Galleria Mazzini, Via Roma, and Via XX Settembr.

Is Bern or Genoa Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Genoa.

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, Genoa is very family-friendly. The city is home to the second biggest aquarium in Europe as well as the Galata Maritime Museum and the Nazario Sauro Submarine. In the port there's also Vascello Nettuno, which was a pirate ship that was used in the filming of the movie 'Pirates' by Roman Polanski. Other fun kid-friendly attractions include La Biosfera, The Children's Museum, and the Bigo Lift.

Is Bern or Genoa Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Genoa make for a very good 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.

Genoa makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a beautiful port city with charming neighborhoods and some great restaurants. Couples will enjoy exploring this beautiful city and visiting its palaces and cathedrals.

Is Bern or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Bern and Genoa are very good 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 Genoa. There are a number of affordable hostels in the area, and while this isn't the top backpacker destination in Italy, it is a nice place to spend some time.

Is Bern or Genoa Better for Students?

Genoa is a well-known place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Genoa is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. It's a popular study abroad destination so you'll find a number of international students in the area. The city is also well connected for exploring the region.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Both Bern and Genoa offer very good public transit options.

Visitors to Bern can move around easily with public transportation. There are trams and buses that run around town.

The public transit in Genoa can get you around easily. There's a wide range of different public transit options that are all operated by AMT. The system includes buses, an underground (one line), funiculars (two), lifts (ten), a boat, cogwheel and narrow gauge railways.

Is Bern or Genoa a more walkable city?

Bern and Genoa both are very good 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.

Genoa is a very walkable city. The old town, where most tourists spend the majority of their time, is easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Bern?

How long in Bern or Genoa?

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

Families should spend more time in Genoa than Bern. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Genoa, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Genoa 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 Genoa.

One day in Bern or Genoa?

In Bern, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this charming destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Genoa. 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 Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Genoa 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 Genoa?

Bern is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Bern. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the colorful destination of Genoa. This port 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 Genoa?

You'll find food and shopping around the beautiful destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The energetic port city of Genoa 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Genoa?

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

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 Genoa in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Genoa. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Genoa in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bern is generally cooler than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Genoa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Genoa. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Genoa in the Autumn?

Both Genoa and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Genoa for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Bern is cooler than Genoa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Genoa fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Genoa. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Genoa in the Winter?

Both Genoa and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Genoa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bern can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Genoa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Genoa averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in January than Genoa. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Genoa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Genoa. The spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty. Furthermore, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Genoa this time of year.

In April, Bern is generally cooler than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives less rain than Genoa. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Bern