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

Should you visit Bern or Ghent?

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

Should I visit Bern or Ghent? 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.

Ghent

Ghent is a youthful, high energy, and cultural city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Ghent: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Ghent?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Ghent than Bern, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Bern is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Ghent is popular for its medieval buildings, large squares, and weekly markets It is also home to The Fortress of Gravensteen.

How is Bern different from Ghent?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Ghent have superb 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 Ghent specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city has many different sights that are concentrated in a compact area. Make sure you check out the Cathedral of St. Bavo, The Fortress of Gravensteen, and The Belfry. The audio tour at Gravensteen really brings the history to life and makes for an enjoyable activity.

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

Ghent 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, Ghent makes for a great culinary experience. The food scene is diverse and international, but there are also many local dishes and flavors that you should try. Pas de Rouge is a local cheese and mastel is a local bread. Ganda ham is also a popular meat that is dried and salted. In additional to traditional restaurants, you'll find almost any international cuisine that you could want.

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 Ghent Better for Nightlife?

Ghent is renowned for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Ghent is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. With its young student population, you'll find plenty of lively bars and clubs around town. There are many places where you can party or dance into the early hours of the morning and some of the best places are around Oude Beestenmarkt, De Overpoort, and De Vlasmarkt. There's also the famous Ghent Festival every July.

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 Ghent Better for its Old Town?

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

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 Ghent. The medieval old town follows along the canal and offers great architecture and a unique atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Ghent?

Both Bern and Ghent are superb 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.

Ghent is well-known for its shopping. The city has the largest pedestrian shopping area in Belgium, making it a great place to explore on foot. The city has several different shopping areas which each have their own style and personality. You'll find everything from major European brands to local boutiques and street markets.

Is Bern or Ghent Better for Families?

Bern is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Ghent 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.

Ghent is a family-friendly city. The city has a fun atmosphere with kid-friendly restaurants and a number of attractions that appeal to all ages. Kids and adults alike will enjoy exploring Gravensteen, which is the "Castle of Counts". You can also take a boat tour, rent bikes, or head to one of the town's playgrounds so the kids can burn off some energy.

Is Bern or Ghent Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Ghent 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.

Ghent makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It makes a great weekend getaway with a diverse restaurant scene, nice hotels, and plenty of historic attractions that you can explore.

Is Bern or Ghent Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Ghent is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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 Ghent. The city has a number of hostels to choose from as well as a young vibe with a large student population. Many people overlook Ghent, but it feels more genuine than nearby Bruges, which attracts the larger tourist crowds.

Is Bern or Ghent Better for Students?

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

Many students frequent Ghent. The city is very popular with international students so it has a young and energetic vibe with plenty to do throughout the year.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Ghent 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.

Ghent has a great public transit system. Buses and trams travel to most parts of the city and are convenient and efficient.

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

Is Bern or Ghent a more walkable city?

Bern and Ghent 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.

Ghent is a very walkable city. The area's with the most tourist attractions are generally walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Ghent or Bern?

How long in Bern or Ghent?

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

Families should spend more time in Bern than Ghent. 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 Ghent than Bern. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Ghent that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Bern or Ghent?

In Bern, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this beautiful 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 Ghent. 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 Ghent?

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.

Ghent is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the nightlife. 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 Ghent?

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 youthful destination of Ghent. 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 Ghent?

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 under-rated city of Ghent 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 Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Ghent?

Ghent has a larger population, and is about 90% larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Ghent, 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 Ghent?

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 Ghent in the Summer?

Both Ghent and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Ghent because of the family-friendly experiences.

Bern is a little warmer than Ghent in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Ghent fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

It's quite sunny in Ghent. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives more sunshine than Ghent during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Ghent receives 202 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ghent. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Ghent in the Autumn?

Both Ghent and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Bern because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Ghent this time of year.

In the autumn, Bern is around the same temperature as Ghent. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Ghent averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets more sunshine than Ghent. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ghent receives 105 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Ghent. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Ghent in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Ghent. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Ghent for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Ghent. It's quite cold in Bern in the winter. In January, Bern is generally cooler than Ghent. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Ghent fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Ghent during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Ghent receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Ghent. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Ghent in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Ghent. Many travelers come to Bern for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Ghent in the spring for the natural beauty.

Bern is a little warmer than Ghent in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Ghent fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ghent. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ghent receives 158 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Ghent. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Ghent and Bern