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

Should you visit Bern or Girona?

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

Should I visit Bern or Girona? 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. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Girona

Girona is a charming, beautiful, and colorful city. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

Bern and Girona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Girona?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Girona than Bern. While Bern is larger than Girona, Girona has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Girona is very popular for its food, historical sights, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere, while Bern attracts visitors for its nightlife. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Girona is famous for its ancient ruins, colorful old town, grand cathedral, and impressive local cuisine. It is also well known for The Girona Cathedral.

How is Bern different from Girona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Girona 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 Girona specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Wander the ancient city walls, explore the beautiful Girona Cathedral, and learn about the Church of Sant Feliu. There are also some interesting museums in town including the Museum of Jewish History, the Archaeology Museum, and the Film Museum. Also make sure you walk across the famed Eiffel Bridge.

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

Girona 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, Girona makes for a great culinary experience. The small city is filled with cafes and restaurants that spill out into the street. There are also markets such as El Lleó Marketplace where you can check out fresh, local items. Many restaurants also have Catalonian style tapas, seafood such as octopus, and garlic shrimp. For breakfast, there are many pastry shops where you can enjoy a European breakfast.

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 Girona Better for Nightlife?

Bern is a good destination for nightlife and partying. However, Girona is not a good city for its evening party scene.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Girona. It's a surprisingly quiet town, especially compared to other nearby party cities, but there are some nightclubs, bars, and music venues that are worth checking out.

Is Bern or Girona Better for its Old Town?

Girona is renowned for its historic old town. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its old town.

The old town of Girona is one of the most recognized in the world. It's a beautiful medieval old town with many wandering streets that are lined with storefronts and classic European cafes.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Girona?

Both Bern and Girona 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.

Girona is well-known for its shopping. In and around the old town you'll find modern shops, local eateries, charming markets, and anything you might need to purchase. There's also no shortage of souvenir and trinket shops, but they have a bit of personality and character to them.

Is Bern or Girona Better for Families?

Bern is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. However, Girona is not a good city for its kid-friendly activities.

Bern is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Girona is not always a place people visit with their families. While the old town is beautiful, with charming colorful buildings, the city itself doesn't have a wide number of activities for kids. There are ice cream shops where they can enjoy a sweet treat. There are also several museums and many restaurants have kid-friendly menus.

Is Bern or Girona Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Girona 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.

Girona makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The setting is both beautiful and romantic. Couples can enjoy wandering the streets, popping in the many shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. There are also many great restaurants that make for a wonderful night out. Head up the hills towards the cathedral for the best viewpoints, or wander along the river and enjoy the colorful atmosphere.

Is Bern or Girona Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bern is a great city to visit for backpackers. 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 Girona. Prices aren't too crazy and it's not hard to find a place to stay for an affordable price, but you won't find the lively backpacker scene that is common in many nearby cities.

Is Bern or Girona Better for Students?

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

Girona is a good city to visit for students. It's a smaller city with affordable accommodation and many great restaurants. It has a quintessential European atmosphere that makes it a fun place to spend some time as a student

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Bern is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Bern can get you to some places easily. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Girona has some public transit options. The town is small enough that you can likely walk anywhere you want to go, but if you need transit, there are 10 local bus routes.

Is Bern or Girona a more walkable city?

Girona is renowned for its walkability. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Girona on foot. Everything is easily accessible on foot and its best not to bring a car into town.

Bern is a very walkable city. 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.

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

Should I spend more time in Girona or Bern?

How long in Bern or Girona?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bern or Girona to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bern than Girona because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 1-2 days is enough time in Girona.

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

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

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 museums and food when visiting the destination of Girona. 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 Girona?

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.

Girona 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 Girona?

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 shopping and museums around the medieval destination of Girona. 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 Girona?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful 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 medieval city of Girona offers museums 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 Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Girona?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Girona. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Girona, 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 Girona?

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 Girona in the Summer?

Both Girona 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 Girona because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bern is cooler than Girona. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Girona averages at about 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Girona. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Girona during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Girona. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Girona in the Autumn?

Both Girona 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, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Girona this time of year.

In October, Bern is generally cooler than Girona. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Girona fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets less sunshine than Girona. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Girona. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Girona in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Bern in the winter. Bern is much colder than Girona in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Girona fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Girona during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Girona. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Girona in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Girona. Many travelers come to Bern for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Girona in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Bern is cooler than Girona. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Girona averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Girona. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in April than Girona. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Girona and Bern