A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Glencoe for Families, Couples, Backpackers, and Food

Should you visit Bern or Glencoe?

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

Should I visit Bern or Glencoe? 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 beautiful, cultural, and historic city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Glencoe

Glencoe is a natural, serene, and beautiful village. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for food and hiking.

Bern and Glencoe: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Glencoe?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Bern than Glencoe, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Bern is better known for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Glencoe is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Also, Bern is famous for The Zytglogge Clock Tower. Glencoe is well known for its mountaineering, hiking, and beautiful natural setting.

How is Bern different from Glencoe?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is well known for its museums and landmarks. However, Glencoe does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Glencoe does not have museums and landmarks.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at notable restaurants in both Bern and Glencoe.

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

Glencoe has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Local specialties include seafood and pub food. You'll also find plenty of whisky and local beer. There are a variety of dining options with local pubs alongside fine dining restaurants.

Is Bern or Glencoe Better for Nightlife?

Bern is a city with good options for its evening party scene. However, Glencoe is not particularly known for nightlife.

Bern has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Glencoe doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a handful of bars where you can relax with local whisky or beer.

Is Bern or Glencoe Better for its Old Town?

Bern is well known for its historic old town charm. However, Glencoe 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.

Glencoe does not have a historic old town.

Is Bern or Glencoe Better for Hiking?

Glencoe is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Bern is not a hiking destination.

Glencoe is a popular spot for hiking. The area has dramatic hikes and stunning landscapes. Some of the best walks through the countryside include Inchree Falls, Grey Mare's Tail & Mamore Lodge, and The Two Lairigs.

Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Glencoe?

Bern is well known for its shopping areas. However, Glencoe is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity 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.

Glencoe is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Bern or Glencoe Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Glencoe.

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, Glencoe is very family-friendly. Take a steam train along the Harry Potter Line. You'll feel like you're aboard the Hogwarts Express. You can also visit the Natural History Center, hike around the Glencoe National Nature Center, or visit the Glencoe Folk Museum.

Is Bern or Glencoe Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Glencoe make for a excellent 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.

Glencoe makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy nature, hiking, and stunning scenery will enjoy a visit to this beautiful area.

Is Bern or Glencoe Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is well known for backpackers. However, Glencoe is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bern is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Glencoe is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It can be challenging to reach without a car and the surrounding countryside also requires a vehicle. There is some great camping available in the area.

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

Bern is well known for its public transit. However, Glencoe is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Bern. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Glencoe. There are local buses, but it's much easier to make the most of your visit if you have a vehicle.

Is Bern or Glencoe a more walkable city?

Bern is well known for its ease of walking around. However, Glencoe is not particularly known for its walkability.

Bern is a very walkable destination. 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.

Glencoe is generally not a very walkable city. It's easier to fully experience the area if you have your own vehicle.

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

Should I spend more time in Glencoe or Bern?

How long in Bern or Glencoe?

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

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

In Bern, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the destination of Glencoe. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Glencoe?

In Bern, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bern has to offer.

Glencoe is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Glencoe?

Bern is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

You'll find food around the natural destination of Glencoe. This village offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Glencoe?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bern. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The natural village of Glencoe offers food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Historical Tours in United Kingdom, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom.

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

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