Which place is cheaper, Gothenburg or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or Gothenburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern or Gothenburg? 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.
Where Should I go: Bern or Gothenburg?
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $249Gothenburg $97
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $249, while the average daily cost in Gothenburg is $97. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bern and Gothenburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $161Gothenburg $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $322Gothenburg $80
Compare Hotels in Bern and Gothenburg
Looking for a hotel in Bern or Gothenburg? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bern Hotel Prices and Gothenburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $33Gothenburg $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Transfer from Bern to Zurich with 2h of Sightseeing: $300
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $227
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $213
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $191
- Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $64
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $110
- Are Resort to Trondheim Vaernes Airport(TRD) - Departure Transfer: $114
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $119
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Gothenburg?
Prices for flights to both Gothenburg and Bern change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBern $60Gothenburg $38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.
- Cooking delicious Spanish paella in Switzerland.: $57
- Bern Food Market: Brunch & Local Food Tour: $62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $34Gothenburg $15
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- 007 Elegance:Exclusive Private Tour to Schilthorn from Bern: $627
- Alpine Heights: Small Group Tour to Jungfraujoch from Bern: $592
- Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $80
- Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $59
- Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $6.95
- Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $161
- Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $60
- Bern Old City Walking Tour: $459
- Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $534
- Bern Private Walking Tour: $334
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.36
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $36
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $27Gothenburg $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Gothenburg, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Gothenburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or Gothenburg?
Gothenburg has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Gothenburg, 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 Gothenburg?
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 Gothenburg in the Summer?
Both Gothenburg and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Bern is generally a little warmer than Gothenburg. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In Gothenburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Gothenburg. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 243 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets less rain in July than Gothenburg. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBern 21°C (70°F)Gothenburg 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Bern or Gothenburg in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Gothenburg. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year.
Bern is a little warmer than Gothenburg in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Gothenburg fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
Bern usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 94 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Gothenburg. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBern 13°C (55°F)Gothenburg 9°C (47°F)
Should I visit Bern or Gothenburg in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as Gothenburg. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Gothenburg can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. In the winter, Bern is much warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Gothenburg averages at about -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Bern often gets more sunshine than Gothenburg. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 40 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets less rain in January than Gothenburg. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBern 3°C (37°F)Gothenburg -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Bern or Gothenburg in the Spring?
Both Gothenburg and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty.
In April, Bern is generally much warmer than Gothenburg. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
Bern usually receives less sunshine than Gothenburg during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Gothenburg. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBern 11°C (52°F)Gothenburg 5°C (41°F)
Typical Weather for Gothenburg and Bern
| Bern | Gothenburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.