A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Kiel for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Bern or Kiel?

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

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

Kiel

Kiel is a waterfront, maritime, and authentic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for beaches, shopping, and museums.

Bern and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Kiel?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Kiel than Bern. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Kiel is very popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Bern attracts visitors for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Kiel is famous for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also well known for The Kiel Castle.

How is Bern different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Kiel. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at nice restaurants in both Bern and Kiel.

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

Kiel has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Is Bern or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Kiel are nice 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 Kiel. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

Is Bern or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a popular place for its beaches. However, Bern is not a beach destination.

Kiel is a good option for a beach vacation. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Bern is not a beach destination.

Is Bern or Kiel Better for its Old Town?

Bern is well known for its old town. However, Kiel does not have a historic old town.

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.

Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Kiel?

Bern is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Bern is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Kiel has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Bern or Kiel Better for Families?

Bern is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

Kiel offers lots of family activities. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

Is Bern or Kiel Better for Couples?

Bern is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Bern frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Kiel is a good city for couples to visit. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Bern or Kiel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is well known for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known 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.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is Bern or Kiel Better for Students?

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

Kiel is a good city to visit for students. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

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

Bern has some very good public transit options. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Bern or Kiel a more walkable city?

Bern is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

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.

Kiel is a somewhat walkable city. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Bern?

How long in Bern or Kiel?

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

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

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Bern. 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Kiel. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Kiel?

Bern 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.

Kiel 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 Kiel?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Bern. 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the authentic destination of Kiel. This 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 Kiel?

The charming city of Bern 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.

The waterfront city of Kiel 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Kiel?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 91% larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Kiel, 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 Kiel?

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 Kiel in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Kiel. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.

In the summer, Bern is a little warmer than Kiel. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Kiel averages at about 16°C (61°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kiel this time of the year. In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives more sunshine than Kiel during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives less rain than Kiel. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Kiel in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bern as well as Kiel. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Kiel for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Bern is generally a little warmer than Kiel. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets more sunshine than Kiel. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Kiel. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Kiel in the Winter?

Both Kiel and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Kiel in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Kiel can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. Bern is much warmer than Kiel in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Kiel fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Kiel during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun in the winter.

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

Should I visit Bern or Kiel in the Spring?

Both Kiel and Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Kiel for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Bern is much warmer than Kiel. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Kiel averages at about 7°C (44°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Kiel. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Kiel and Bern