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

Should you visit Bern or Kilkenny?

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

Should I visit Bern or Kilkenny? 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.

Kilkenny

Kilkenny is a ancient, medieval, and fascinating town. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Kilkenny: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Kilkenny?

Both Kilkenny and Bern have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Bern is very popular for its shopping and impressive beauty, while Kilkenny attracts visitors for its food. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Kilkenny is famous for its medieval castle and long running history.

How is Bern different from Kilkenny?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Kilkenny have great 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 Kilkenny specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. It's seeped in history and there are many historic landmarks in the area including Kilkenny Castle. Also make sure you check out the National Design & Craft Gallery, Saint Mary's Cathedral, and the Medieval Mile Museum.

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

Kilkenny 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, Kilkenny makes for a great culinary experience. The town has two Michelin starred restaurants as well as many Irish pubs and international restaurants to choose from.

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 Kilkenny Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny. You'll find traditional pubs and local breweries around town. The town also hosts several local music festivals.

Is Bern or Kilkenny Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the great old towns in both Bern and Kilkenny.

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 Kilkenny. Known as the Medieval Mile, the old town dates back 1,500 years and is filled with city walls, cathedrals, and meandering lanes.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Kilkenny?

Bern is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Kilkenny 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.

Kilkenny has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a mix of shopping malls, shopping streets, and local markets. Make sure you check out Market Cross Shopping Centre, MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, Connolly's Red Mills, and Castleinch Sunday Market.

Is Bern or Kilkenny Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Kilkenny.

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, Kilkenny is very family-friendly. The obvious activity is visiting the Kilkenny Castle, but there are so many other adventures that your family can have. You can do the zip line and other outdoor adventures at Castlecomer Discovery Park, try out falconry, or visit the National Reptile Museum. There's also river rafting, kayaking, and many other outdoor adventures in the area.

Is Bern or Kilkenny Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Kilkenny make for a great 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.

Kilkenny makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Adventure lovers will enjoy rafting, kayaking, hiking, and cycling through the area. There are also Michelin starred restaurants and other romantic settings that make for a great couple's weekend.

Is Bern or Kilkenny Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Kilkenny is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Kilkenny. The area has some unique hostels that offer interesting experiences while you're in town.

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

Bern is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Kilkenny is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

While Kilkenny offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are city buses through town.

Is Bern or Kilkenny a more walkable city?

Bern and Kilkenny both are great 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.

Kilkenny is a very walkable city. The town is easy to walk around and most areas can be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Kilkenny or Bern?

How long in Bern or Kilkenny?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bern or Kilkenny to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bern than Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny.

Families should spend more time in Kilkenny than Bern. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Kilkenny, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bern than Kilkenny. 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 Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny?

The beautiful city of Bern offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Kilkenny. 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 Kilkenny?

Bern is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bern, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny?

Bern is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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 entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the ancient destination of Kilkenny. This town 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 Kilkenny?

Bern is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

The ancient town of Kilkenny 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 2-Week Tours in Ireland, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Kilkenny?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Kilkenny. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Kilkenny, 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 Kilkenny?

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 Kilkenny in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Kilkenny. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Kilkenny for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bern is a little warmer than Kilkenny. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Kilkenny averages at about 15°C (60°F).

In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives more sunshine than Kilkenny during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Kilkenny receives 131 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kilkenny. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Kilkenny receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Kilkenny in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bern as well as Kilkenny. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, many visitors come to Kilkenny in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Bern is generally a little warmer than Kilkenny. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Kilkenny fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets more sunshine than Kilkenny. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kilkenny receives 83 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Kilkenny. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Kilkenny receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Kilkenny in the Winter?

Both Kilkenny and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Kilkenny for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Bern can get quite cold in the winter. Bern is much colder than Kilkenny in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Kilkenny fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Kilkenny during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Kilkenny receives 50 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Kilkenny. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Kilkenny receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Kilkenny in the Spring?

Both Kilkenny and Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Kilkenny because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Bern is a little warmer than Kilkenny. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Kilkenny averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets more sunshine than Kilkenny. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kilkenny receives 139 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Kilkenny. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Kilkenny receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Kilkenny and Bern