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

Should you visit Bern or La Rochelle?

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

Should I visit Bern or La Rochelle? 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 cultural, historic, and charming city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a laid-back, quaint, and charming coastal town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Bern and La Rochelle: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or La Rochelle?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in La Rochelle than Bern. While Bern is larger than La Rochelle, La Rochelle has more sights and attractions for tourists. La Rochelle is very popular for its food, beaches, historical sights, hiking, and small town charm, while Bern attracts visitors for its shopping and impressive beauty. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. La Rochelle is famous for its medieval towers, maritime history, and beautiful setting. It is also well known for The Old Port.

How is Bern different from La Rochelle?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and La Rochelle have high quality 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 La Rochelle specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Filled with history, the town itself is like a living museum. Within town there are many sights such as the Vieux Port, La Rochelle Aquarium, Musée d'Histoire Naturelle, and Musée du Nouveau Monde de La Rochelle.

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

La Rochelle is renowned for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, La Rochelle is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. It may be small, but its filled with delicious cafes, bistros, and local restaurants. Seafood is the obvious choice in this coastal town and many visitors head to Vieux Port to eat, as many restaurants there offer waterfront views. If you want something a little less touristy, head to the St. Nicolas District, which was the town's former fishing district. Rue de la Fourche is also a charming road with many places to grab a bite or a drink. Or head to Rue St Jean-du-Perot, which is just off the old port.

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 La Rochelle Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle. While it's known as a peaceful, seaside town, you'll still find wine bars, pubs, and even a club or two around town.

Is Bern or La Rochelle Better for Beaches?

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

La Rochelle is a good option for a beach vacation. There are three main beaches in town that each attract a crowd on warm summer days. Plage de la Concurrence, Plage Chef de Baie, and Plage des Minimes are the closest beaches to La Rochelle, and they are popular for sunbathing and water sports. They have a mix of sand, pebbles, and cliffside views that attract locals and tourists alike.

Bern is not a beach destination.

Is Bern or La Rochelle Better for its Old Town?

La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle is one of the most recognized in the world. The old town is filled with wandering cobblestone streets, charming squares, and cafes that spill into the street.

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 Bern or La Rochelle Better for Hiking?

La Rochelle is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Bern is not a hiking destination.

La Rochelle is a good destination for hiking. There are many coastal walks just outside of town that take you along the scenic coastline. It's beautiful to stroll through the countryside and pass through many quaint villages.

Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or La Rochelle?

Bern is great for its shopping opportunities. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its shopping areas.

Bern is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Many visitors go to La Rochelle to go shopping. The old town is filled with boutique shops as well as some name brands. Another fun place to visit is Les Halles, which is an indoor market with fresh produce, seafood, and many local cheeses.

Is Bern or La Rochelle Better for Families?

Bern is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Bern is very family-friendly. 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.

La Rochelle is a family-friendly place to visit. It's a coastal town with a port that you can explore. There's also an aquarium and many great seafood restaurants. A nice day trip is to go to l'Ile de Ré, which has nice beaches, some with playgrounds.

Is Bern or La Rochelle Better for Couples?

La Rochelle is renowned for romance. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

La Rochelle makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. This beautiful coastal town is seeped in history. There are beautiful squares, romantic parks, and cobblestone streets that you can wander down. It's also nice to take a coastal walk before grabbing dinner at a local seafood restaurant.

Bern makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Is Bern or La Rochelle Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Bern. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

La Rochelle is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There aren't a ton of hostels in the area, but there are just enough that you should be able to find a place to stay.

Is Bern or La Rochelle Better for Students?

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

La Rochelle is a good coastal town to visit for students. It's a touristy city with a lot for students to see and do, but the atmosphere is generally quiet and peaceful.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Bern is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its public transit.

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

La Rochelle has a few public transit options. Public transit around town is operated by Yeló, and mostly consists of buses.

Is Bern or La Rochelle a more walkable city?

Bern and La Rochelle both are high quality 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.

La Rochelle is a very walkable city. It's filled with meandering cobblestone streets that are best explored on foot. Most places around town can be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in La Rochelle or Bern?

How long in Bern or La Rochelle?

It's fun to spend time in either Bern or La Rochelle. Generally, people tend to spend more time in La Rochelle due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 2-4 days is enough time in La Rochelle.

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

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

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the charming city of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

La Rochelle is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Bern or La Rochelle?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the cultural destination of Bern. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

La Rochelle is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. 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 La Rochelle?

The historic city of Bern offers shopping and museums. 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. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

La Rochelle is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This coastal 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 La Rochelle?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bern. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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.

Because La Rochelle is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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 Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or La Rochelle?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of La Rochelle. When comparing the sizes of Bern and La Rochelle, 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 La Rochelle?

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 La Rochelle in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as La Rochelle. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to La Rochelle this time of year.

In the summer, Bern is around the same temperature as La Rochelle. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and La Rochelle averages at about 20°C (67°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Rochelle. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Rochelle. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Rochelle receives 267 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than La Rochelle. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or La Rochelle in the Autumn?

Both La Rochelle and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. 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 La Rochelle for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.

In October, Bern is generally cooler than La Rochelle. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and La Rochelle fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than La Rochelle during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while La Rochelle receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives less rain than La Rochelle. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or La Rochelle in the Winter?

Both La Rochelle and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to La Rochelle in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. Bern is much colder than La Rochelle in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and La Rochelle fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than La Rochelle. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Rochelle receives 72 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in January than La Rochelle. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or La Rochelle in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and La Rochelle. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to La Rochelle for the beaches and the small town charm during these months.

In the spring, Bern is around the same temperature as La Rochelle. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and La Rochelle averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than La Rochelle during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while La Rochelle receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than La Rochelle. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for La Rochelle and Bern