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

Should you visit Bern or Le Mans?

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

Should I visit Bern or Le Mans? 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. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Le Mans

Le Mans is a small, historic, and quaint town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's also known for nightlife and museums.

Bern and Le Mans: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Le Mans?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bern. Although Bern and Le Mans are both popular with visitors, Bern has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bern is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Le Mans is known for its small town charm. Bern is more touristy than Le Mans and is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. It is also home to The Zytglogge Clock Tower. Le Mans is popular for being the location of the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is one of the world's greatest sports-car races.

How is Bern different from Le Mans?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is great for its historical sights. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Bern specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

Le Mans offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's most famous as the location of the 24 hour car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and on some days it's possible to visit the race track which has a museum with simulators and other activities. Around town you'll find museums and activities affiliated with the racing culture, and there's also a cathedral as well as several nice museums relating to the automotive industry among other things.

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

Bern is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Le Mans is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bern. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Le Mans. It's not known for its food scene, but there is one dish in particular that you should try. The local specialty is les rillettes de porc, which is a pork paté.

Is Bern or Le Mans Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Le Mans are good 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 Le Mans. You'll find bars and clubs in the city center around Saint-Nicolas Quarter, rue des Ponts-neufs, Place de la Sirène and around the Republic Square.

Is Bern or Le Mans Better for its Old Town?

Bern is great for its historic old town. However, Le Mans does not have a historic old town.

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.

Le Mans does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Le Mans?

Bern is great for shopping. However, Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Bern or Le Mans Better for Families?

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

Bern is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Le Mans is a family-friendly place to visit. Make sure you visit on a day when Le Mans Karting International and the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum is open to visitors. Families can ride on high speed go-carts and train like professionals with special game simulators. This is a popular destination for adults and kids alike. The town also has indoor play areas, waterparks, and beautiful parks to explore.

Is Bern or Le Mans Better for Couples?

Bern is great for romance. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its romantic activities.

Bern is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Le Mans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a small town, but racing enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum.

Is Bern or Le Mans Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

Bern is very popular with the backpacker crowd. 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 Le Mans. While there aren't many hostels specifically designed for backpackers, it is possible to find affordable accommodation at most times.

Is Bern or Le Mans 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, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

Public transit in Bern is fairly effecient and thorough. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Le Mans has a few public transit options. There is a tram service around town that provides access to many places including the race track via the T1 line (Antarès-Stade Marie Marvingt and exit at the East Entrance).

Is Bern or Le Mans a more walkable city?

Bern is great for its walkability. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its high level of walkability.

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.

Le Mans is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the town are walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Le Mans or Bern?

How long in Bern or Le Mans?

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

Families should spend more time in Bern than Le Mans. 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 Le Mans. 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 Le Mans 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 Le Mans?

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 museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Le Mans. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Le Mans?

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.

Le Mans 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 Le Mans?

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 museums and nightlife around the small destination of Le Mans. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Le Mans?

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 quaint town of Le Mans offers nightlife and museums. 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 Adventure Tours to France, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Le Mans?

Le Mans has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Le Mans, 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 Le Mans?

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 Le Mans in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Le Mans. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Le Mans for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Bern is a little warmer than Le Mans in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Le Mans fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Le Mans. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets more sunshine than Le Mans. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 231 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Le Mans. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Le Mans in the Autumn?

Both Le Mans and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Le Mans in the autumn for the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Bern is around the same temperature as Le Mans. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Le Mans averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Le Mans during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.

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

Should I visit Bern or Le Mans in the Winter?

Both Le Mans and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Le Mans for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Le Mans can be very cold during winter. Bern can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Bern is generally much colder than Le Mans. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Le Mans fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets more sunshine than Le Mans. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 54 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in January than Le Mans. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Le Mans in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Le Mans. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Le Mans because of the small town charm.

Bern is around the same temperature as Le Mans in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Le Mans fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Le Mans during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 168 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Le Mans. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Le Mans and Bern