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

Should you visit Bern or Lindau?

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

Should I visit Bern or Lindau? 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.

Lindau

Lindau is a scenic, alpine, and picturesque town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food.

Bern and Lindau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Lindau?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bern. Although Bern and Lindau are popular destinations, Bern has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bern is very popular for its museums, nightlife, and shopping, while Lindau attracts visitors for its food and small town charm. Lindau is more touristy than Bern and is known for its lakefront location and quaint old town. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. It is also well known for The Zytglogge Clock Tower.

How is Bern different from Lindau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Lindau is a town with minimal options for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Bern. 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.

While most people don't head to Lindau specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The town is more about it's beautiful setting than landmarks and museums, but there are some interesting sights including the harbor and lighthouse.

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

Lindau 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, Lindau makes for a great culinary experience. Head to the waterfront for the best seafood restaurants. Many restaurants use seasonal ingredients and serve local fish. The local whitefish is particularly popular. Dishes are influenced by the town's proximity to Switzerland and Austria, so you'll enjoy a hybrid of flavors and recipes.

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 Lindau Better for Nightlife?

Bern is a city with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Lindau is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

Bern has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Lindau doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's not known for its nightlife scene but there are bars where you can enjoy a relaxing night out.

Is Bern or Lindau Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the excellent old towns in both Bern and Lindau.

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 Lindau. The old town is located on Lindau island in Lake Constance. It has quaint buildings and many waterfront restaurants.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Lindau?

Bern is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Lindau is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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.

Lindau is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Bern or Lindau Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Lindau.

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, Lindau is very family-friendly. Head to the waterfront where there's a playground, stand up paddleboarding, paddleboats, and more. Kids will also enjoy climbing to the top of the Old Lighthouse or exploring the Museum of Local History.

Is Bern or Lindau Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Lindau make for a excellent 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.

Lindau makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With its charming old town, beautiful waterfront, great seafood restaurants, and nice hotels, couples will really enjoy a few days away at this lakefront town. It's the perfect place to have a romantic weekend.

Is Bern or Lindau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Lindau 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Lindau. The town has a couple of hostels and affordable hotels that make this waterfront town accessible to backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Bern is a great destination for its public transit. However, Lindau is a town with minimal options 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 Lindau. It's possible to reach town by bus or train and once you're in town you can walk many places.

Is Bern or Lindau a more walkable city?

Bern and Lindau both are excellent 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.

Lindau is a very walkable city. The town is very walkable and there are also many walks into the countryside.

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

Should I spend more time in Lindau or Bern?

How long in Bern or Lindau?

It's fun to spend time in either Bern or Lindau. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Lindau 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 Lindau.

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

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Lindau is a small town where visitors enjoy the food. 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 Lindau?

Bern is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Lindau 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 Lindau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. 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. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Lindau is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. 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 Lindau?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Bern. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 Lindau 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Lindau?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Lindau. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Lindau, 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.