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

Should you visit Bern or Linz?

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

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

Linz

Linz is a historic, beautiful, and cultural town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

Bern and Linz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Linz?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Bern than Linz. While Linz is larger than Bern, Bern has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Linz is more touristy than Bern and is known for its Baroque architecture, modern art museums, and great pastries. 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 Linz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Linz have excellent 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 Linz specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city has a lot of history which can be experienced with visits to The Castle of Linz, St. Martin's Church, and the New Cathedral. There are also several modern museums such as Ars Electronica Center, the OK Center, and the Lentos Art Museum.

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

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

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

Linz has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find an endless supply of bakeries around town that serve cakes, tarts, and biscuits. A trip to Linz isn't complete without a sampling of the local pastries.

Is Bern or Linz Better for Nightlife?

Bern is a city with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Linz is not a good town for its evening party scene.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Linz. The town isn't exactly a party place, but you'll find a good theater and some live music venues that are worth checking out.

Is Bern or Linz Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a well-known place for its old town. Also, Linz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its historic old town charm.

Bern is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. 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.

Linz has an old town worth visiting. The old town is filled with Baroque architecture and a market square. There are a number of interesting buildings and great cafes in the area.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Linz?

Both Bern and Linz are excellent shopping destinations.

Bern is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Linz is well-known for its shopping. There are a number of shopping streets around town, but the most popular is Landstraße. You'll find all kinds of retail stores with everything from clothing to furniture available.

Is Bern or Linz Better for Families?

Bern is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Linz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit 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.

Linz is a family-friendly city. Pöstlingberg Adventure World is a highlight for kids. You can take the tram up the mountain and see the views, visit the Grottenbahn, or explore the zoo. Kids will also appreciate the Ars Electronica Center, which is a futuristic museum in town as well as the The Linz Castle Museum.

Is Bern or Linz Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Linz 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.

Linz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city is filled with beautiful baroque architecture. There's a lively main square and many great restaurants that couples will appreciate. There are also shopping areas and museums to explore.

Is Bern or Linz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Linz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit 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 Linz. Backpackers will find more budget hotels than hostels in town, so it can be a bit challenging to meet other travelers. Even so, this is a beautiful city that is well worth a visit.

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

Bern is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Linz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit 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.

Linz has some public transit options. There are buses and streetcars that travel throughout the town.

Is Bern or Linz a more walkable city?

Bern and Linz 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.

Linz is a very walkable city. The tourist areas are easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Linz or Bern?

How long in Bern or Linz?

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

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

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

A weekend in Bern or Linz?

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.

Linz 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 Linz?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural 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 shopping and museums around the cultural destination of Linz. 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 Linz?

The historic 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 beautiful town of Linz offers museums 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 in Austria, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Austria.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Linz?

Linz has a larger population, and is about 49% larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Linz, 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 Linz?

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 Linz in the Summer?

Both Linz and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Linz for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Bern is around the same temperature as Linz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Linz averages at about 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Linz. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Linz during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Linz receives 236 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives less rain than Linz. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Linz receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Linz in the Autumn?

Both Linz and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Linz because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Bern is generally a little warmer than Linz. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Linz fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Linz. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Linz receives 129 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in October than Linz. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Linz receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Linz in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Linz. The winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Linz this time of year.

It's quite cold in Linz in the winter. The weather in Bern can be very cold. Bern is much warmer than Linz in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Linz fluctuates around -0°C (31°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Linz during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Linz receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives more rain than Linz. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Linz receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Linz in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Linz. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Linz for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Bern is around the same temperature as Linz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Linz averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Linz. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Linz receives 163 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Linz. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Linz receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Linz and Bern