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

Should you visit Bern or Mainz?

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

Should I visit Bern or Mainz? 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 charming, beautiful, and cultural city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Mainz

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

Bern and Mainz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Mainz?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Bern than Mainz. While Mainz is larger than Bern, Bern has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bern is more popular for its museums, nightlife, and shopping, while Mainz is known for its food. Mainz is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its quaint old town, Roman heritage, and beautiful town squares. Bern 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.

How is Bern different from Mainz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

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.

Mainz offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's an old university town with a number of historical sights. Check out the Church of St. Stephan, Mainz Cathedral, the Gutenberg Museum, and the Museum of Ancient Seafaring.

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

Mainz 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, Mainz makes for a great culinary experience. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes that serve local food. There are also wine taverns where you can sample the local wines and dine of regional specialties.

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 Mainz Better for Nightlife?

Bern is a city with good options for nightlife. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Mainz. It's a sleepy little town, so even locals often head to bigger cities for better nightlife.

Is Bern or Mainz Better for its Old Town?

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

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 Mainz. Filled with beautiful squares and cobblestone streets, this is a nice old town in a pleasant city.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Mainz?

Bern is a very popular place for shopping. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

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.

Mainz offers some nice shopping areas. Head to the boulevard of Am Brand near the cathedral for some of the town's best shopping. There are shops that line the street and it's a nice area to walk around.

Is Bern or Mainz Better for Families?

Bern is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Mainz is lacking in good options 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.

Mainz doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Kids will enjoy the Gutenburg Museum and the outdoor spaces where they can run around. There's also a nice old town that everyone will have fun exploring.

Is Bern or Mainz Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Mainz 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.

Mainz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Located on the Rhine River, this scenic setting is popular for river cruises. The town is nice to explore on its own, or you can hop around and take in several of the German river towns. You can also sit at outdoor cafes and sip local wine.

Is Bern or Mainz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Mainz. The town is popular with river cruises but you'll also find a hostel or two where budget travelers can save some money and meet other backpackers.

Is Bern or Mainz Better for Students?

Mainz is a well-known place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Mainz is a very popular town for students and younger travelers. It's a university town with a pleasant atmosphere and a beautiful setting.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Both Bern and Mainz offer excellent public transit options.

Visitors to Bern can move around easily with public transportation. There are trams and buses that run around town.

The public transit in Mainz can get you around easily. There are regional trains that make it easy to use Mainz as a base to explore the area, or you could visit Mainz as a day trip from another nearby town.

Is Bern or Mainz a more walkable city?

Mainz is renowned for its walkability. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Mainz on foot. The town is easily explored on foot.

Bern is a very walkable city. 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.

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

Should I spend more time in Mainz or Bern?

How long in Bern or Mainz?

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

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

In Bern, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this charming destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Mainz. 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 Mainz?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Mainz 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 Mainz?

Bern is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Bern. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find shopping and museums around the quaint destination of Mainz. 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 Mainz?

You'll find food and shopping around the cultural destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The quaint town of Mainz offers museums 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 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 Mainz, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Mainz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mainz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mainz 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 Mainz.

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Mainz?

Mainz has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Mainz, 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 Mainz?

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 Mainz in the Summer?

Both Mainz and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Mainz for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Bern is around the same temperature as Mainz in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Mainz fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Mainz, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets more sunshine than Mainz. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mainz receives 225 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Mainz. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Mainz in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Mainz. 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 Mainz because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Bern is a little warmer than Mainz. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Mainz averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Mainz during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Mainz receives 103 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Mainz. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Mainz in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as Mainz. 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 Mainz this time of year.

It's quite cold in Mainz in the winter. The weather in Bern can be very cold. In January, Bern is generally much warmer than Mainz. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Mainz fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets more sunshine than Mainz. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mainz receives 41 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in January than Mainz. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Mainz in the Spring?

Both Mainz and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Mainz for the natural beauty.

Bern is around the same temperature as Mainz in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Mainz fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mainz during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Mainz receives 163 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Mainz. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Mainz and Bern