A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Mont-Saint-Michel for Attractions, Couples, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel?

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

Should I visit Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel? 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.

Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont-Saint-Michel is a historic, breathtaking, and inspiring island. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for food, hiking, and museums.

Bern and Mont-Saint-Michel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bern. Although Bern and Mont-Saint-Michel are popular destinations, Bern has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bern is very popular for its nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Mont-Saint-Michel attracts visitors for its museums, hiking, and impressive beauty. Mont-Saint-Michel is more touristy than Bern and is known for its Gothic-style abbey and its medieval village that stands at its base. 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 Mont-Saint-Michel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Mont-Saint-Michel 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 Mont-Saint-Michel?

Mont-Saint-Michel is renowned for its sights and museums. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Mont-Saint-Michel that are not to be missed. Visitors come to see the iconic Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel which has been the inspiration for tourists and religious pilgrims for centuries. Make sure you see the Ramparts and La Grande Rue.

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.

Is the Food Better in Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at nice restaurants in both Bern and Mont-Saint-Michel.

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

Mont-Saint-Michel has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of local restaurants to choose from that serve authentic French cuisine including the pre-salted sheep, which is a local specialty.

Is Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel Better for Nightlife?

Bern is very good for nightlife and partying. However, Mont-Saint-Michel is a island 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.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Mont-Saint-Michel Most people visit the island as a daytrip and nightlife is essentially nonexistent.

Is Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a great destination for its old town. However, Mont-Saint-Michel 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.

Mont-Saint-Michel does not have a historic old town.

Is Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel Better for Hiking?

Mont-Saint-Michel is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Bern is not a hiking destination.

Mont-Saint-Michel is a good destination for hiking. There's a 4.2 mile out and back trail that can be walked in about 1.5 hours.

Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel?

Bern is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Mont-Saint-Michel 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.

Mont-Saint-Michel is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel Better for Families?

Bern is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Mont-Saint-Michel is a island with minimal options 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.

For families, Mont-Saint-Michel is not always the best place to visit. Kids may enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride or exploring the grounds, but it can make for a long day for kids with short attention spans.

Is Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel Better for Couples?

Mont-Saint-Michel is renowned for romance. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Mont-Saint-Michel makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. It's a stunning setting and makes a romantic backdrop for a couples holiday, whether it's part of a longer trip to France or a short weekend away.

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 Mont-Saint-Michel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Mont-Saint-Michel 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Mont-Saint-Michel. You'll find a couple of hostels an cheap hotels in the area.

Is Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bern is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Mont-Saint-Michel is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

While Mont-Saint-Michel offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a free shuttle bus that connects Mont-Saint-Michel to the mainland.

Is Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel a more walkable city?

Bern and Mont-Saint-Michel both are great 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.

Mont-Saint-Michel is a very walkable city. There are many stunning walks in the area.

For even more information, also check out Is Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Mont-Saint-Michel Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Mont-Saint-Michel or Bern?

How long in Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bern than Mont-Saint-Michel 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 Mont-Saint-Michel?

With shopping and museums around the destination of Bern, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities. It offers something for everyone.

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Mont-Saint-Michel. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel?

With museums and nightlife around the charming city of Bern, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Visiting the old town is also a must. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.

Mont-Saint-Michel is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the museums. 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 Mont-Saint-Michel?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

You'll find museums and food around the historic destination of Mont-Saint-Michel. This island offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel?

Bern is a popular choice for travelers. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The iconic island of Mont-Saint-Michel offers food 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 River Cruises in France, and The Best Bicycle Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 1520 times larger than the population of Mont-Saint-Michel. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Mont-Saint-Michel, 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 Mont-Saint-Michel?

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 Mont-Saint-Michel in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Mont-Saint-Michel. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Mont-Saint-Michel for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bern is a little warmer than Mont-Saint-Michel. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Mont-Saint-Michel averages at about 19°C (65°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mont-Saint-Michel this time of the year. In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mont-Saint-Michel during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 246 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Mont-Saint-Michel. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bern as well as Mont-Saint-Michel. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, many visitors come to Mont-Saint-Michel in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Mont-Saint-Michel. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Mont-Saint-Michel fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mont-Saint-Michel. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 134 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Mont-Saint-Michel. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel in the Winter?

Both Mont-Saint-Michel and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Mont-Saint-Michel for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Bern can get quite cold in the winter. Bern is much colder than Mont-Saint-Michel in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Mont-Saint-Michel fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mont-Saint-Michel during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Mont-Saint-Michel. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Mont-Saint-Michel in the Spring?

Both Mont-Saint-Michel and Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Mont-Saint-Michel because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Bern is a little warmer than Mont-Saint-Michel. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Mont-Saint-Michel averages at about 10°C (50°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Mont-Saint-Michel. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 180 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Mont-Saint-Michel. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Mont-Saint-Michel and Bern