A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Munich for Nightlife, Backpackers, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Bern or Munich?

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

Should I visit Bern or Munich? 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. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Munich

Munich is a multicultural, economically thriving, and bustling city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

Bern and Munich: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Munich?

You'll generally find more things to do in Munich than Bern. Munich is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Munich is better known for its food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Munich is more touristy than Bern and is known for its beer halls (particularly during Oktoberfest), its historic buildings and its castles. Also, Munich is famous for The Nymphenburg Palace. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Bern different from Munich?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Munich have very good 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 Munich specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Famous sights include the Old Town Hall in Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Residenz.

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

Munich 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, Munich makes for a great culinary experience. Bavaria has some of the best food in Germany. Popular dishes include schnitzel, weisswurst and spätzel.

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 Munich Better for Nightlife?

Munich is renowned for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Munich is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The city has a young and vibrant population that keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are many bars and clubs around town, but the city is also famous for Oktoberfest during the months of September and October.

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

Is Bern or Munich Better for Music?

Munich is renowned for live music. However, Bern is not a live music destination.

Munich is a world class music destination. The city is known for its music festivals, large concerts, and small venues that are diverse enough that there is something for everyone.

Bern is not a live music destination.

Is Bern or Munich Better for its Old Town?

Bern is well known for its historic old town charm. However, Munich does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Bern to see the historical old town. 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.

Munich does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Munich?

Munich is renowned for shopping. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Munich is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. There are many pedestrian areas and shopping centers where you can find everything from luxury items to bargain finds.

Bern is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Is Bern or Munich Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Munich.

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, Munich is very family-friendly. Popular kid activities include going to the top of Stadium Roof at Olympic Park, checking out the movie sets at Filmstadt, and taking a paddle boat ride in the city park.

Is Bern or Munich Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Munich make for a very good 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.

Munich makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples enjoy exploring the palaces around the city, visiting the Roman baths at Müller's Volksbad, and checking out the many great restaurants around town.

Is Bern or Munich Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Munich is renowned for backpackers. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Munich is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. The city has many fun hostels that often host events and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and take advantage of the nightlife around town.

Many backpackers visit Bern. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Is Bern or Munich Better for Students?

Munich is renowned for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Munich. The city is an economic hub for both Germany and Europe, so it attracts employees from around the world. There are many wonderful university programs, including a great business school in town. The city's multicultural setting makes it great for international students.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Munich is renowned for its public transit. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Munich has a great public transit system. Transit options include a subway (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses.

The public transit in Bern can get you around easily. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Is Bern or Munich a more walkable city?

Bern and Munich both are very good 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.

Munich is a very walkable city. While walking tours are a great way to explore, the city is quite large so you'll want to take public transit as well.

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

Should I spend more time in Munich or Bern?

How long in Bern or Munich?

In either Bern or Munich, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Munich than Bern because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 2-5 days is enough time in Munich.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Munich than Bern 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 Munich.

One day in Bern or Munich?

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.

Munich is a big city destination where you can fill many days. 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 Munich?

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.

Munich 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 Munich?

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.

Munich is a high energy big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Bern or Munich?

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.

The high energy city of Munich offers shopping 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, and The Best Walking Tours in Germany.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Munich?

Munich has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Munich, 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 Munich?

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 Munich in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Munich. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Munich in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Munich. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Munich fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Munich 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 Munich during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 242 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives less rain than Munich. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Munich receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Munich in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bern as well as Munich. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Munich for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.

Bern is a little warmer than Munich in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets more sunshine than Munich. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 115 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in October than Munich. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Munich receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Munich in the Winter?

Both Munich and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Munich because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Munich can be very cold. Bern can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Bern is much warmer than Munich. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Munich averages at about -1°C (31°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Munich during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 30 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives more rain than Munich. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Munich receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Munich in the Spring?

Both Munich and Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty. Furthermore, the activities around the city are the main draw to Munich this time of year.

In April, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Munich. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Munich. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 172 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Munich. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Munich receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Munich and Bern