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

Should you visit Bern or Nantes?

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

Should I visit Bern or Nantes? 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. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Nantes

Nantes is a vibrant, welcoming, and friendly city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Nantes: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Nantes?

You'll generally find more things to do in Nantes than Bern. Nantes is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Nantes is better known for its food and nightlife, while Bern is more popular for its historical sights. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Nantes is well known for its castles and historical landmarks, local wine, and beautiful parks and gardens. Also, Nantes is famous for The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany.

How is Bern different from Nantes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Nantes 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 Nantes specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is filled with historical monuments, particularly in the Bouffay District. Highlights include Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, Château des Ducs de Bretagne, and the Musée d'Arts de Nantes.

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

Nantes is renowned for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Nantes is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The region lends itself to unique flavors with a great mix of seafood from the Atlantic, freshwater fish from the Loire, and dairy from the surrounding countryside. The region is also famous for its wine. Local dishes that you should try include Filet de Sandre au Beurre Blanc (fresh fish in butter sauce), Crepes Bretonnes (breakfast crepes), and Le Canard Nantais (duck with Muscadet wine).

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 Nantes Better for Nightlife?

Nantes is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Nantes offers plenty to do in the evening. The large student population heavily influences the nightlife scene. You'll find a young vibe with a lot of bars and clubs to choose from, particularly around Île de Nantes.

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 Nantes Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a very popular place for its historic old town charm. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its 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.

Many visitors go to Nantes to see the historical old town. The city's old town is in the Bouffay District and it is filled with half-timbered houses and a maze of streets and shops.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Nantes?

Both Bern and Nantes are very good 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.

Nantes is well-known for its shopping. There are impressive shopping streets, boutique stores, and grand shopping malls. Make sure you check out Rue Crébillon, Passage Pommeraye, and the shops around the Bouffay District. Talensac Market is also a historical covered market that you can explore.

Is Bern or Nantes Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Nantes.

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, Nantes is very family-friendly. It's filled with gardens, museums, and theme parks, making it a great combination of fascinating activities for adults and kids alike. Some of the top kid-friendly activities include a visit to Machine of the Isle of Nantes (both a theme park and a museum), seeing a show at Le Lieu Unique, or experiencing Naudières Park (a smaller theme park). Kids will also enjoy seeing Goulaine Castle or wandering around Jardin Extraordinaire or the Botanical Gardens.

Is Bern or Nantes Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Nantes 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.

Nantes makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There is a mix of both natural and historical beauty. Couples can enjoy a nice meal, stroll through one of the many parks and gardens, or even spend the day at the spa.

Is Bern or Nantes Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Nantes is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and 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.

Nantes is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't as many hostels as you would expect in the area, so finding an affordable and social place to stay may be a bit challenging.

Is Bern or Nantes Better for Students?

Nantes is a popular place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Nantes is a good city to visit for students. There's a decent sized student population and the city has a welcoming atmosphere. It's also easy to get around with public transportation.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Both Bern and Nantes offer very good 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 Nantes can get you around easily. There are both trams and buses throughout the city that are operated by TAN (Transport de l'Agglomeration Nantaise).

Is Bern or Nantes a more walkable city?

Bern and Nantes 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.

Nantes is a very walkable city. The city is very walkable. Both locals and tourists alike choose to walk in Nantes.

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

Should I spend more time in Nantes or Bern?

How long in Bern or Nantes?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bern and Nantes. In our opinion, Nantes has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Nantes than Bern. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 2-3 days is enough time in Nantes.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bern than Nantes 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 Nantes?

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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Nantes. 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 Nantes?

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.

Nantes is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. 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 Nantes?

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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historical destination of Nantes. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Nantes?

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 vibrant city of Nantes offers nightlife 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 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Nantes?

Nantes has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Nantes, 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 Nantes?

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 Nantes in the Summer?

Both Nantes and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Nantes in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Nantes. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Nantes fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

In Nantes, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Nantes. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 267 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Nantes. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Nantes in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Nantes. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Nantes for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Bern is around the same temperature as Nantes in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Nantes fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Nantes during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Nantes. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Nantes in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as Nantes. Most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Nantes because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bern can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Nantes. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Nantes averages at about 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than Nantes. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 72 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in January than Nantes. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Nantes in the Spring?

Both Nantes and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Nantes this time of year.

In April, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Nantes. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Nantes fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Nantes during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Nantes. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nantes and Bern