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

Should you visit Bern or Naples?

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

Should I visit Bern or Naples? 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.

Naples

Naples is a gritty, colorful, and fascinating city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Naples: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Naples?

You'll generally find more things to do in Naples than Bern. Naples is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Naples is better known for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its impressive beauty. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Naples is well known for its colorful atmosphere, long running history, and influence on world cuisine as the birthplace of pizza. Also, Naples is famous for Piazza del Plebiscito.

How is Bern different from Naples?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Naples 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 Naples specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Most of the sights are concentrated in the city's historic center. The Naples Harbor is a gateway to the Mediterranean. Also worth visiting are the National Archeological Museum, Capodimonte Royal Palace, Castel Nuovo, and the Catacombs of San Gennaro.

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

Naples 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, Naples is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. As the birthplace of pizza, the city has a well known food reputation. Many local dishes, including an authentic Napoli pizza, use simple flavors such as olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes. The dishes are lighter than their northern counterparts and tomatoes are a very popular ingredient. In addition to the pizza, you should try Lasagna Al Forno Napoletana and Spaghetti Alla Vognole. Also check out a pizza making class.

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 Naples Better for Nightlife?

Naples 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.

Naples offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife scene includes small bars, wineries, and dance clubs, but much of the energy and activity is actually focused on being outdoors. There is plenty of live music and many nightclubs are actually "disco bars" that are found tucked away in the city's historic center.

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 Naples Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the very good old towns in both Bern and Naples.

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 Naples. Most of the city's tourist attractions are found in the historic center, which includes beautiful fountains, grand churches, and an impressive network of catacombs and caves.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Naples?

Both Bern and Naples 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.

Naples is well-known for its shopping. There are shopping streets and districts that have boutique clothing vendors, high end brands, and major chains. There's plenty of diversity in the shopping scene and some of the best shopping areas include Via Toledo, the Chiaia District, and Poggioreale Market.

Is Bern or Naples Better for Families?

Bern is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Naples is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Bern is known to be 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.

Naples offers lots of family activities. Despite its rough-around-the-edges reputation, the city actually has some fun kid-friendly activities. As the birthplace of pizza, a childhood favorite, eating is a kid approved activity. You can even try your hand at pizza making classes. Other fun kid-friendly activities include exploring the underground city, going to The Science Centre of Citta della Scienza, and running around Parco di Capodimonte.

Is Bern or Naples Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Naples 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.

Naples makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Dining on pizza, wine tasting, or taking a cruise on the Gulf of Naples all make this city a great couples destination. There are also many romantic day trips in the area, so many couples use Naples as a base for exploring the region.

Is Bern or Naples Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Bern and Naples are very good destinations for backpackers.

Backpackers come from all over to 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.

Many backpackers visit Naples. It's more affordable than most of northern Italy, and it has plenty of hostels to choose from. The city makes a great stop for backpackers who want to see a different part of Italy. While not completely off the backpacker trail, Naples is not inundated with tourists the way some other Italian cities are.

Is Bern or Naples Better for Students?

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

Naples is a good city to visit for students. It's a large city with a lot to see and do. Students also appreciate the many day trips that are available in the area.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Both Bern and Naples 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 Naples can get you around easily. There's a metro with two metro lines as well as four suburban train lines. There are also funiculars, regional trains, and ferries to the surrounding areas.

Is Bern or Naples a more walkable city?

Bern and Naples 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.

Naples is a very walkable city. The historic center is flat and easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Naples or Bern?

How long in Bern or Naples?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bern and Naples. In our opinion, Naples has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Naples than Bern. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Naples 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 Naples.

One day in Bern or Naples?

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.

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

A weekend in Bern or Naples?

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.

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

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 historic big city of Naples. 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.

A week in Bern or Naples?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming 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 colorful city of Naples 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.

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 Italy, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Naples?

Naples has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Naples, 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 Naples?

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 Naples in the Summer?

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

In July, Bern is generally cooler than Naples. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Naples fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Naples this time of the year. In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Naples during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Naples receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Naples. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Naples receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Naples in the Autumn?

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

Bern is cooler than Naples in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Naples fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets less sunshine than Naples. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Naples receives 189 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Naples. Bern usually gets less rain in October than Naples. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Naples receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Naples in the Winter?

Both Naples 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 Naples 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 Naples. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Naples averages at about 8°C (47°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Naples during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Naples receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Naples. In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Naples. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Naples receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Naples in the Spring?

Both Naples 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 Naples this time of year.

In April, Bern is generally cooler than Naples. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Naples fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Naples. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Naples receives 189 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in April than Naples. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Naples receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Naples and Bern