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

Should you visit Bern or Nice?

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

Should I visit Bern or Nice? 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 historic, charming, and beautiful city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Nice

Nice is a beautiful, opulent, and trendy seaside destination. You'll find world class beauty here as well. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. It's also known for scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Bern and Nice: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Nice?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Nice than Bern. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Nice is very popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Bern attracts visitors for its museums. Nice is more touristy than Bern and is known for its beachfront setting in the French Riviera as well as its popularity with A-list celebrities. It is also well known for The Promenade des Anglais. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Bern different from Nice?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Nice does not have 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.

Nice does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Nice 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, Nice is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The cuisine brings together fresh regional ingredients and mixes Provençal and Niçoise flavors. You'll find a lot of Italian influence as well. Fresh seafood is the thing to try while you're in town, but other local favorites include socca, Ratatouille, and Salade niçoise.

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 Nice Better for Nightlife?

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

Nice is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The city has some of the best nightlife on the Cote d'Azur. You'll find a number of nightclubs along the seaside as well a bars and pubs in the Old Town. Some of the best clubs are along Promenade des Anglais.

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 Nice Better for Resorts?

Nice is renowned for its resorts. However, Bern is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Nice is a great choice. The city has boutique hotels as well high end luxury resorts. Popular options include Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée, Hôtel Suisse, and AC Hotel by Marriott.

Bern is not a resort destination.

Is Bern or Nice Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Nice is a popular place for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Bern is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Nice has a few good snorkeling spots. There are some places where you can arrange a snorkeling or dive trip to explore the underwater setting.

Bern is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bern or Nice Better for Beaches?

Nice is a well-known place for its beaches. However, Bern is not a beach destination.

Nice is considered a top beach destination. The city has about 4 miles of beach along its coastline and there are both public and private beaches available. La Réserve is a public beach with a laid back and fun vibe. Plage Beau Rivage is a private beach with many amenities, making it a favorite for visitors. Blue Beach is another private beach that is very family-friendly.

Bern is not a beach destination.

Is Bern or Nice Better for its Old Town?

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

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 Nice. Wandering around the charming old town is a quintessential part of visiting this city. There are many historic churches and squares, as well as great restaurants and shops that you can pop in.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Nice?

Both Bern and Nice are excellent 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.

Nice is well-known for its shopping. The city has long been a favorite for the rich and famous, so you'll find plenty of shopping opportunities around town. The boutique shops are chic, trendy, and fashionable, but for those on a budget, you can sometimes find a unique local purchase in your budget.

Is Bern or Nice Better for Families?

Bern is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Nice is not as famous, but is still a good seaside destination to visit 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.

Nice is a family-friendly city. The town has many fun playgrounds, kid-friendly beaches, and unique cultural opportunities that kids can enjoy. It also makes a great base for exploring the French Riviera and everything that it has to offer.

Is Bern or Nice Better for Couples?

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

Nice makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The old town is filled with romance and charm. You can also take a walk along the Promenade Des Anglais or soak up the romantic countryside that surrounds the town.

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 Nice Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Nice is not as famous, but is still a good seaside destination to visit 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Nice. Because it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in France, many backpackers make their way here. Nice is known for its high end vibe, so it can be challenging to find affordable options, but if you know where to look, they are around.

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

Both Bern and Nice 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 Nice can get you around easily. There are both buses and trams.

Is Bern or Nice a more walkable city?

Nice 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 Nice on foot. You should definitely spend some time exploring the 7 kilometer long Promenade des Anglais.

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 Nice Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Nice or Bern?

How long in Bern or Nice?

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

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

One day in Bern or Nice?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Bern. 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Nice. 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 Nice?

Bern 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.

Nice is a fun place to experience. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bern or Nice?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the beautiful destination of Bern. 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.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the chic destination of Nice. This seaside destination offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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 Nice?

The beautiful city of Bern 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.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Nice?

Nice has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Nice, 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 Nice?

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 Nice in the Summer?

Both Nice and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Nice for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Bern is around the same temperature as Nice. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Nice averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Nice. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Nice receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Nice in the Autumn?

Both Nice and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. 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 Nice because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Bern is generally cooler than Nice. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Nice fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Nice gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bern usually gets less rain in October than Nice. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Nice receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Nice in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Nice. The winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Nice this time of year.

The weather in Bern can be very cold. Bern is much colder than Nice in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Nice fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Nice. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Nice receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Nice in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Nice. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Nice for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Bern is cooler than Nice. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Nice averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Nice. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Nice receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Nice and Bern