A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Oranjestad for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bern or Oranjestad?

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

Should I visit Bern or Oranjestad? 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.

Where Should I go: Bern or Oranjestad?

Bern

The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland.


Which place is cheaper, Oranjestad or Bern?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $341, while the average daily cost in Oranjestad is $431. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bern and Oranjestad in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bern $187
    Oranjestad $241
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bern $374
    Oranjestad $482
Compare Hotels in Bern and Oranjestad

Looking for a hotel in Bern or Oranjestad? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Bern


Hotels in Oranjestad


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bern Hotel Prices and Oranjestad Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bern $39
    Oranjestad $45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:

  • Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $251
  • Private direct transfer from Bern to Lucerne: $262

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Oranjestad

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Oranjestad:


  • Round-trip Bus Ticket
    $2.84

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad:

  • Aruba: Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $22
  • Reina Beatrix Airport: Round-Trip Shared Transfer: $22
  • Aruba (AUA) : Airport Private Transfer to Aruba City: $38
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer from Aruba Airport to Hotel: $68
  • Aruba Oranjestad Queen Airport (AUA): Transfer to island: $131

Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Oranjestad?

Prices for flights to both Oranjestad and Bern change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bern $120
    Oranjestad $139

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.

  • Bern Bites Food Tour Culinary Exploration of Bern's Old Town: $154

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oranjestad

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oranjestad.

  • Aruba: Sip and Savor Local Food Tour: $95
  • Oranjesta: Sunset Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $119

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bern $39
    Oranjestad $116

Tours and Activities in Bern

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:

  • Self-Guided Audio City Tour in Bern: $6.29
  • Self-Guided Reading City Tour in Bern: $6.29
  • Self-Guided Audio City Tour in Bern: $6.40
  • Bern Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $8.34
  • Thun Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.96
  • Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.96
  • Bern Self-Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
  • Bern Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $11
  • Zytglogge - Tour through the Clock Tower: $25
  • Guided Walking Tour in Bern: $39
  • Must-See 2-Hour Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $42
  • Bern Food Market: Tour w/o Brunch: $44

Typical Entertainment Prices in Oranjestad

Here are a few typical costs in Oranjestad for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Full Day Bike Rental
    $32
  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $89
  • Golf
    $159
  • Kayak & Snorkeling Tour
    $126

Tours and Activities in Oranjestad

Here are a few actual costs in Oranjestad for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Aruba: Guided Countryside Exploration Tour: $45
  • 3-Hour Aruba Highlights Guided Tour: $49
  • Half-Day Aruba Island Tour with Top Attractions: $55
  • Meet the Animals of Aruba Tour: $57
  • Aruba: Beach Hopping Snorkeling Tour: $57
  • Aruba Arikok National Park Hiking Tour: $57
  • Discover the Island of Aruba: 4-Hour Bus Tour & Snorkel: $59
  • Full-Day Aruba History and Landmarks Tour: $69
  • Aruba Downtown Historic And Cultural Walking Tour: $75
  • Latin/Caribbean Party Bus Night Tour & Karaoke: $85
  • Aruba: Natural Pool, Caves & Baby Beach Jeep Adventure: $89
  • Aruba: Northcoast UTV Afternoon Adventure: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bern $31
    Oranjestad $40


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Oranjestad, we can see that Oranjestad is more expensive. And not only is Bern much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern is in Europe and Oranjestad is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Bern would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bern 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 Oranjestad would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oranjestad than you might in Bern.

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


Which is Bigger, Bern or Oranjestad?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Oranjestad. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Oranjestad, 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.