A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Phoenix for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Bern or Phoenix?

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

Should I visit Bern or Phoenix? 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 cultural, historic, and charming city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Phoenix

Phoenix is a sprawling, desert, and laid back city. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and museums.

Bern and Phoenix: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Phoenix?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Bern than Phoenix. While Phoenix is larger than Bern, Bern has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bern is better known for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Phoenix is more popular for its hiking. Bern is more touristy than Phoenix and is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Also, Bern is famous for The Zytglogge Clock Tower. Phoenix is well known for its desert landscapes, high number of golf courses, and year round warm weather.

How is Bern different from Phoenix?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

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.

Phoenix is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. You'll find art, science, and cultural museums around town. Favorites include the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, S'edav Va'aki Museum, and the Arizona Science Museum.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at notable restaurants in both Bern and Phoenix.

Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Phoenix has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are many mom-and-pop shops around town that serve everything from casual meals to quality steaks. There's also a huge selection of Mexican restaurants, as well as other international options such as sushi, dim sum, and Italian.

Is Bern or Phoenix Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Phoenix are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Phoenix. The best nightlife scene is found in downtown and central Phoenix. There are bars, restaurants, and venues where you can catch a show. North Phoenix also has grown into a popular evening spot with cocktail bars and pubs.

Is Bern or Phoenix Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a great city for its historic old town charm. However, Phoenix does not have a historic old town.

Bern is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. 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.

Phoenix does not have a historic old town.

Is Bern or Phoenix Better for Hiking?

Phoenix is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Bern is not a hiking destination.

Phoenix is a good destination for hiking. You don't have to head far out of town for impressive hiking opportunities. You'll find trails that range from easy to challenging, and many pass through other-worldly landscapes. You'll find popular trails in Usery Mountain Regional Park, Papago Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, South Mountain Park and many others.

Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Phoenix?

Bern is a great city for its shopping areas. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bern. 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.

Phoenix is a great destination for shopping. There are plenty of shopping centers, outlets, and malls where you'll find the standard chain stores. You'll also find farmer's markets around town.

Is Bern or Phoenix Better for Families?

Bern is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Bern. 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.

Phoenix is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center, the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, and the Bearizona Wildlife Park. There's also a number of parks and gardens as well as a children's museum and several other interactive museums for kids.

Is Bern or Phoenix Better for Couples?

Bern is a great city for couples. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Bern is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Phoenix is a nice destination for couples. There are many parks and gardens in town as well as beautiful hikes and outdoor activities that couples will enjoy. In the evening, there's theater, shows, and many romantic restaurants.

Is Bern or Phoenix Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Phoenix is not known 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.

Phoenix is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is a hostel or two around town for budget travelers.

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

Bern is a great city for times when you don't have a car. However, Phoenix is not known for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Bern. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Public transit is generally limited in Phoenix. There's a bus and light rail system, but you really need your own vehicle to get around.

Is Bern or Phoenix a more walkable city?

Bern is a great city for its ease of walking around. However, Phoenix is not known for its walkability.

Bern is a very walkable destination. 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.

Phoenix is generally not very walkable. It's a sprawling city and the only real area that's walkable is the downtown.

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

Should I spend more time in Phoenix or Bern?

How long in Bern or Phoenix?

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

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

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

In Bern, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Phoenix. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Phoenix?

In Bern, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bern has to offer.

Phoenix 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 Phoenix?

Bern is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the sprawling destination of Phoenix. 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 Phoenix?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bern. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The sprawling city of Phoenix 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 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

When comparing the travel costs between Bern and Phoenix, we can see that Bern is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Bern is in Europe and Phoenix is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Phoenix?

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

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 Phoenix in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Phoenix. Many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Phoenix for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

It's very hot in Phoenix this time of the year. In July, Bern is generally much colder than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Phoenix fluctuates around 98°F (36°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phoenix. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 380 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Phoenix. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Phoenix in the Autumn?

Both Phoenix and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. 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 Phoenix because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Bern is much colder than Phoenix in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Phoenix fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Phoenix. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 305 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Phoenix in the Winter?

Both Phoenix and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Phoenix this time of year.

The weather in Bern can be very cold. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Phoenix. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Phoenix averages at about 58°F (14°C).

In Phoenix, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 254 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in January than Phoenix. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Phoenix in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Phoenix. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

In April, Bern is generally much colder than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Phoenix fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phoenix this time of the year. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 355 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Phoenix and Bern