Which place is cheaper, Plzen or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or Plzen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern or Plzen? 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 Plzen?
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.
Plzen
Renowned as the home of the pilsner beer, Plzen is a city located in the West Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Beyond beer, it also features a number of impressive landmarks some of which include St. Bartholomew's Cathedral and the Great Synagogue.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Czech Republic, and The Best Cultural Tours in Czech Republic.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $249Plzen $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $249, while the average daily cost in Plzen is $101. 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 Plzen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $161Plzen $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $322Plzen $122
Compare Hotels in Bern and Plzen
Looking for a hotel in Bern or Plzen? 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.
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 Plzen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $33Plzen $8.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $191
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $213
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $227
- Private Transfer from Bern to Zurich with 2h of Sightseeing: $300
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plzen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Plzen:
- Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague: $87
- Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague with 2 hours for sightseeing: $116
- Private Transfer from Pilsen(Plzen) to Prague: $271
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Plzen?
Prices for flights to both Plzen 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
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Food Meals for one dayBern $60Plzen $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.
- Cooking delicious Spanish paella in Switzerland.: $57
- Bern Food Market: Brunch & Local Food Tour: $62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $34Plzen $21
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.36
- Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $6.95
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $7.43
- Escape Game and Tour: $8.56
- Self-Guided Tour of Bern's Fountains, Clocktowers, and Legends: $9.99
- Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- City Sightseeing Self-Guided Walking Tour Game: $15
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Thun Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Fribourg Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
Tours and Activities in Plzen
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Plzen are as follows:
- Pilsen: Historic Underground Tour with a Glass of Beer: $8.56
- Pilsen Historic Underground Tour with a Glass of Beer: $8.74
- Pilsen: Old Town Gastronomy Tour: $32
- Pilsen Private Walking Tour: $201
- Experience Best Prague Tandem Skydiving : $250
- Private Tour to Pilsner Urquell from Prague: $272
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $27Plzen $23
Sample the Local Flavors in Plzen
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plzen:
- Brewery Museum Entrance including a Glass of Beer: $6.55
- Pilsen: Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $17
- Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $17
- Pilsen Highlights Small-Group Tour and Pilsner Brewery Tour including Lunch and Beer Tasting: $108
- Pilsner brewery tour incl beer tasting & Czech town Pilsen: $140
- Day trip to Pilsner Urquell brewery and Bohemian glassworks: $207
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Plzen, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Plzen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Plzen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Plzen 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 Plzen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Plzen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or Plzen?
Plzen has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Plzen, 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 Plzen?
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 Plzen in the Summer?
Both Plzen 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.
Bern is around the same temperature as Plzen in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Plzen fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Plzen. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives more sunshine than Plzen during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Plzen receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Bern usually receives less rain than Plzen. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBern 21°C (70°F)Plzen 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Bern or Plzen in the Autumn?
Both Plzen 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.
In the autumn, Bern is a little warmer than Plzen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Plzen averages at about 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Plzen. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plzen receives 120 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets more rain in October than Plzen. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBern 13°C (55°F)Plzen 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Bern or Plzen in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Plzen. The winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Plzen in the winter. The weather in Bern can be very cold. In January, Bern is generally much warmer than Plzen. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Plzen fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
Bern usually receives more sunshine than Plzen during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Plzen receives 45 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Bern usually receives more rain than Plzen. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBern 3°C (37°F)Plzen -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Bern or Plzen in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Plzen. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year.
Bern is around the same temperature as Plzen in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Plzen fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the spring, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Plzen. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plzen receives 164 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets more rain in April than Plzen. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBern 11°C (52°F)Plzen 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Plzen and Bern
| Bern | Plzen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.