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

Should you visit Bern or Pompeii?

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

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

Pompeii

Pompeii is a ancient, famous, and iconic archeological site. It's also known for museums.

Bern and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Pompeii?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Pompeii than Bern, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Pompeii is better known for its museums, while Bern is more popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Pompeii is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Also, Pompeii is famous for the Pompeii Archaeological Ruins. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

The Pompeii Archaeological Ruins

How is Bern different from Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Pompeii is renowned for its sights and museums. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Pompeii that are not to be missed. Pompeii is a city frozen in time and it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The streets remain as they once stood, lined with shops and homes. Highlights of a visit include the Forum, the Antiquarium, the Temple of Isis, and the Teatro Grande.

Many visitors head to Bern specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

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

Bern is very good for its restaurants. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Bern is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

While Pompeii is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. While there is a café near the Forum, the quality of the food isn't great and it can get crowded. You'd do best to bring your own food as the site is large and you'll want to eat on your own schedule.

Is Bern or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Bern is very good for its evening party scene. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Pompeii. As a popular tourist destination, you'll find some bars nearby, but most people visit as a day trip and head out of town before the evening hours.

Is Bern or Pompeii Better for its Old Town?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Pompeii does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of 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.

Pompeii does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Pompeii?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Pompeii is lacking in options 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.

Pompeii has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There are some souvenir stands outside of the site where you can buy trinkets to remember your visit.

Is Bern or Pompeii Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Pompeii.

Bern is 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.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Pompeii is very family-friendly. Its a city frozen in time, and even kids will get lost in the history and story behind Pompeii. The trick is to find a kid-friendly tour and understand the layout before you arrive. Because it's so big, you want to know which places to visit and which you might want to skip with kids who have short attention spans.

Is Bern or Pompeii Better for Couples?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

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.

Pompeii is a nice destination for couples. It's an iconic destination in Italy, and should be added to any Italian trip itinerary. It's not exactly a romantic destination, but it's something that every visitor should see.

Is Bern or Pompeii Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Pompeii. It's touristy and crowded, but also world renowned and not-to-be-missed. Whether you're a backpacker or a luxury traveler, Pompeii is on most itineraries.

Is Bern or Pompeii Better for Students?

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

Pompeii is a good archeological site to visit for students. It's history and educational significance make it a great study abroad destination, whether you visit alone, with friends, or as part of a tour group.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Bern is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Bern offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are trams and buses that run around town.

You'll find some public transit in Pompeii, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

Is Bern or Pompeii a more walkable city?

Pompeii 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 Pompeii on foot. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

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 Pompeii Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pompeii or Bern?

How long in Bern or Pompeii?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bern or Pompeii to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bern than Pompeii because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 1-2 days is enough time in Pompeii.

Couples should spend more time in Bern than Pompeii. 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 Pompeii 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 Pompeii?

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 museums when visiting the destination of Pompeii. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Pompeii?

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.

Pompeii is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the museums. 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 Pompeii?

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 around the one-of-a-kind destination of Pompeii. This archeological site offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Pompeii?

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 one-of-a-kind archeological site of Pompeii offers museums. 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Bern or Pompeii?

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 Pompeii in the Summer?

Both Pompeii and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Pompeii for the family-friendly experiences.

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

In Pompeii, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Pompeii. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Pompeii in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Pompeii. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

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

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Pompeii receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Pompeii in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as Pompeii. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Pompeii for the museums during these months.

Bern can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Pompeii. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Pompeii averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pompeii. Bern usually gets less rain in January than Pompeii. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Pompeii in the Spring?

Both Pompeii and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months.

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

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Bern