A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Porto for Food, Backpackers, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Bern or Porto?

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

Should I visit Bern or Porto? 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. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Porto

Porto is a historic, cultural, and cosmopolitan port city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Porto: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Porto?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Porto than Bern, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Porto is more popular for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Bern is known for its shopping. Porto is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its authentic old town and the local port wine. It is also home to Cais da Ribeira. Bern is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Bern different from Porto?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Porto have great landmarks and museums for visitors.

Bern offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Many visitors head to Porto specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. With such a long history, there are many landmarks and sights in the city. Popular attractions include the Clérigos Tower, Palácio da Bolsa, and Igreja de São Francisco.

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

Porto 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, Porto is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The area's cuisine combines the ocean setting with the agriculture of the surrounding area, so you'll enjoy both seafood dishes as well as fresh meats and vegetables. The area is also famous for its Port wines and red wines. There are plenty of cellar tours as well was waterfront seafood restaurants to choose from.

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 Porto Better for Nightlife?

Porto is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Porto offers plenty to do in the evening. This city comes to life in the evening, particularly on weekends when locals and tourists alike flock to the many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

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 Porto Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the great old towns in both Bern and Porto.

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 Porto. Known as Porto Ribeira, the city's historic district is the most visited part of the town. It begins on the banks of the River Douro and climbs into the hills behind it.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Porto?

Bern is a great city for shopping. Also, Porto is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Porto offers some nice shopping areas. The city has both your standard shopping mall stores as well as local vendors and boutique shops.

Is Bern or Porto Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Porto.

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, Porto is very family-friendly. The city has several cool museums including the interactive museum - The World of Discoveries. There are also parks, playgrounds, zoos, and aquariums that you can explore. For families that enjoy being outside, this is a great city. Kids will enjoy spotting street art, riding the funicular, and taking a cellar tour. If the kids need a break from the city, head to the beach for the day.

Is Bern or Porto Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Porto make for a great place to visit.

Bern is a very popular place to visit for couples. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Porto makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You can visit the palaces, enjoy shopping, or dine in a nice Portuguese restaurant. Take a cellar tour and sample port then catch a ride on the funicular. This city has plenty for couples to do on a romantic getaway.

Is Bern or Porto Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Porto is renowned for backpackers. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Porto is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. By combining world-class activities with affordability, this city has become a popular stop off for backpackers in the area.

Many 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.

Is Bern or Porto Better for Students?

Porto is a well-known place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Porto is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. The city has a number of good research programs and study abroad opportunities that attract international students from around the world.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Both Bern and Porto offer great 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 Porto can get you around easily. There is a metro system as well as a bus system. While the metro system does have six lines, most stations aren't close to the tourist attractions, so it likely won't be that helpful to visitors.

Is Bern or Porto a more walkable city?

Bern and Porto both are great when exploring on foot.

Bern is very walkable. 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.

Porto is a very walkable city. The city center is very compact with most of the sights within a short walk of each other. The area is also very hilly, so getting from place to place can require a bit of effort.

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

Should I spend more time in Porto or Bern?

How long in Bern or Porto?

In either Bern or Porto, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Porto than Bern because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 2-5 days is enough time in Porto.

Families should spend more time in Porto than Bern. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Porto, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Porto than Bern 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 Porto.

One day in Bern or Porto?

In Bern, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this charming destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Porto is a big city destination where you can fill many days. 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 Porto?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Porto is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. 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.

Five days in Bern or Porto?

Bern is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Bern. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Porto is a cosmopolitan big city where you can fill many days. This port city 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 Porto?

You'll find food and shopping around the historic destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The historic port city of Porto 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Porto?

Porto has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Porto, 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 Porto?

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 Porto in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Porto. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Porto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Bern is around the same temperature as Porto in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Porto fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Porto. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets less sunshine than Porto. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Porto receives 308 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Porto. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Porto receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Porto in the Autumn?

Both Porto and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Porto in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Bern is cooler than Porto. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Porto averages at about 17°C (62°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Porto during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Porto receives 184 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Porto. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Porto receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Porto in the Winter?

Both Porto and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Porto for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Bern can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Bern is generally much colder than Porto. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Porto fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than Porto. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Porto receives 124 hours of full sun.

Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bern usually gets less rain in January than Porto. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Porto receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Porto in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Porto. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Porto because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Bern is cooler than Porto in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Porto fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Porto this time of the year. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Porto during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Porto receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.

Porto receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Bern usually receives less rain than Porto. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Porto receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Porto and Bern