A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Reykjavik for Families, Couples, Backpackers, and Food

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Should you visit Bern or Reykjavik?

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

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

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a clean, green, and safe city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, hiking, and shopping.

How is Bern different from Reykjavik?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Is Bern or Reykjavik better for Food?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine in both Bern and Reykjavik.

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

Reykjavik offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Traditional Icelandic food may not have the best reputation, but restaurants these days are pretty good with a variety of dishes to choose from. Popular foods in the area include fish, lamb, and Icelandic skyr (a type of yogurt).


Is Bern or Reykjavik better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Reykjavik are comparable 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 Reykjavik. The city offers the best nightlife in Iceland and you'll be surprised at the number of clubs, bars, and craft breweries that you can choose from. Almost all of the popular nightlife spots are around Laugavegur, a major shopping street in town.

Is Bern or Reykjavik better for Shopping?

Both Bern and Reykjavik are good shopping destinations.

Bern is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Reykjavik. The city's main shopping street is Laugavegur, which is where you'll find the most activity around town as well as a bustling atmosphere.

Is Bern or Reykjavik better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Reykjavik.

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.

Reykjavik is a very family-friendly destination. With its many outdoor activities and hands on museums, the city is great for kids. The cafes and restaurants are family-friendly and their are plenty of entertainment options for the whole family.

Is Bern or Reykjavik better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Reykjavik make for a good 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.

Reykjavik makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are museums, outdoor activities, and even the northern lights that make this city very romantic. The cafes are laid-back and the atmosphere is friendly.


Is Bern or Reykjavik better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Bern and Reykjavik are popular destinations for backpackers.

Bern is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Plenty of backpackers visit Reykjavik. There are a number of hostels around town, but they can be pretty expensive. Transportation can also be pretty challenging for backpackers.

Is Bern or Reykjavik better for Public Transit?

Both Bern and Reykjavik offer public transit options.

Visitors to Bern can move around easily with public transportation. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Reykjavik has some public transit options. There is a fairly comprehensive bus system around town.

Is Bern or Reykjavik a more walkable city?

Bern and Reykjavik both are comparable 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.

Reykjavik is very walkable. The city is small and compact, so it's easy to explore on foot.

Bern and Reykjavik: Pros and Cons

Bern
Pros
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty
Reykjavik
Pros
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty


Should I spend more time in Reykjavik or Bern?

How long in Bern or Reykjavik?

In either Bern or Reykjavik, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Reykjavik than Bern because of the overall number of sights and activities.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Bern is 1-3 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Reykjavik is 1-5 days.


  • How many days in Bern or Reykjavik? Ideal Length of Stay
    Bern 1-3 
    Reykjavik 1-5

One day in Bern or Reykjavik?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Bern. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bern has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Reykjavik. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered around the area. One day is usually enough time for a trip here.


A weekend in Bern or Reykjavik?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the charming destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Reykjavik is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the hiking. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to spend here. The entire area has lots to do.

Five days in Bern or Reykjavik?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the beautiful city of Bern. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the green destination of Reykjavik. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days here when traveling. Five days is often enough time to spend here.

A week in Bern or Reykjavik?

Bern is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The friendly city of Reykjavik offers nightlife and shopping. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

Which city is cheaper, Reykjavik or Bern?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $185, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is $208. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bern and Reykjavik in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bern $119
    Reykjavik $118
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bern $238
    Reykjavik $236

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bern $25
    Reykjavik $39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:

  • Private transfer from Bern City to Zurich Airport: $416
  • Private Transfer from Bern City Center to Zurich City Center: $318
  • Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Zurich City - One Way: $661
  • Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Bern City - One Way: $105
  • Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Basel City - One Way: $586
  • Geneva: Premium 1-Way Private Transfer to/from Bern: $277
  • Premium Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Interlaken: $250

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik

Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Ultra - Reykjavik Private Airport Transfer from Cruise Port to Keflavík Airport: $8.71
  • Keflavik Airport & Reykjavik Hotels: Economy Bus Transfer: $23
  • Shuttle Bus Transfer to/from Keflavik Airport: $26
  • Airport Express Shared Departure transfer from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport: $28
  • Airport Transfer in Iceland from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport One Way: $31
  • Blue Lagoon Return Bus Transfer from Reykjavik: $33
  • Airport Express Shared Departure Transfer from Reykjavik Hotels to Keflavik Airport: $37
  • Airport Transfer in Iceland from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport with Hotel Pick Up: $43
  • Direct Bus Transfer between Keflavik Airport & Hotels: $50
  • Door to Door Premium Airport transfer from Reykjavik Hotels to Keflavik International Airport: $63
  • Return Economy Airport Transfer between Keflavik International Airport and Reykjavik City: $66
  • Transfer to & from Blue Lagoon: $78

Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Reykjavik?

Prices for flights to both Reykjavik 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 $44
    Reykjavik $26

Typical Food prices in Reykjavik

For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner (Fish Market)
    $188

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik

For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Exclusive dinner with a local family: $112
  • Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market: $123
  • Dinner with an Icelandic Artist in Reykjavik Home: $151
  • Secret Lagoon, Buffet Dinner, and Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik: $159
  • South Coast: Volcanoes, waterfalls & Viking dinner at the Viking house: $179
  • Private Reykjavik Food Tour: $198
  • South Coast: Small group glacier hike, fire & ice with dinner at Viking lodge: $199
  • Cook and Dine Icelandic Cooking Class Gourmet Lunch or Dinner: $204
  • Kopar Fine Dining Dinner and Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik: $229
  • West Iceland Private Food Tour from Reykjavik: $723

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bern $25
    Reykjavik $61

Tours and Activities in Bern

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

  • Adventure: Diamond Skull Virtual Reality: $230
  • Bern - Walking Tour with Licensed Guide: $446
  • Bern Capital City Private Tour: $194
  • Bern Capital City Small Group Tour: $90
  • Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $45
  • Bern Old City Walking Tour: $491
  • Bern Old Town- Private Tour: $435
  • Bern Private Walking Tour: $366
  • Bern Private Walking Tour with Professional Guide: $497
  • 1-Hour Must-See Express Tour: $72
  • 2-Hour Historical Walking Tour: $162
  • 4-Hour City Tour with Private Guide: $231

Typical Entertainment prices in Reykjavik

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Art Museum
    $11
  • Wine and Spa
    $31

Tours and Activities in Reykjavik

For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Admission Ticket to Viking World Museum: $14
  • Aurora Reykjavík, The Northern Lights Center Entrance Ticket: $16
  • Skip the Line: Volcano House Admission Ticket: $17
  • Tales from Iceland Admission Ticket: $18
  • Skip the Line: Admission Ticket - The Culture House Reykjavik: $19
  • Skip the Line: The National Museum of Iceland Ticket: $20
  • Whales of Iceland Exhibition Entrance Ticket: $22
  • Whales Of Iceland Admission Ticket: $26
  • Bryggjan Brugghús Craft Beer Tour: $27
  • Reykjavik Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Reykjavik Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
  • Perlan - Wonders of Iceland Tour: $33
  • Perlan Wonders of Iceland - Ice cave & Nature Exhibition Ticket: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bern $20
    Reykjavik $24

Typical Alcohol prices in Reykjavik

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:


  • Beer
    $9.30

Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:

  • Eimverk Distillery Tour with Tasting: $34
  • Private Reykjavik Pub Crawl: $181
  • Reykjavik Food & Wine Tour: $249

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Bern and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik 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. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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Bern vs. Reykjavik Travel Comparison

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