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

Should you visit Bern or Rotterdam?

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

Should I visit Bern or Rotterdam? 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.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a modern, trendy, and high energy port city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Rotterdam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Rotterdam?

You'll generally find more things to do in Rotterdam than Bern. Rotterdam is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Rotterdam is better known for its nightlife and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its museums, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Bern is more touristy than Rotterdam and is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Rotterdam is well known for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall. Also, Rotterdam is famous for The Cube Houses.

The Cube Houses

How is Bern different from Rotterdam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around 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.

Rotterdam is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Although many of the historic buildings around town were destroyed during World War II, there are still a number of sights worth checking out. Head to the Old Harbor and Marine Museums, the Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, or the Wereldmuseum to see some interesting places.

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

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

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

Rotterdam has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Is Bern or Rotterdam Better for Nightlife?

Rotterdam 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.

Rotterdam offers plenty to do in the evening. It is a trendy city with an active nightlife. You can relax with a beer or hit up one of the clubs around town. Popular options are Club Vibes, Toffler, and Club Vie.

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 Rotterdam Better for its Old Town?

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

There are many historical things to see 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.

Rotterdam does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Rotterdam?

Both Bern and Rotterdam are superb 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.

Rotterdam is well-known for its shopping. You'll find fashion and clothing shops in the area around Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse. This is also where you'll find the shopping mall of Bijenkorf.

Is Bern or Rotterdam Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Rotterdam.

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, Rotterdam is very family-friendly. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

Is Bern or Rotterdam Better for Couples?

Bern is great for couples. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port 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.

Rotterdam is a nice destination for couples. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Is Bern or Rotterdam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city 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.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

Is Bern or Rotterdam Better for Students?

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

Rotterdam is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Both Bern and Rotterdam offer superb 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 Rotterdam can get you around easily. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

Is Bern or Rotterdam a more walkable city?

Bern and Rotterdam both are superb 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.

Rotterdam is a very walkable city. There are broad streets with wide sidewalks that are pedestrian friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Rotterdam or Bern?

How long in Bern or Rotterdam?

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

Families should spend more time in Bern than Rotterdam. 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 Rotterdam. 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 Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam?

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.

Rotterdam is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Rotterdam?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic 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.

Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam?

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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the modern big city of Rotterdam. This port 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 Rotterdam?

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 modern port city of Rotterdam 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 River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Rotterdam?

Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Rotterdam, 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 Rotterdam?

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 Rotterdam in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Rotterdam. Most visitors come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bern is generally a little warmer than Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rotterdam. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 202 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in July than Rotterdam. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Rotterdam in the Autumn?

Both Rotterdam and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Bern because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year.

Bern is a little warmer than Rotterdam in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Rotterdam in the Winter?

Both Rotterdam and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rotterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Rotterdam. It's quite cold in Bern in the winter. In the winter, Bern is a little warmer than Rotterdam. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Rotterdam averages at about 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 47 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in January than Rotterdam. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Rotterdam in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Rotterdam. Many travelers come to Bern for the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Rotterdam in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Bern is generally a little warmer than Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rotterdam during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Rotterdam. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rotterdam and Bern