A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Rouen for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Bern or Rouen?

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

Should I visit Bern or Rouen? 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 historic, charming, and beautiful city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Rouen

Rouen is a charming, compact, and impressive city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Rouen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Rouen?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bern. Although Bern and Rouen are about the same size, Bern has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bern is very popular for its museums, historical sights, and shopping, while Rouen attracts visitors for its food. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. It is also well known for The Zytglogge Clock Tower. Rouen is famous for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture.

How is Bern different from Rouen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Rouen. You'll find the highest concentration of sights in the city's pedestrian zone. Highlights that you should check out include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, and Aître Saint-Maclou.

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

Rouen is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Rouen makes for a great culinary experience. There are many local specialties found in town. Make sure you try the Passe Crassane, which is a French pear. The town is also known for its cheese, chocolate, and pastries.

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 Rouen Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Rouen are nice 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 Rouen. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

Is Bern or Rouen Better for its Old Town?

Bern is notable for its old town. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town charm.

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.

Rouen has an old town worth visiting. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Rouen?

Bern is notable for its shopping opportunities. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

Bern is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Rouen has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Some of the city's best shopping is found along the Rue du Gros-Horloge in the old city center. You'll find independent boutiques and well as upscale vendors.

Is Bern or Rouen Better for Families?

Bern is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Bern is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Rouen is a family-friendly city. This beautiful city is filled with nice parks, free museums, and towers that offer views over the city. Kids will enjoy climbing the clocktower, eating pastries, or riding a bike around town.

Is Bern or Rouen Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Rouen make for a high quality 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.

Rouen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The beautiful city makes a great retreat for couples who enjoy good food and nice architecture. There are many hidden gems around town that make this a favorite French city for many couples.

Is Bern or Rouen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is notable for backpackers. However, Rouen is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Rouen is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Backpackers may struggle to find a hostel with a social setting, but for those who make it here there are many beautiful things to see.

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

Both Bern and Rouen offer high quality 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 Rouen can get you around easily. The city has two agencies that offer public transportation. Métro du Rouen is a tramway that runs north to south from Boulingrin in the north to Saint-Sever, where it branches off into two lines (one to Technopôle and one to Georges Braque). There are also buses and rail connections to town.

Is Bern or Rouen a more walkable city?

Bern and Rouen both are high quality 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.

Rouen is a very walkable city. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Rouen or Bern?

How long in Bern or Rouen?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bern or Rouen to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bern than Rouen 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 Rouen.

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

In Bern, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this beautiful 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Rouen. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Rouen?

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.

Rouen 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 Rouen?

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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the compact destination of Rouen. This 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 Rouen?

You'll find food and shopping around the beautiful 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 compact city of Rouen 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Rouen?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Rouen. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Rouen, 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 Rouen?

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 Rouen in the Summer?

Both Rouen and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rouen this time of year.

In the summer, Bern is a little warmer than Rouen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bern in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Rouen averages at about 17°C (63°F).

It's quite sunny in Rouen. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rouen during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Rouen. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Rouen in the Autumn?

Both Rouen and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rouen for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Rouen. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Rouen fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Rouen. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 127 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Rouen. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Rouen in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Rouen. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Rouen in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Rouen can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. Bern is cooler than Rouen in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Rouen fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rouen during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Rouen. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Rouen in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Rouen. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. Additionally, most visitors come to Rouen for the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Bern is a little warmer than Rouen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Rouen averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Rouen. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 172 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in April than Rouen. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Rouen and Bern