Should you visit Bern or Sarajevo?
Should I visit Bern or Sarajevo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
Sarajevo
Sarajevo is the capital city of Bosnia and is one of the most culturally and historically interesting cities to visit in Europe. The city was at the crossroads where the Eastern and Western Roman Empires divided, and the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches divided. Today it is most associated with the Civil War that occurred here between 1992 and 1995. There are still many remnants of the war left, from the cemeteries that dot the countryside to the leftover damage done by bombs. Despite its brutal history, Sarajevo has begun to thrive again, both economically and as a tourist destination.
Which city is cheaper, Sarajevo or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $203, while the average daily cost in Sarajevo is $64. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Bern and Sarajevo in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $131. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Bern the cost is $262 on average.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Sarajevo, $48 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Sarajevo, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $24, such as in a hostel.
Food
The price of a meal in Bern can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $49 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
In Sarajevo travelers spend around $29 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bern $49
Sarajevo $29
Typical Food prices in Sarajevo
For Sarajevo, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sarajevo
For Sarajevo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Traditional Bosnian Dinner with your Host Family:
$38
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A Taste of Sarajevo - Authentic Food Tour:
$49
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Dinner with locals:
$57
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Cooking Classes - Contemporary Bosnian cuisine:
$65
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Simple Bosnian Cooking Class Sarajevo:
$68
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Home-hosted Cooking Class: Cook and Eat with Bosnian family:
$74
-
Bosnian Cooking Lessons:
$75
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Bern is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $27 per person, per day, on local transportation in Bern.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Sarajevo than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $6.41 on transportation in Sarajevo on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
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Private transfer from Bern City to Zurich Airport:
$416
-
Private Transfer from Bern City Center to Zurich City Center:
$318
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Zurich City - One Way:
$661
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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
Typical Local Transportation prices in Sarajevo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Sarajevo:
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Tram Tickets (for 2)
$1.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sarajevo
Also for Sarajevo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Sarajevo Airport Transfer:
$15
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Private Airport Transfer: from Sarajevo to Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ):
$23
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Private Airport Transfer: Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) to Sarajevo:
$23
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Private Transfer to and from Sarajevo Airport:
$25
-
Return Sarajevo Airport Transfer:
$28
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Private transfer from Zagreb Airport to Zagreb:
$32
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Private Transfer from Sarajevo Downtown to Sarajevo Airport (SJJ):
$37
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Private Transfer from Sarajevo Airport (SJJ) to Lukavica:
$37
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Private Transfer from Sarajevo Airport (SJJ) to Ilidža:
$37
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Private Transfer from Sarajevo Airport (SJJ) to Sarajevo Downtown:
$37
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Private Transfer from Sarajevo Airport (SJJ) to Svrake:
$60
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Private Transfer from Sarajevo Airport (SJJ) to Krivoglavci:
$60
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Bern typically cost an average of $27 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing expenses in Sarajevo, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $11 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
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Adventure: Diamond Skull Virtual Reality:
$230
-
Bern - Walking Tour with Licensed Guide:
$446
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Bern Capital City Private Tour:
$194
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Bern Capital City Small Group Tour:
$90
-
Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$45
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Bern Old Town- Private Tour:
$435
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Bern Private Walking Tour:
$366
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Bern Private Walking Tour with Professional Guide:
$497
-
Best Introduction Tour of Bern with a Local:
$91
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GAILY TOUR in BERN - Gay & Lesbian Tour:
$187
-
Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip in one Day Private Tour from Bern:
$399
-
Guided tour “Love stories of Bern”:
$496
Typical Entertainment prices in Sarajevo
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Sarajevo's activities, tours, and tickets:
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National Museum (for 2)
$8.72
Tours and Activities in Sarajevo
For Sarajevo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Svrzo House Entrance Ticket:
$3.73
-
Museum Of Crimes Against Humanity And Genocide 1992-1995 Entrance Ticket:
$6.22
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Skip the Line: War Childhood Museum Adult Ticket:
$6.38
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GRAND SARAJEVO WALKING TOUR (history, arhitecture and art):
$14
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Sarajevo Grand Walking Tour:
$15
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Sarajevo Talkie-Walkie Tour:
$15
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Sarajevo Full Walking Tour:
$17
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Adventurous City Tour including Tunnel of Hope:
$19
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Sarajevo Full Walking Tour:
$19
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Tunnel Of Hope Tour:
$19
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Hardships and the Aftermath - Sarajevo Under Siege Tour:
$19
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Sensational Sarajevo Sunset Walking Tour:
$19
Alcohol
The average person spends about $22 on alcoholic beverages in Bern per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Sarajevo spend on average $6.70 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sarajevo
Also in Sarajevo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Small-group Wine Tasting Expiriance, with lunch in vineyard:
$80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Sarajevo, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Sarajevo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sarajevo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sarajevo 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 Sarajevo.
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