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

Should you visit Bern or Siena?

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

Should I visit Bern or Siena? 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. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Siena

Siena is a beautiful, romantic, and charming city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Siena?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Siena than Bern. While Bern is larger than Siena, Siena has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Siena is more popular for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Bern is known for its shopping. Siena is more touristy than Bern and is known for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace. It is also home to Piazza del Campo. 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 Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Siena 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 Siena specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. At the heart of the city is Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Piazza del Campo. Other world famous sights include Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico, Torre del Mangia, and Pinacoteca Nazionale.

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

Siena 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, Siena makes for a great culinary experience. The town is all about local flavors and many restaurants use local ingredients in their dishes. Pecorino of Pienza is the local cheese, and you'll also find many cured meats. Local pasta dishes include wild boar ragu and a local spaghetti. You'll also find local meats such as lamb, rabbit, chicken and pork.

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 Siena Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Siena are good 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 Siena. The nightlife is laid back and relaxed. Most visitors enjoy socializing in the evening and meeting friends at Piazza del Campo. There are often live performances which you can enjoy as well as many cafes and wine bars around town.

Is Bern or Siena Better for its Old Town?

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

The old town of Siena is one of the most recognized in the world. The beautiful old town is filled with medieval brick buildings. At the heart of the city is Piazza del Campo, which is a lively square with many neighborhoods spreading out from there.

There is a nice variety of sights 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Siena?

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

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.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Siena. The main shopping street in town is Via Banchi di Sopra, which has many boutiques that sell clothing, bags, and other items. The town also has many leather goods, ceramics, and other local items available.

Is Bern or Siena Better for Families?

Bern is notable for its family-friendly activities. However, Siena is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

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.

Siena is not always a place people visit with their families. The beauty and history may be lost to the little ones but there is a great atmosphere that even the young ones will appreciate. Kids will enjoy climbing to the top of Torre del Mangia or visiting one of the many playgrounds around town.

Is Bern or Siena Better for Couples?

Siena is renowned for romance. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Siena makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With its impressive beauty and long running history, this is a truly romantic city. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are plazas and neighborhoods that are great for exploring. There are also many great restaurants, superb wine, and world class sights that are not to be missed.

Bern makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Is Bern or Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Backpackers come from all over to 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Siena. Many backpackers visit Siena as a daytrip from nearby Florence. While there are some affordable places to stay here, the atmosphere isn't as backpacker friendly as nearby Florence.

Is Bern or Siena Better for Students?

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

Siena is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's home to one of the oldest universities in Italy, and it's a wonderful study abroad destination for any student who wants to spend some time in Italy.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Bern is notable for its public transit. Also, Siena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Bern is fairly effecient and thorough. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Siena has some public transit options. TIEMME is the bus service that runs in and around town. Many lines pass through the train station and provide service from there.

Is Bern or Siena a more walkable city?

Bern and Siena 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.

Siena is a very walkable city. The compact town center is best explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Siena or Bern?

How long in Bern or Siena?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bern than Siena 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 Siena?

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 Siena. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Siena?

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.

Siena is a fun place to experience. 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 Siena?

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 romantic destination of Siena. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Siena?

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 charming city of Siena 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 Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Siena?

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

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 Siena in the Summer?

Both Siena and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Siena for the family-friendly experiences.

Bern is around the same temperature as Siena in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Siena fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Siena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Siena during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Siena. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Siena in the Autumn?

Both Siena and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Siena in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Bern is cooler than Siena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Siena averages at about 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets less sunshine than Siena. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in October than Siena. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Siena in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Siena. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Siena 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 Siena. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Siena fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Siena during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Siena. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Siena in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Siena. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Siena because of the natural beauty.

Bern is around the same temperature as Siena in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Siena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Siena. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in April than Siena. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Siena and Bern