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

Should you visit Bern or Sorrento?

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

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

Sorrento

Sorrento is a historic, relaxing, and accessible small city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Bern and Sorrento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Sorrento?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Sorrento. Although Bern and Sorrento are both popular with visitors, Sorrento has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Sorrento is more popular for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and big city activities, while Bern is known for its museums and historical sights. Sorrento is more touristy than Bern and is known for its lemon groves and limoncello, charming cafes, and access to the Amalfi coast. It is also home to Marina Grande and Marina Piccola. 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 Sorrento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Sorrento does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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.

Sorrento does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Sorrento is renowned for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Sorrento is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The food is world class and you'll find most Italian classics here including pizza, fine cheeses, and fresh seafood. Many visitors enjoy taking a pasta or pizza making class while they're in town. You'll also find Limoncello everywhere, made from the locally grown lemons, which are impressive in both their size and flavor. Also make sure you allow for plenty of stops at gelato shops.

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 Sorrento Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Sorrento 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 Sorrento. The city is known for its laid back atmosphere, but there are still a number of clubs where you can dance the night away. While the main city center has its share of bars and activities, some of the best known clubs are actually a bit outside of the city center. Many visitors dress to impress and don't show up until after midnight, which is when the party really starts.

Is Bern or Sorrento Better for Resorts?

Sorrento is a well-known place for its resorts. However, Bern is not a resort destination.

Sorrento is known as a popular and fun resort destination. The city offers a wide selection of luxury and budget hotels, particularly in the Piazza Tasso area. Because of its accessibility, many people use it as a base for exploring the area, or stop off for a day or two in route to other towns.

Bern is not a resort destination.

Is Bern or Sorrento Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Sorrento is a moderate small city for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Bern is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Snorkeling is an option in Sorrento. There are snorkeling excursions that you can book in the area, but this is often an overlooked activity for many visitors.

Bern is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bern or Sorrento Better for Beaches?

Sorrento is a popular place for its beaches. However, Bern is not a beach destination.

Sorrento is a good option for a beach vacation. The rugged coastline is filled with dramatic hills and rocky inlets that offer hidden beaches. Many of the most unique beaches can be challenging to access and the beaches closer to town get very crowded. Some of the best beaches in the area include Marina Piccola Beach, Regina Giovanna, and Puolo. Some beaches are public while others are private and come at a price.

Bern is not a beach destination.

Is Bern or Sorrento Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a great destination for its historic old town. However, Sorrento does not have a historic old town.

Bern is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. 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.

Sorrento does not have a historic old town.

Is Bern or Sorrento Better for Hiking?

Sorrento is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Bern is not a hiking destination.

Sorrento is a popular spot for hiking. The area has a number of walking trails that you can explore. Many follow historic donkey trails that once connected the villages and today offer a well-established route with stunning views and pristine landscapes. The trails navigate the region's steep hills and offer a breathtaking look at the rugged coastline.

Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Sorrento?

Both Bern and Sorrento are excellent 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.

Sorrento is well-known for its shopping. Head to the heart of the city around Piazza Tasso for the best shopping opportunities. You can simply enjoy window shopping or pop in one of the many local boutiques or larger European brand stores. Popular items to purchase include leather goods, Limoncello, and inlaid wood items.

Is Bern or Sorrento Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Sorrento.

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, Sorrento is very family-friendly. It makes a good base or first stop for families who want to enjoy the area. It's well connected with transportation and has all the kid approved foods you could need. The whole family will also enjoy taking a pasta making class or going for a swim in the Mediterranean. And make sure you allow plenty of time for everyone to eat their fill of gelato.

Is Bern or Sorrento Better for Couples?

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

Sorrento makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. This beautiful romantic destination is one of the world's top honeymoon areas. It's a small city that offers access to the many nearby destinations, so it makes a good base or gateway city for visiting places like Capri and the Blue Grotto as well as the Amalfi Coast. You can enjoy romantic hikes full of stunning views, explore by kayak, dine at romantic restaurants, or experience a one-of-a-kind farm tour. If you base yourself in Sorrento, you'll likely be doing a lot of day trips.

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 Sorrento Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Sorrento is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. Because its a small city with accessible transportation, you'll find a decent number of hostels that make it an affordable base for exploring the area. You can hit many nearby sights as day trips or use this as a first stop off point as you make your way along the coast.

Many 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.

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

Both Bern and Sorrento offer excellent 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 Sorrento can get you around easily. Buses travel around town and you can also visit nearby areas using the Circumvesuviana train line, EAV and Sita buses, Cooperativa Tasso minibuses, or one of the many ferry companies.

Is Bern or Sorrento a more walkable city?

Bern and Sorrento both are excellent 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.

Sorrento is a very walkable city. The old town is fun to walk around and window shop, but bring good walking shoes as the area has a lot of hills.

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

Should I spend more time in Sorrento or Bern?

How long in Bern or Sorrento?

Both Bern and Sorrento have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Sorrento than in Bern. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 3-7 days is enough time in Sorrento.

Families should spend more time in Sorrento than Bern. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Sorrento, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sorrento than Bern 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 Sorrento.

One day in Bern or Sorrento?

The beautiful city of Bern offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Sorrento. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Bern or Sorrento?

Bern is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bern, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Sorrento is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bern or Sorrento?

Bern is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the colorful destination of Sorrento. This small city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Bern or Sorrento?

Bern is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the historic small city of Sorrento. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Italy, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Sorrento?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Sorrento. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Sorrento, 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 Sorrento?

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 Sorrento in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Sorrento. Many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Sorrento for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Bern is cooler than Sorrento in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Sorrento fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sorrento this time of the year. In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Sorrento during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Sorrento receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Sorrento. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Sorrento in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bern as well as Sorrento. Most visitors come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Sorrento because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Bern is cooler than Sorrento. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Sorrento averages at about 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets less sunshine than Sorrento. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sorrento receives 189 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sorrento. Bern usually gets less rain in October than Sorrento. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Sorrento in the Winter?

Both Sorrento and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Sorrento this time of year.

The weather in Bern can be very cold. In January, Bern is generally much colder than Sorrento. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Sorrento fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Sorrento during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Sorrento receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sorrento. In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Sorrento. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Sorrento in the Spring?

Both Sorrento and Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Sorrento for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

Bern is cooler than Sorrento in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Sorrento fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Sorrento. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sorrento receives 189 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in April than Sorrento. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sorrento and Bern