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

Should you visit Bern or Strasbourg?

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

Should I visit Bern or Strasbourg? 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. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Strasbourg

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

Bern and Strasbourg: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Strasbourg?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Strasbourg than Bern, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Strasbourg is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its charming beauty, its impressive cathedral, and its quaint houses. It is also home to The Strasbourg Cathedral. 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 Strasbourg?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Bern and Strasbourg 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 Strasbourg specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. It is filled with grand monuments and historic landmarks. Many are concentrated in La Petite France and highlights include Strasbourg Cathedral, Barrage Vauban, Ponts Couverts, and Église Saint-Thomas.

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

Strasbourg 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, Strasbourg makes for a great culinary experience. The cuisine combines French and German flavors for rich and hearty flavors. Popular dishes include Tarte Flambée, Alsatian Sausages, and Baeckeoffe (meat and vegetable stew). Also make sure you sample the Sauerkraut, munster cheese, and Reisling wine.

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 Strasbourg Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Strasbourg 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 Strasbourg. It's most famous for its monuments and charm, but the city also has plenty to do at night. The liveliest areas are The Krutenau (for students and tourists alike), The Grande-île, and La Petite France.

Is Bern or Strasbourg Better for its Old Town?

Strasbourg 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 Strasbourg is one of the most recognized in the world. Known as La Petite France, the old town is filled with charming squares, historic monuments, and beautiful architecture.

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 Strasbourg?

Both Bern and Strasbourg are great 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.

Strasbourg is well-known for its shopping. The city center is filled with pedestrian shopping streets and boutique stores. For some of the best shopping make sure you check out the main thoroughfare of Grand'Rue. If you want to pick up some trinkets or souvenirs, head to Place de la Cathédrale, and for department store shopping head to Galeries Lafayette Strasbourg.

Is Bern or Strasbourg Better for Families?

Bern is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Strasbourg is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Bern is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Strasbourg is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids who love animals will enjoy a visit to Zoo de l’Orangerie or La Montagne des Singes. If the kids need to stretch their legs you can head to Deux-Rives Garden or on a rainy day check out Planetarium De Strasbourg or the Historical Museum of the City of Strasbourg.

Is Bern or Strasbourg Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Strasbourg make for a great 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.

Strasbourg makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the region and it is filled with romance. There is beautiful architecture, romantic restaurants, wine tours, and flower filled parks. The scenic squares and grand cathedrals offer a truly perfect couples getaway.

Is Bern or Strasbourg Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Bern is very popular with the backpacker crowd. 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 Strasbourg. The city has a handful of hostels that offer affordable accommodation for those on a shoestring budget.

Is Bern or Strasbourg Better for Students?

Strasbourg is a popular place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Strasbourg is a good city to visit for students. Students appreciate the mix of traditional culture and international opportunities.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Both Bern and Strasbourg offer great 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 Strasbourg can get you around easily. The city has six tramlines and a number of bus routes.

Is Bern or Strasbourg a more walkable city?

Bern and Strasbourg 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.

Strasbourg is a very walkable city. One of the best ways to explore the city is on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Strasbourg or Bern?

How long in Bern or Strasbourg?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bern and Strasbourg. In our opinion, Strasbourg has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Strasbourg than Bern. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 2-3 days is enough time in Strasbourg.

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

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

With museums and nightlife around the cultural city of Bern, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bern, one day is sufficent for most.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Strasbourg. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Strasbourg?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Bern, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Strasbourg 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 Strasbourg?

Bern, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Strasbourg. 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 Strasbourg?

Bern is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The historic city of Strasbourg 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 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Strasbourg?

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

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 Strasbourg in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Strasbourg. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Strasbourg for the family-friendly experiences.

Bern is around the same temperature as Strasbourg in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Strasbourg fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Strasbourg. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Strasbourg. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Strasbourg receives 240 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Strasbourg. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Strasbourg receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Strasbourg in the Autumn?

Both Strasbourg and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Strasbourg in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Bern is around the same temperature as Strasbourg. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Strasbourg averages at about 12°C (53°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Strasbourg during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Strasbourg receives 101 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives more rain than Strasbourg. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Strasbourg receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Strasbourg in the Winter?

Both Strasbourg and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Strasbourg for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Strasbourg can be very cold during winter. Bern can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Bern is generally a little warmer than Strasbourg. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Strasbourg fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets more sunshine than Strasbourg. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Strasbourg receives 42 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in January than Strasbourg. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Strasbourg receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Strasbourg in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Strasbourg. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Strasbourg because of the natural beauty.

Bern is around the same temperature as Strasbourg in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Strasbourg fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Strasbourg during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Strasbourg receives 161 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Strasbourg. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Strasbourg receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Strasbourg and Bern