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

Should you visit Bern or Versailles?

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

Should I visit Bern or Versailles? 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.

Versailles

Versailles is a grand, ornate, and opulent palace. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for museums.

Bern and Versailles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Versailles?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bern than Versailles, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Bern is more popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Versailles is known for its museums and impressive beauty. Versailles is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its long running history and its grand architecture. Bern is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. It is also home to The Zytglogge Clock Tower.

How is Bern different from Versailles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Versailles that are not to be missed. The palace is filled with history and impressive items relating to the royal family. Within and near the palace you should make sure you see the Gardens of Versailles, Grand Trianon, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Opera of Versailles.

Many visitors head to Bern specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

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

Bern is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Versailles is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bern. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Versailles. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes on the grounds.

Is Bern or Versailles Better for Nightlife?

Bern is a nice place to visit for nightlife. However, Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Bern has a few options to choose from. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Bern or Versailles Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a great city for its historic old town. However, Versailles does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Bern to see the historical old town. 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.

Versailles does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Versailles?

Bern is a great city for shopping. However, Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bern. 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.

Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Bern or Versailles Better for Families?

Bern is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not known 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.

Versailles does not offer many kid-friendly activities. While there are those unicorn children who fall in love with the grand setting, for most kids, a visit to Versailles can make for make for a long and draining day.

Is Bern or Versailles Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Versailles make for a very good 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.

Versailles makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's opulence, grandeur, and history make this a wonderful place to explore as a couple. There are gardens and other unique settings that make Versailles very romantic.

Is Bern or Versailles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

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.

Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

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

Both Bern and Versailles offer very good 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 Versailles can get you around easily. There are SNCF trains that travel from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers train station and additional trains that travel between Gare Saint Lazare and Versailles Rive Droite.

Is Bern or Versailles a more walkable city?

Bern and Versailles both are very good 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.

Versailles is a very walkable city. It's approximately a 20 minute walk from the Versailles Chantiers train station to the entrance to the palace. Versailles Rive Droite is slightly closer.

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

Should I spend more time in Versailles or Bern?

How long in Bern or Versailles?

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

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

With museums and nightlife around the charming 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 museums when visiting the destination of Versailles. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Versailles?

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.

Versailles is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the museums. 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 Versailles?

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 around the ornate destination of Versailles. This palace offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Versailles?

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 opulent palace of Versailles offers museums. 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 Sightseeing Tours in France, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France.

When comparing the travel costs between Bern and Versailles, we can see that Versailles is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Versailles?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Versailles. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Versailles, 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 Versailles?

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 Versailles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Versailles. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Versailles. 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 Versailles. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Versailles receives 239 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Versailles. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Versailles in the Autumn?

Both Versailles and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Versailles for the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Bern is around the same temperature as Versailles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Versailles averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Versailles during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Versailles receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Versailles. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bern or Versailles in the Winter?

Both Versailles and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Versailles because of the museums and the cuisine.

The weather in Versailles can be very cold. Bern can be very cold during winter. In January, Bern is generally much colder than Versailles. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and Versailles fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Bern often gets more sunshine than Versailles. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Versailles receives 56 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Versailles. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or Versailles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Versailles. The spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Versailles this time of year.

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

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Versailles during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Versailles receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Versailles. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Versailles and Bern