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

Should you visit Bern or Villach?

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

Should I visit Bern or Villach? 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. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Villach

Villach is a outdoorsy, historic, and nature-filled town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, hiking, and museums.

Bern and Villach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or Villach?

You'll generally find more things to do in Bern than Villach. Bern is bigger than Villach, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Bern is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, and shopping, while Villach is more popular for its hiking and small town charm. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Also, Bern is famous for The Zytglogge Clock Tower. Villach is well known for its many alpine hikes, nearby lakes, and its quaint main square.

How is Bern different from Villach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bern is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Villach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

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.

Villach is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical buildings in town such as the Parish Church of St. Jakob, the Holy Cross Church, and the Parish Church of St. Martin. Also worth a visit is the Museum of the City of Villach.

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

Bern is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Villach is a mediocre town for its restaurants.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Bern area. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Villach offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find the standard options of pizza and burgers around town. While the food scene isn't particularly special, the quality is decent and reliable.

Is Bern or Villach Better for Nightlife?

Both Bern and Villach are notable 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 Villach. The weekends are when you'll find the best nightlife. There are some local bars and clubs that come to life and attract a young crowd on a weekend night.

Is Bern or Villach Better for its Old Town?

Bern is notable for its historic old town charm. Also, Villach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting 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.

Villach is a good destination for visiting its old town. You'll find churches and gardens throughout the charming old town. At the heart of the town is the main square.

Is Bern or Villach Better for Hiking?

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

Villach is a popular spot for hiking. The surrounding countryside is filled with both short and long hikes. You can take a short stroll or spend hours (or days) exploring the alpine scenery. Breathtaking views and peaceful retreats make this a wonderful area for hiking.

Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or Villach?

Bern is notable for its shopping areas. However, Villach is a mediocre town for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in 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.

Villach is a good destination for shopping. There are your standard shopping centers where you can pick up clothes or anything you may have forgotten for your trip.

Is Bern or Villach Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Bern or Villach.

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, Villach is very family-friendly. The area is filled with outdoor adventures that the whole family will enjoy. There's kid-friendly hiking, adventure parks, nature parks, and some swimming areas.

Is Bern or Villach Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bern and Villach make for a high quality 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.

Villach makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy outdoor adventures, beautiful hikes, and stunning scenery will appreciate a visit to this area.

Is Bern or Villach Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Bern and Villach are high quality destinations for backpackers.

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.

Many backpackers visit Villach. There are a number of hostels in the area that cater to backpackers who enjoy the outdoor setting and beautiful hikes that are nearby.

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

Bern is notable for its public transit. However, Villach is a mediocre town for times when you don't have a car.

Bern offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Villach. There are buses and trains in the area, but to experience the nearby nature you'll want to have a car.

Is Bern or Villach a more walkable city?

Bern is notable for its ease of walking around. However, Villach is a mediocre town for its walkability.

Bern is a very walkable destination. 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.

Villach is generally not a very walkable city. Parts of the town are walkable but the surrounding natural areas are most easily accessed with a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Villach or Bern?

How long in Bern or Villach?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bern and Villach. In our opinion, Bern has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bern than Villach. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

In Bern, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Villach. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or Villach?

In Bern, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bern has to offer.

Villach is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Villach?

Bern is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the outdoorsy destination of Villach. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or Villach?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bern. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The historic town of Villach offers nightlife and museums. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 2-Week Tours in Austria, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or Villach?

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

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 Villach in the Summer?

Both Villach and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Villach this time of year.

In July, Bern is generally cooler than Villach. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Villach fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Villach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Villach during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Villach receives 288 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bern usually receives less rain than Villach. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Villach receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bern or Villach in the Autumn?

Both Villach and Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Villach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Bern is cooler than Villach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Villach fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Bern often gets less sunshine than Villach. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Villach receives 167 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Bern or Villach in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Villach. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Villach in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Villach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Villach averages at about 5°C (41°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Villach during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Villach receives 96 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bern usually receives less rain than Villach. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Villach receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bern or Villach in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bern as well as Villach. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. Additionally, most visitors come to Villach for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Bern is generally cooler than Villach. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Villach fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Villach. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Villach receives 177 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in April than Villach. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Villach receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Villach and Bern