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

Should you visit Bucharest or Bern?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bucharest and Bern. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Bucharest

Bucharest is a cultural, charming, and historical city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern

Bern is a beautiful, cultural, and historic city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bucharest and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bucharest or Bern?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bucharest than Bern. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Bucharest is very popular for its big city activities, while Bern attracts visitors for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Bern is more touristy than Bucharest and is known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Bucharest is famous for its wide avenues and longstanding religious institutions. It is also well known for The Palace of Parliament.

How is Bucharest different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bern and Bucharest. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bucharest or Bern?

Bern is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Bucharest. The city is rich in landmarks and historical buildings. Popular sights include the Romanian Athenaeum, the Palace of the Parliament, Stavropoleos Church, and Curtea Veche.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at nice restaurants in both Bucharest and Bern.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Bucharest. Many Romanian recipes have been passed down through the generations and they still use traditional flavors. You'll see some German or Hungarian influences, but the flavors are still uniquely Romanian. Popular dishes include ciorba (tripe soup), cabbage rolls, and mici (grilled meat rolls).

Bern is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Is Bucharest or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Bucharest and Bern.

Bucharest has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city has come to life with its party scene, with many bars and clubs that you can choose from. There are rooftop bars, chic dance clubs, and cozy pubs where you can pass the evening. You'll find most of the upscale clubs in the northern part of the city, with a more casual scene found in the downtown areas around Universitate and Romanā.

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.

Is Bucharest or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Bern is well known for its old town. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

There are many historical things to see 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.

Bucharest has an old town worth visiting. The old town dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, with much of the historical charm seen in the architecture. Many of the buildings have been restored, but others are still awaiting repairs. This gives the area a sense of authenticity that you often miss in other old towns.

Is the Shopping Better in Bucharest or Bern?

Bern is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Bern is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Bucharest has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The residents love fashion, and you'll find many shopping centers around town where you can find a good deal. In addition to the many malls, there are also antique shops, flea markets and boutique clothing stores where you might find a hidden gem.

Is Bucharest or Bern Better for Families?

Bern is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Bucharest is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Bern is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

For families, Bucharest is not always the best place to visit. Kid-friendly activities include kid's play areas, museums such as the Museum of the Senses, and water centered activities like rowing in the park or visiting the wellness center Therme.

Is Bucharest or Bern Better for Couples?

Bern is well known for its romantic activities. However, Bucharest is not particularly known for couples.

Couples visit Bern frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Bucharest is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The city has some romantic settings such as wandering down Victory Avenue or exploring the historic Cotroceni Neighbourhood. There are also several gardens and a number of nice cafes to explore.

Is Bucharest or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is well known for backpackers. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bern is a great city to visit for backpackers. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bucharest. The city is affordable, but it's often overlooked by backpackers. Part of the charm for many is the sense of authenticity that can often be hard to find in travel these days.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Bucharest and Bern.

The public transit in Bucharest can get you around easily. Public transit options include trams, buses, and trolley buses.

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

Is Bucharest or Bern a more walkable city?

Bern is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Bern is a very walkable city. 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.

Bucharest is a somewhat walkable city. Many of the tourist attractions are within a walkable area.

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

Should I spend more time in Bern or Bucharest?

How long in Bucharest or Bern?

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

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

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

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Bucharest. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Bern. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bern has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Bucharest or Bern?

Bucharest is a fun place to experience. 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Bucharest or Bern?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the charming destination of Bucharest. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the charming city of Bern. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. 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 Bucharest or Bern?

The cultural city of Bucharest offers nightlife and food. 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.

Bern is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bucharest or Bern?

Bucharest has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest and Bern, 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 Bucharest or Bern?

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 Bucharest or Bern in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bucharest and Bern. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bucharest this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bucharest is generally around the same temperature as Bern. Daily temperatures in Bucharest average around 23°C (73°F), and Bern fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In Bucharest, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bucharest usually receives more sunshine than Bern during summer. Bucharest gets 289 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bucharest usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bern. Bucharest gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bucharest or Bern in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bucharest as well as Bern. Many travelers come to Bucharest for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Bucharest is around the same temperature as Bern in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bucharest averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

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

Bucharest usually gets less rain in October than Bern. Bucharest gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bucharest or Bern in the Winter?

Both Bern and Bucharest are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bucharest in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Bern can be very cold during winter. Bucharest can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Bucharest is much colder than Bern. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bucharest in January average around -1°C (29°F), and Bern averages at about 3°C (37°F).

Bucharest usually receives more sunshine than Bern during winter. Bucharest gets 71 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bucharest usually receives less rain than Bern. Bucharest gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bucharest or Bern in the Spring?

Both Bern and Bucharest during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bucharest for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty.

In April, Bucharest is generally a little warmer than Bern. Daily temperatures in Bucharest average around 12°C (54°F), and Bern fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Bucharest often gets more sunshine than Bern. Bucharest gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun.

Bucharest usually gets less rain in April than Bern. Bucharest gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bern and Bucharest