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

Should you visit Canberra or Bern?

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

Should I visit Canberra or Bern? 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.

Canberra

Canberra is a under-rated, cultural, and diverse city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and museums.

Bern

Bern is a charming, beautiful, and cultural city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Canberra and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Canberra or Bern?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Canberra than Bern. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Canberra is very popular for its food, hiking, and big city activities, while Bern attracts visitors for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Bern is more touristy than Canberra and is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Canberra is famous for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves. It is also well known for the Australian War Memorial.

How is Canberra different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Canberra and Bern.

Canberra offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

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 Canberra or Bern? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Canberra 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, Canberra makes for a great culinary experience. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

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 Canberra or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Both Canberra and Bern have nice vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Canberra. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

Bern has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Is Canberra or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for its old town. However, Canberra does not have a 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.

Canberra does not have a historic old town.

Is Canberra or Bern Better for Hiking?

Canberra is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Bern is not a hiking destination.

Canberra is a good destination for hiking. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Canberra or Bern?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Bern is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Many visitors go to Canberra to go shopping. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Is Canberra or Bern Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Canberra or Bern.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Canberra is very family-friendly. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

Bern is known to be 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.

Is Canberra or Bern Better for Couples?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

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.

Canberra is a good city for couples to visit. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

Is Canberra or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Canberra is lacking in options for backpackers.

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.

Canberra is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Despite being the capital city, few backpackers actually spend much time in town. There are some budget-friendly motels if you're stopping by.

Is Canberra or Bern Better for Students?

Canberra is a well-known place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Canberra is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Bern is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Bern has some very good public transit options. There are trams and buses that run around town.

You'll find some public transit in Canberra, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

Is Canberra or Bern a more walkable city?

Bern is an excellent place to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Canberra is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

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

Should I spend more time in Bern or Canberra?

How long in Canberra or Bern?

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

Families should spend more time in Bern than Canberra. 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 Canberra. 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 Canberra 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 Canberra or Bern?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Canberra. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

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.

A weekend in Canberra or Bern?

Canberra 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.

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.

Five days in Canberra or Bern?

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

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.

A week in Canberra or Bern?

The cultural city of Canberra 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 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, 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 Canberra and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Canberra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Canberra is in Pacific and Bern is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Canberra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Canberra 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 Canberra.

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

Which is Bigger, Canberra or Bern?

Canberra has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Canberra 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 Canberra or Bern?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Canberra is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Bern has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Canberra or Bern in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Canberra as well as Bern. The summer months attract visitors to Canberra because of the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

In January, Canberra is generally around the same temperature as Bernin July. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 20°C (68°F), and Bern fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

Canberra usually gets more rain in January than Bernin July. Canberra gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Canberra or Bern in the Autumn?

Both Bern and Canberra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene are the main draw to Canberra this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Canberra is a little warmer than Bern in the autumn. The daily temperature in Canberra averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.

It's quite rainy in Canberra. In April, Canberra usually receives more rain than Bernin October. Canberra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Canberra or Bern in the Winter?

Both Bern and Canberra during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Canberra for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bern can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Canberra is much warmer than Bern. Typically, the winter temperatures in Canberra in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Bern averages at about 3°C (37°F)in January.

Canberra usually gets less rain in July than Bernin January. Canberra gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Canberra or Bern in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Canberra and Bern. Many visitors come to Canberra in the spring for the activities around the city. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months.

In October, Canberra is generally a little warmer than Bernin April. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 15°C (60°F), and Bern fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In October, Canberra usually receives more rain than Bernin April. Canberra gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bern and Canberra