A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Frankfurt vs. Bergen for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Frankfurt or Bergen?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Frankfurt and Bergen can help you decide which place is right for you.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a connected, energetic, and dynamic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bergen

Bergen is a nostalgic, friendly, and laid back city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Frankfurt and Bergen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Frankfurt or Bergen?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Frankfurt than Bergen. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Frankfurt is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Bergen attracts visitors for its small town charm. Frankfurt is famous for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife. It is also well known for The Old Town Center. Bergen is famous for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

The Old Town Center

How is Frankfurt different from Bergen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Frankfurt or Bergen?

Frankfurt is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Frankfurt offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

Bergen is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are some interesting local museums such as the Hanseatic Museum, the Edvard Grieg Museum, and the KODE Museums.

Is the Food Better in Frankfurt or Bergen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Frankfurt is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Frankfurt is an experience not to be missed. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bergen. The city's economy has long been centered around the fish trade and even today you'll find cod, shellfish, trout, and salmon on most menus. Sheep and mutton are also popular. Desserts and coffee are also a big part of the local culture.

Is Frankfurt or Bergen Better for Nightlife?

Frankfurt is notable for its evening party scene. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Frankfurt has plenty to do after the sun goes down. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Bergen. It's a small city without a huge nightlife district, but there are bars and clubs in Bryggen and Old Bulls Plass. The city has enough students to keep things lively and fun.

Is Frankfurt or Bergen Better for its Old Town?

Frankfurt and Bergen are both popular destinations with charming historical areas.

Frankfurt has an old town worth visiting. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Many visitors go to Bergen to see the historical old town. The wooden buildings and compact streets have a quaint and nostalgic atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Frankfurt or Bergen?

Shoppers can find a variety of great stores in both Frankfurt and Bergen.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Frankfurt. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

Bergen is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city center is filled with specialty boutiques as well as larger department stores. Shopping has long been a large part of the economy and you'll enjoy exploring the diversity of retail options.

Is Frankfurt or Bergen Better for Families?

You'll find great kid-friendly activities in either Frankfurt or Bergen.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Frankfurt. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

Bergen is a very family-friendly place to visit. There are some interesting educational opportunities for kids including the Bergen Aquarium, VilVite Science Centre, and Experience Bryggen. Other fun activities include Vannkanten Waterworld and the Fløibanen Funicular.

Is Frankfurt or Bergen Better for Couples?

Bergen is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Bergen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are many romantic activities near town like swimming in the fjords and walking through the parks. There are also spas and music concerts to enjoy.

Frankfurt is a nice destination for couples. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

Is Frankfurt or Bergen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Frankfurt is notable for backpackers. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Frankfurt is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

Bergen is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a few hostels and guesthouses around town where backpackers can meet other travelers.

Is Frankfurt or Bergen Better for Students?

Frankfurt is very popular for students. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Many students frequent Frankfurt. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

Plenty of students visit Bergen. It's a very student-friendly city with many activities and a laid back atmosphere. The university facilities are spread out around town and the locals are welcoming and helpful.

Is Frankfurt or Bergen Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Frankfurt is very popular for its public transit. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Frankfurt has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

Public transit in Bergen is fairly effecient and thorough. For the areas that are outside of the city center, you can take a local bus or the light rail to access them. These services are operated by Skyss.

Is Frankfurt or Bergen a more walkable city?

Frankfurt and Bergen are great when it comes to walkability.

Frankfurt is a very walkable destination. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

Bergen is very walkable. The city center is flat and compact enough that it's fun to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Frankfurt Worth Visiting? and Is Bergen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bergen or Frankfurt?

How long in Frankfurt or Bergen?

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

Families should spend more time in Frankfurt than Bergen. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Frankfurt, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Frankfurt than Bergen 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 Frankfurt.

One day in Frankfurt or Bergen?

Frankfurt is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

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

A weekend in Frankfurt or Bergen?

Frankfurt is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Bergen. 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 Frankfurt or Bergen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Frankfurt. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the nostalgic city of Bergen. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Frankfurt or Bergen?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the modern big city of Frankfurt. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Bergen is a popular choice for travelers. 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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best 10-Day Tours in Norway, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Frankfurt and Bergen, we can see that Frankfurt is more expensive. And not only is Bergen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bergen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bergen 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 Frankfurt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Frankfurt than you might in Bergen.

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

Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Bergen?

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

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 Frankfurt or Bergen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Frankfurt as well as Bergen. Most visitors come to Frankfurt for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Bergen because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Frankfurt is a little warmer than Bergen in the summer. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Bergen fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

It's quite rainy in Bergen. Frankfurt usually gets less rain in July than Bergen. Frankfurt gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Bergen in the Autumn?

Both Bergen and Frankfurt are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Bergen this time of year.

In the autumn, Frankfurt is a little warmer than Bergen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Frankfurt in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Bergen averages at about 9°C (48°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. In October, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Bergen. Frankfurt gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Bergen in the Winter?

Both Bergen and Frankfurt during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bergen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bergen. It's quite cold in Frankfurt in the winter. In January, Frankfurt is generally cooler than Bergen. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 1°C (34°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Frankfurt usually gets less rain in January than Bergen. Frankfurt gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Bergen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Frankfurt and Bergen. Many travelers come to Frankfurt for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Bergen in the spring for the small town charm.

Frankfurt is much warmer than Bergen in the spring. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Bergen fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Bergen. Frankfurt gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bergen and Frankfurt