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

Should you visit Glasgow or Bern?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Glasgow or Bern, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Glasgow

Glasgow is a friendly, cultural, and historic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

Bern

Bern is a cultural, historic, and charming city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Glasgow and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Glasgow or Bern?

You'll generally find more things to do in Glasgow than Bern. Glasgow is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Glasgow is better known for its nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Glasgow is well known for its rich culture, its beautiful Victorian and art nouveau architecture, and its large student population. Also, Glasgow is famous for Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Glasgow different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of very good museums and attractions in both Bern and Glasgow.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Glasgow can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is rich in culture and offers many fascinating sights including the Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and the Necropolis.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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.

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

Both Glasgow and Bern offer a number of notable restaurants to choose from.

Glasgow is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city's food scene continues to grow and innovate. You'll find plenty of seafood options as well as international cuisine and everything from fine dining to local cafes.

Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Is Glasgow or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Glasgow is renowned for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Glasgow is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The city has some of the best nightlife in the entire country. There are clubs, bars, techno warehouses and more. Some of the best clubs include Sub Club, The Berkeley Suite, and The Garage.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Bern. There are bars, Irish pubs, and clubs around town.

Is Glasgow or Bern Better for Music?

Glasgow is renowned for live music. However, Bern is not a live music destination.

Glasgow is a world class music destination. Known to some as "the city of music", you'll find a wide range of music venues, live shows, festivals, and even a great underground music scene.

Bern is not a live music destination.

Is Glasgow or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Bern is great for its historic old town charm. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its 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.

Many visitors go to Glasgow to see the historical old town. High Street is one of the oldest and most well known streets in the city.

Is the Shopping Better in Glasgow or Bern?

Bern is great for its shopping areas. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas 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.

Glasgow is a great destination for shopping. The city has independent boutique shops as well as major brands. Head to the "Style Mile" for some of the best shopping. It's a district that offers pedestrian-friendly shopping and includes high end boutiques and independent markets. Also check out The Barras Market, Buchanan Street, and High Street.

Is Glasgow or Bern Better for Families?

Bern is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Bern. 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.

Glasgow is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has some family-friendly museums including the hands on The Burrell Collection, the Glasgow Science Center, and The Riverside Museum. If you have older kids who enjoy the water, there are some water activities in town. Check out Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow Wake Park or Outdoor Pursuits. There are also climbing gyms and skate parks.

Is Glasgow or Bern Better for Couples?

Bern is great for couples. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Bern is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Glasgow is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy a museum or one of the parks around town. There are also river cruises and spas. For a more locally specific activity, check out the Bothwell Castle.

Is Glasgow or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and 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.

Glasgow is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a good number of hostels around town as well as a good social scene, making this a decent option for backpackers.

Is Glasgow or Bern Better for Students?

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

Glasgow is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The city has the second largest student population in the UK, so you'll find plenty of students to hang out with.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Glasgow and Bern both offer very good public transit to get you around.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Glasgow. The subway is convenient in the city center, west end, and southside. There are also buses throughout the city.

Public transit in Bern is fairly effecient and thorough. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Is Glasgow or Bern a more walkable city?

Glasgow and Bern are very good when it comes to walkability.

Glasgow is a very walkable destination. The city center is generally walkable and can be explored 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.

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

Should I spend more time in Bern or Glasgow?

How long in Glasgow or Bern?

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

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

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

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.

A weekend in Glasgow or Bern?

Glasgow 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.

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.

Five days in Glasgow or Bern?

You'll find food and shopping around the high energy destination of Glasgow. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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.

A week in Glasgow or Bern?

The high energy city of Glasgow offers shopping and 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.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, 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 Glasgow and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Glasgow much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Glasgow would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Glasgow 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 Glasgow.

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

Which is Bigger, Glasgow or Bern?

Glasgow has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Glasgow 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 Glasgow or Bern?

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 Glasgow or Bern in the Summer?

Both Bern and Glasgow during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Glasgow in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Glasgow is cooler than Bern. Typically, the summer temperatures in Glasgow in July average around 15°C (59°F), and Bern averages at about 21°C (70°F).

In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Glasgow often gets less sunshine than Bern. Glasgow gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun.

Glasgow usually gets more rain in July than Bern. Glasgow gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Glasgow or Bern in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Glasgow and Bern. Most visitors come to Glasgow for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Bern because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Glasgow is generally cooler than Bern. Daily temperatures in Glasgow average around 10°C (49°F), and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Glasgow usually receives less sunshine than Bern during autumn. Glasgow gets 69 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Glasgow gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Glasgow usually receives more rain than Bern. Glasgow gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Glasgow or Bern in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Glasgow as well as Bern. The winter months attract visitors to Glasgow because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

It's quite cold in Bern in the winter. The weather in Glasgow can be very cold. Glasgow is a little warmer than Bern in the winter. The daily temperature in Glasgow averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Bern fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Glasgow often gets less sunshine than Bern. Glasgow gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun.

Glasgow receives a lot of rain in the winter. Glasgow usually gets more rain in January than Bern. Glasgow gets 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Glasgow or Bern in the Spring?

Both Bern and Glasgow are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Glasgow this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bern for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Glasgow is cooler than Bern. Typically, the spring temperatures in Glasgow in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Bern averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Glasgow usually receives less sunshine than Bern during spring. Glasgow gets 134 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Glasgow usually receives more rain than Bern. Glasgow gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bern and Glasgow