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

Should you visit Graz or Bergen?

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

Should I visit Graz or Bergen? 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.

Graz

Graz is a cultural, historical, and beautiful city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bergen

Bergen is a laid back, nostalgic, and friendly city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Graz and Bergen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Graz or Bergen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Graz. Although Graz and Bergen are roughly the same size, Graz has more sights and attractions for tourists. Graz is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Bergen is known for its small town charm. Graz is more touristy than Bergen and is popular for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture. It is also home to The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower. Bergen is popular for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

How is Graz different from Bergen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Graz 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.

Graz offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The old town is among the largest in Europe and it's filled with sights and museums. The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower are among the most iconic sights but other highlights include the GrazMuseum, the Mohren Apotheke's Theriak Museum, a Gothic Franciscan Church, and the Robert Stolz Museum.

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 Graz or Bergen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Graz 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 Graz is an experience not to be missed. There's a huge focus on sustainable dining in town, so you'll find many restaurants that use a farm to table approach. Local ingredients are heavily valued and it's fun to sample the many local flavors. Backhendl is a classic fried chicken dish that you must try.

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 Graz or Bergen Better for Nightlife?

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

Graz has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The large student population means that there's an active nightlife scene that is diverse and fun. There's a wide variety of bars and pubs with almost any music genre you could want. There are also dance clubs for those who are looking for a party.

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 Graz or Bergen Better for its Old Town?

Graz is very popular for its historic old town charm. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town.

Graz has a world-famous historical area. The medieval city center is very well preserved and one of the largest in Europe. The city has a lot of hidden charm and quaint streets to explore.

Bergen is a good destination for visiting its old town. The wooden buildings and compact streets have a quaint and nostalgic atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Graz or Bergen?

If you're looking to go shopping, Graz and Bergen both offer plenty of high quality spots.

Graz is well-known for its shopping. You'll find a lot of shopping around both Jakominiplatz and Hauptplatz Squares. There are also a number of shopping streets in town including Herrengasse which is filled with shops, restaurants, and more.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Bergen. 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 Graz or Bergen Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Graz or Bergen.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Graz is very family-friendly. Kids will love the fairytale train and there's also a 4D cinema that is fun for the whole family. In Schlossberg Hill, families should check out The Slide, which is the largest underground slide in the world. Other highlights include a Children's Museum, a Folklife Museum, and a Natural History Museum.

Bergen is known to be 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 Graz or Bergen Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Graz and Bergen make for a high quality place to visit.

Graz is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. It's filled with culture, history, and amazing food. Couples will appreciate the romantic old town and the many world class sights around town.

Bergen is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Is Graz or Bergen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Graz and Bergen are good places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Graz. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

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

Is Graz or Bergen Better for Students?

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

Graz is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's long been an education center in Austria and students make up a significant portion of the population. It's also a chill city with a relaxed and student-friendly vibe.

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

Graz and Bergen both offer high quality public transit to get you around.

The public transit in Graz can get you around easily. There are buses and trams that travel around the town.

Bergen offers a very effecient public transportation network. 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 Graz or Bergen a more walkable city?

Graz is very popular for its ease of walking around. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Graz on foot. You'll find everything you'd want to see in the old town, which is large, but still compact enough to explore on foot.

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 Graz Worth Visiting? and Is Bergen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bergen or Graz?

How long in Graz or Bergen?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Graz than Bergen. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Graz that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Graz 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 Graz.

One day in Graz or Bergen?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Graz. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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

A weekend in Graz or Bergen?

Graz 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.

Bergen 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.

Five days in Graz or Bergen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Graz. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

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

A week in Graz or Bergen?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historical destination of Graz. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The nostalgic city of Bergen 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria, The Best Bicycle Tours in Austria, The Best 10-Day Tours in Norway, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Norway.

When comparing the travel costs between Graz and Bergen, we can see that Graz is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Graz or Bergen?

Graz has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Bergen. When comparing the sizes of Graz 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 Graz 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 Graz or Bergen in the Summer?

Both Bergen and Graz during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Graz because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bergen this time of year.

In the summer, Graz is much warmer than Bergen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Graz in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Bergen averages at about 15°C (58°F).

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Graz. Graz usually gets less rain in July than Bergen. Graz gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Bergen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Graz and Bergen. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Graz this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bergen for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

In October, Graz is generally a little warmer than Bergen. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 13°C (55°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Graz usually receives less rain than Bergen. Graz gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Graz or Bergen in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Graz as well as Bergen. Many travelers come to Graz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Bergen in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bergen can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Graz. Graz is much colder than Bergen in the winter. The daily temperature in Graz averages around 1°C (34°F) in January, and Bergen fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

It's quite rainy in Bergen. Graz usually gets less rain in January than Bergen. Graz gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Bergen in the Spring?

Both Bergen and Graz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Graz in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Bergen for the small town charm during these months.

In the spring, Graz is much warmer than Bergen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Graz in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Bergen averages at about 6°C (43°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. In April, Graz usually receives less rain than Bergen. Graz 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 Graz