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

Should you visit Heraklion or Bern?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Heraklion and Bern can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Heraklion

Heraklion is a historic, vibrant, and accessible city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for beaches, 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.

Heraklion and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heraklion or Bern?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Heraklion. Although Heraklion and Bern are roughly the same size, Heraklion has more sights and attractions for tourists. Heraklion is very popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, and big city activities, while Bern attracts visitors for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Heraklion is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its archeological sights, local Cretan restaurants, and its vibrant nightlife scene. It is also well known for The Palace of Knossos. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Heraklion different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Heraklion. The city is filled with historical sights and archeological ruins. The impressive Palace of Knossos is a must-see, but also make sure you visit the Koules Fortress, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Natural History Museum of Crete.

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.

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

Heraklion 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, Heraklion makes for a great culinary experience. The city is home to countless Cretan restaurants that range in style and budget. There are fine dining restaurants as well as local dives with casual street food. The restaurants reflect the island's multi-cultural past with many styles and flavors available.

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 Heraklion or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Heraklion is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Heraklion offers plenty to do in the evening. The city has some of the best nightlife on the island of Crete. There are many all-night clubs as well as bars that stay open until 2 or 3 in the morning. In particular, there are many British tourists hanging out at the clubs and bars.

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

Is Heraklion or Bern Better for Beaches?

Heraklion is a well-known place for its beaches. However, Bern is not a beach destination.

Heraklion is considered a top beach destination. You'll find world-class beaches just outside of town, if you're willing to explore a little. Agia Pelagia Beach is about half an hour away and Limanakia Beach is also not a bad day trip. If you want to stay closer to town, head to nearby Amnissos Beach.

Bern is not a beach destination.

Is Heraklion or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a very popular place for its old town. However, Heraklion does not have a historic old town.

Bern is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. 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.

Heraklion does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Heraklion or Bern?

Bern is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Heraklion 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 Heraklion to go shopping. There are a number of unique shops around town that sell everything from traditional pottery to homemade jewelry.

Is Heraklion or Bern Better for Families?

Bern is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Heraklion is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Bern is very family-friendly. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Heraklion. In town you'll find many historical and educational sights such as the Palace of Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Koules Venetian fortress. Kids will also enjoy walking the Venetian Walls that are in town. If you're willing to head a bit outside of town, in about half an hour you can reach the Cretaquarium, Dinosauria Park, or Acqua Plus Water Park.

Is Heraklion or Bern Better for Couples?

Both Heraklion and Bern are excellent destinations for a couple's getaway.

Heraklion makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Most couples head outside of town to other parts of the island, but those who linger in town for a while will enjoy world-class museums and fascinating archeological sights.

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.

Is Heraklion or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Heraklion and Bern are both excellent destinations for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Heraklion. The city is filled with budget-friendly hostels that often have a social atmosphere and a fun vibe.

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

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

Bern is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Heraklion 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 Heraklion, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. KTEL buses travel both within town and to nearby villages.

Is Heraklion or Bern a more walkable city?

Heraklion and Bern are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Heraklion is a very walkable city. Many parts of the town are walkable and doing a walking tour is a great way to see many of the city's sights.

Bern is a very walkable destination. 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 Heraklion Worth Visiting? and Is Bern Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bern or Heraklion?

How long in Heraklion or Bern?

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

Families should spend more time in Bern than Heraklion. 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.

One day in Heraklion or Bern?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Heraklion. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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 Heraklion or Bern?

Heraklion is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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 beautiful 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 Heraklion or Bern?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the bustling destination of Heraklion. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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 Heraklion or Bern?

The historic city of Heraklion offers nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, 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 Heraklion and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Heraklion much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Heraklion would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Heraklion 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 Heraklion.

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

Which is Bigger, Heraklion or Bern?

Heraklion has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Heraklion 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 Heraklion 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 Heraklion or Bern in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Heraklion as well as Bern. Many travelers come to Heraklion for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Heraklion is generally a little warmer than Bern. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 25°C (78°F), and Bern fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Heraklion this time of the year. In the summer, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Bern. Heraklion gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun.

Heraklion usually gets less rain in July than Bern. Heraklion gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heraklion or Bern in the Autumn?

Both Bern and Heraklion are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Heraklion in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Heraklion is much warmer than Bern in the autumn. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Bern during autumn. Heraklion gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Heraklion usually receives more rain than Bern. Heraklion gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Heraklion or Bern in the Winter?

Both Bern and Heraklion during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Heraklion for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Bern can be very cold. In the winter, Heraklion is much warmer than Bern. Typically, the winter temperatures in Heraklion in January average around 12°C (54°F), and Bern averages at about 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Bern. Heraklion gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun.

Heraklion usually gets more rain in January than Bern. Heraklion gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heraklion or Bern in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Heraklion and Bern. The spring months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

In April, Heraklion is generally a little warmer than Bern. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 16°C (61°F), and Bern fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In Heraklion, it's very sunny this time of the year. Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Bern during spring. Heraklion gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Bern. Heraklion gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bern and Heraklion