A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Interlaken vs. Cork for Families, Couples, Food, and Backpackers

Should you visit Interlaken or Cork?

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 Interlaken and Cork can help you decide which place is right for you.

Interlaken

Interlaken is a stunning, adventurous, and adrenaline-filled town. You'll find world class beauty here as well. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for skiing, food, and hiking.

Cork

Cork is a energetic, cultural, and seaside city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Interlaken and Cork: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Interlaken or Cork?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Cork. Although Interlaken and Cork are both popular with visitors, Cork has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Cork is more popular for its museums, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Interlaken is known for its skiing, hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Interlaken is more touristy than Cork and is popular for its adventure sports, alpine setting, and beautiful lakes. Cork is popular for its friendly personality, its thriving art scene and its local craft beer. It is also home to The Blarney Castle and Stone.

How is Interlaken different from Cork?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Interlaken or Cork Better for Skiing?

Interlaken is a town with good options for snow skiing. However, Cork is not a skiing destination.

Interlaken is a great destination for skiing with plenty areas to explore. While the city itself has no skiing, there is access to several ski areas in Jungfrau. There are several different resorts in the area near Grindelwald, Wengen, and Mürren. You'll need to take a train or ski bus to get most places.

Cork is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Interlaken or Cork?

Cork is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Interlaken does not have museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Cork specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is filled with historic sights and landmarks. Most notable is the Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone, but also make sure you check out St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Cork Public Museum, Cork City Gaol Heritage Centre, and St. Anne's Church.

Interlaken does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Interlaken or Cork? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Interlaken and Cork both to be superb destinations.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Interlaken. Restaurants in the area serve local classics like fondue, local meats, cheeses, and chocolate. You can finish your meal off with strudel or head to a local bakery and try their samplings. Meals are expensive but the quality is good. You should also out into the countryside and enjoy a meal looking out over the mountains.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Cork. You'll find charming seaside cafes and award winning restaurants. Also make sure you check out the English Market, which is among the best in Ireland.

Is Interlaken or Cork Better for Nightlife?

Cork is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. However, Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Cork has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. It's a university city, so you'll find plenty of students, bars, clubs, and cheap beer. Many pubs also have live music with everything from rock to Irish folk music.

Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Interlaken or Cork Better for Hiking?

Interlaken is a must-visit destination for the nearby hiking options. However, Cork is not a hiking destination.

Around Interlaken visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Hikes in the area range from easy to challenging with every option in between. You can experience beautiful waterfalls, breathtaking views, and dramatic ridge hikes. Several of the best hikes in the area include Schynige Platte Ridge Trail, Mt Niesen Panorama Trail, and Giessbach Waterfalls.

Cork is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Interlaken or Cork?

Cork is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, Interlaken is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Cork. It offers a mix of high street shops and boutique vendors. Head to St. Patrick’s Street for some of the city's best shopping. Also check out Opera Lane and Oliver Plunkett Street.

Interlaken is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Interlaken or Cork Better for Families?

Interlaken is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Cork is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Interlaken is an extremely popular town to visit for families. While the city is beautiful, it's really the surrounding areas that you and your family will enjoy. There are amazing hikes, stunning views, playgrounds, lakes, and more. There's also an impressive ropes course that adventurous kids will love, funiculars, gondolas, and so many water sports!

Cork is a family-friendly town. For a bit of outside time, head to Fota Wildlife Park, Regional Park Ballincollig, or Inchydoney Beach. Kids will also enjoy exploring Cork City Gaol which is a heritage museum, or the Toy Soldier Factory. And of course, there's the Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone.

Is Interlaken or Cork Better for Couples?

Interlaken is a must-visit destination for romance. Also, Cork is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Interlaken is a great town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. The mountaintop views, breathtaking hikes, and beautiful lakes make this a top destination for couples. Make sure you head out of town and fully immerse yourself in everything that the area has to offer. Kayaking, canoeing, paragliding, and more will make this a trip of a lifetime.

Cork makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Visiting Blarney Castle is a highlight, but you can also wander along the river or do the Ballycotton Cliff Walk. There are also several gardens to explore or small theaters where you can see a play.

Is Interlaken or Cork Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Interlaken and Cork are both good destinations for backpackers.

Interlaken is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's a world class destination with so many activities that backpackers will love, but it's also one of the most expensive areas in one of the most expensive countries. There are hostels in town as well as a few in the nearby towns and countryside, but prices are steep. Cook when you can and enjoy all of the free activities that the area has to offer.

It's common for backpackers to visit Cork. There are plenty of hostels as well as a large student population and an active nightlife.

Is Interlaken or Cork Better for Students?

Cork is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Interlaken is not popular with students.

Cork is very popular with students. It's a university town with many students and plenty to do. The city plays host to many international students.

Interlaken is not popular with students.

Is Interlaken or Cork Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Interlaken is notable for its public transit. However, Cork is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Interlaken can move around easily with public transportation. Buses travel around town, but to get into the mountains there are trains, cog railways, funiculars, and gondolas.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cork. In town you'll find bus service but if you want to explore anywhere else in the county you really need your own vehicle.

Is Interlaken or Cork a more walkable city?

Interlaken and Cork are good when it comes to walkability.

Interlaken is somewhat walkable. The old town is relatively walkable.

Cork is a somewhat walkable place. The city center is compact and easy enough to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Interlaken Worth Visiting? and Is Cork Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cork or Interlaken?

How long in Interlaken or Cork?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Interlaken and Cork. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Interlaken than in Cork. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Interlaken, and 1-3 days is enough time in Cork.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cork than Interlaken 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 Cork.

One day in Interlaken or Cork?

Visitors enjoy the food and skiing when visiting the destination of Interlaken. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

With museums and nightlife around the seaside city of Cork, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Cork, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Interlaken or Cork?

Interlaken is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the hiking. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Cork, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Interlaken or Cork?

Visitors enjoy the food and skiing when visiting the adventurous destination of Interlaken. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Cork, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Interlaken or Cork?

The world-class town of Interlaken offers skiing and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

Cork is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Geneva, The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Interlaken or Cork?

Cork has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of Interlaken and Cork, 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 Interlaken or Cork?

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 Interlaken or Cork in the Summer?

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

Interlaken is a little warmer than Cork in the summer. The daily temperature in Interlaken averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Cork fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Interlaken this time of the year. In the summer, Interlaken often gets more sunshine than Cork. Interlaken gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cork receives 178 hours of full sun.

Interlaken usually gets more rain in July than Cork. Interlaken gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Cork receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Interlaken or Cork in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Interlaken is a little warmer than Cork. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Interlaken in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Cork averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Interlaken usually receives more sunshine than Cork during autumn. Interlaken gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Cork receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Interlaken usually receives less rain than Cork. Interlaken gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cork receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Interlaken or Cork in the Winter?

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

Interlaken can be very cold during winter. In January, Interlaken is generally much colder than Cork. Daily temperatures in Interlaken average around 3°C (37°F), and Cork fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

In the winter, Interlaken often gets less sunshine than Cork. Interlaken gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cork receives 60 hours of full sun.

Cork gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Interlaken usually gets less rain in January than Cork. Interlaken gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Cork receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Interlaken or Cork in the Spring?

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

Interlaken is a little warmer than Cork in the spring. The daily temperature in Interlaken averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Cork fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Interlaken usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cork during spring. Interlaken gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Cork receives 157 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Interlaken usually receives more rain than Cork. Interlaken gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cork receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Cork and Interlaken