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

Should you visit Inverness 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 Inverness and Bergen can help you decide which place is right for you.

Inverness

Inverness is a cultural, traditional, and local city. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bergen

Bergen is a laid back, nostalgic, and friendly city. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Inverness and Bergen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Inverness or Bergen?

Both Bergen and Inverness have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Inverness is more popular for its museums and food, while Bergen is known for its historical sights. Inverness is more touristy than Bergen and is known for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness. Bergen is popular for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

How is Inverness different from Bergen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Inverness 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.

Inverness offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As a city rich in culture and heritage, you'll find a number of sights and museums in town. Check out the Highland House of Fraser, Culloden Moor, and Clava Cairns.

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 Inverness or Bergen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Inverness 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 Inverness is an experience not to be missed. The city makes a great spot to fill your belly after a few days exploring the Scottish Highlands. You'll find local restaurants that serve up regional specialties, and when the weather's nice, there are some spots with outdoor seating.

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 Inverness or Bergen Better for Nightlife?

Both Inverness and Bergen are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Inverness. Nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind with this town, but there are actually lots of distilleries in the area and there's a surprising number of high quality bars and pubs that make for a fun evening.

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 Inverness or Bergen Better for its Old Town?

Bergen is very good for its old town. However, Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Bergen to see the old town. The wooden buildings and compact streets have a quaint and nostalgic atmosphere.

Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Inverness or Bergen?

Both Inverness and Bergen are great shopping destinations.

Inverness is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The town is at the cultural heart of the Scottish Highlands you'll find plenty of local shops where you can pick up local products. Make sure you check out the Inverness Victorian Market.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas 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 Inverness or Bergen Better for Families?

Bergen is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Bergen is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Inverness is a family-friendly city. The city has some parks and activities that are great for kids. Make sure you explore Inverness Castle and the Inverness Mystery Treasure Trail.

Is Inverness or Bergen Better for Couples?

Bergen is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

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.

Inverness is a good city for couples to visit. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.

Is Inverness or Bergen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bergen is very good for backpackers. However, Inverness is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Inverness is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There a some hostels and student hotels, but this isn't one of the major backpacker spots in the UK.

Is Inverness or Bergen Better for Students?

Bergen is very good for students. However, Inverness is not popular with students.

Bergen is a good city to visit for students. 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.

Inverness is not popular with students.

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

Bergen is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Inverness is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Bergen has some very good public transit options. 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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Inverness. There are local buses that pass through the town.

Is Inverness or Bergen a more walkable city?

Inverness and Bergen both are great when exploring on foot.

Inverness is a very walkable city. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bergen or Inverness?

How long in Inverness or Bergen?

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

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

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

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

One day in Inverness or Bergen?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Inverness. 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 Inverness or Bergen?

Inverness 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 Inverness or Bergen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Inverness. 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 laid back 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 Inverness or Bergen?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Inverness. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, 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 Inverness and Bergen, we can see that Inverness 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 Inverness would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Inverness 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 Inverness Expensive? and Is Bergen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Inverness or Bergen?

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

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Inverness or Bergen in the Summer?

Both Bergen and Inverness are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Inverness for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Bergen because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Inverness is around the same temperature as Bergen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Inverness in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Bergen averages at about 15°C (58°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. In July, Inverness usually receives less rain than Bergen. Inverness gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Inverness or Bergen in the Autumn?

Both Bergen and Inverness during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Inverness because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Bergen this time of year.

In October, Inverness is generally around the same temperature as Bergen. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 9°C (49°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Inverness usually gets less rain in October than Bergen. Inverness gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Bergen in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Inverness and Bergen. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Inverness this time of year. Furthermore, 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 Inverness in the winter. Inverness is much warmer than Bergen in the winter. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Bergen fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Inverness usually receives less rain than Bergen. Inverness gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Inverness or Bergen in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Inverness as well as Bergen. Many travelers come to Inverness for the small town charm. Additionally, many visitors come to Bergen in the spring for the small town charm.

In the spring, Inverness is a little warmer than Bergen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Inverness in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Bergen averages at about 6°C (43°F).

It's quite rainy in Bergen. Inverness usually gets less rain in April than Bergen. Inverness gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bergen and Inverness