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

Should you visit Kiel or Bergen?

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

Should I visit Kiel 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.

Kiel

Kiel is a waterfront, maritime, and authentic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Bergen

Bergen is a laid back, nostalgic, and friendly city. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Kiel and Bergen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kiel or Bergen?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Kiel. Although Kiel and Bergen are about the same size, Kiel has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Kiel is more popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Bergen is known for its historical sights, shopping, and small town charm. Kiel is popular for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also home to The Kiel Castle. Bergen is popular for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

How is Kiel different from Bergen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Kiel and Bergen.

Kiel offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Bergen. There are some interesting local museums such as the Hanseatic Museum, the Edvard Grieg Museum, and the KODE Museums.

Is the Food Better in Kiel or Bergen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Kiel and Bergen offer a number of good restaurants to choose from.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Kiel. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Bergen is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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 Kiel or Bergen Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Kiel and Bergen.

Kiel has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

If you're looking for night time activities Bergen has a few options to choose from. 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 Kiel or Bergen Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a popular place for the beach. However, Bergen is not a beach destination.

Kiel is a good option for a beach vacation. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Bergen is not a beach destination.

Is Kiel or Bergen Better for its Old Town?

Bergen is a popular place for its old town. However, Kiel 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.

Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Kiel or Bergen?

Bergen is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Bergen is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Kiel has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Kiel or Bergen Better for Families?

Bergen is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

Kiel offers lots of family activities. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

Is Kiel or Bergen Better for Couples?

Bergen is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Bergen frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

Kiel is a good city for couples to visit. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Kiel or Bergen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bergen is a popular place for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bergen. There are a few hostels and guesthouses around town where backpackers can meet other travelers.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is Kiel or Bergen Better for Students?

Kiel and Bergen are good places to visit for students.

Kiel is popular with students. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

It's common for students to 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 Kiel or Bergen Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bergen is well known for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known 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 Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Kiel or Bergen a more walkable city?

Bergen is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

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

Kiel is a somewhat walkable city. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Bergen or Kiel?

How long in Kiel or Bergen?

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

Families should spend more time in Bergen than Kiel. 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 Kiel. 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 Kiel 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 Kiel or Bergen?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kiel. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

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 Kiel or Bergen?

Kiel 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 Kiel or Bergen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kiel. 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 friendly 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 Kiel or Bergen?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Kiel. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, 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 Kiel and Bergen, we can see that Kiel 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 Kiel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kiel 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 Kiel Expensive? and Is Bergen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kiel or Bergen?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Bergen. When comparing the sizes of Kiel 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 Kiel 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 Kiel or Bergen in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiel and Bergen. The summer months attract visitors to Kiel because of the beaches, the city activities, and 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, Kiel is a little warmer than Bergen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kiel in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Bergen averages at about 15°C (58°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kiel usually receives less rain than Bergen. Kiel gets 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Kiel or Bergen in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Kiel as well as Bergen. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kiel this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bergen for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

In October, Kiel is generally around the same temperature as Bergen. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 10°C (50°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

It's quite rainy in Bergen. Kiel usually gets less rain in October than Bergen. Kiel gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Bergen in the Winter?

Both Bergen and Kiel are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Kiel 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 Kiel. Kiel is much colder than Bergen in the winter. The daily temperature in Kiel averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and Bergen fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. In January, Kiel usually receives less rain than Bergen. Kiel gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Kiel or Bergen in the Spring?

Both Bergen and Kiel during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Kiel in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bergen for the small town charm during these months.

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

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kiel usually gets less rain in April than Bergen. Kiel gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bergen and Kiel