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

Should you visit Mainz or Bergen?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Mainz and Bergen 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.

Mainz

Mainz is a quaint, charming, and beautiful town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Bergen

Bergen is a friendly, laid back, and nostalgic city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Mainz and Bergen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mainz or Bergen?

Both Bergen and Mainz have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Mainz is better known for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Bergen is more popular for its nightlife, shopping, and small town charm. Mainz is more touristy than Bergen and is popular for its quaint old town, Roman heritage, and beautiful town squares. Bergen is well known for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

How is Mainz different from Bergen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the notable sights and museums in either Mainz or Bergen.

Mainz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's an old university town with a number of historical sights. Check out the Church of St. Stephan, Mainz Cathedral, the Gutenberg Museum, and the Museum of Ancient Seafaring.

Bergen offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are some interesting local museums such as the Hanseatic Museum, the Edvard Grieg Museum, and the KODE Museums.

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

Mainz 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 Mainz is an experience not to be missed. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes that serve local food. There are also wine taverns where you can sample the local wines and dine of regional specialties.

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 Mainz or Bergen Better for Nightlife?

Bergen is a city with good options for nightlife. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Mainz. It's a sleepy little town, so even locals often head to bigger cities for better nightlife.

Is Mainz or Bergen Better for its Old Town?

Mainz is notable 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.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Mainz. Filled with beautiful squares and cobblestone streets, this is a nice old town in a pleasant city.

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 Mainz or Bergen?

Bergen is a very popular place for shopping. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Mainz offers some nice shopping areas. Head to the boulevard of Am Brand near the cathedral for some of the town's best shopping. There are shops that line the street and it's a nice area to walk around.

Is Mainz or Bergen Better for Families?

Bergen is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.

Bergen is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Mainz doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Kids will enjoy the Gutenburg Museum and the outdoor spaces where they can run around. There's also a nice old town that everyone will have fun exploring.

Is Mainz or Bergen Better for Couples?

Both Mainz and Bergen are excellent destinations for a couple's getaway.

Mainz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Located on the Rhine River, this scenic setting is popular for river cruises. The town is nice to explore on its own, or you can hop around and take in several of the German river towns. You can also sit at outdoor cafes and sip local wine.

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.

Is Mainz or Bergen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Mainz and Bergen are both notable destinations for backpackers.

Mainz is a good town to visit for backpackers. The town is popular with river cruises but you'll also find a hostel or two where budget travelers can save some money and meet other backpackers.

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

Is Mainz or Bergen Better for Students?

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

Mainz is a very popular town for students and younger travelers. It's a university town with a pleasant atmosphere and a beautiful setting.

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

Visitors will find excellent public transit in both Mainz and Bergen.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Mainz. There are regional trains that make it easy to use Mainz as a base to explore the area, or you could visit Mainz as a day trip from another nearby town.

Public transit in Bergen can get you to some places easily. 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 Mainz or Bergen a more walkable city?

Mainz 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 Mainz on foot. The town is easily explored 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 Mainz Worth Visiting? and Is Bergen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bergen or Mainz?

How long in Mainz or Bergen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Mainz and Bergen. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Mainz than in Bergen. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Mainz, and 1-3 days is enough time in Bergen.

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

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

One day in Mainz or Bergen?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Mainz. 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.

In Bergen, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this laid back destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Mainz or Bergen?

Mainz 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bergen. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Mainz or Bergen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mainz. 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.

Bergen is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Bergen. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Mainz or Bergen?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming destination of Mainz. This town 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.

You'll find food and shopping around the friendly destination of Bergen. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany, 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 Mainz and Bergen, we can see that Mainz 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 Mainz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mainz 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 Mainz Expensive? and Is Bergen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Mainz or Bergen?

Bergen has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Mainz. When comparing the sizes of Mainz 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 Mainz 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 Mainz or Bergen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Mainz as well as Bergen. Many travelers come to Mainz for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Bergen in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Mainz is generally a little warmer than Bergen. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 19°C (66°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

It's quite rainy in Bergen. Mainz usually gets less rain in July than Bergen. Mainz gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mainz or Bergen in the Autumn?

Both Bergen and Mainz are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Mainz in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Bergen for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months.

Mainz is a little warmer than Bergen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mainz averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Bergen fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. In October, Mainz usually receives less rain than Bergen. Mainz gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mainz or Bergen in the Winter?

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

The weather in Bergen can be very cold. Mainz can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Mainz is around the same temperature as Bergen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mainz in January average around 2°C (35°F), and Bergen averages at about 2°C (35°F).

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mainz usually gets less rain in January than Bergen. Mainz gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mainz or Bergen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mainz and Bergen. The spring months attract visitors to Mainz because of the natural beauty. Furthermore, the small town charm are the main draw to Bergen this time of year.

In April, Mainz is generally much warmer than Bergen. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 11°C (51°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Mainz usually receives less rain than Bergen. Mainz 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 Mainz