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

Should you visit Oxford or Bern?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Oxford or Bern, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Oxford

Oxford is a scholarly, collegiate, and beautiful college town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bern

Bern is a charming, beautiful, and cultural city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Oxford and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Oxford or Bern?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Bern than Oxford. While Oxford is larger than Bern, Bern has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bern is more popular for its historical sights and shopping, while Oxford is known for its nightlife, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Oxford is popular for being home to one of the world's most notable universities. Bern is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. It is also home to The Zytglogge Clock Tower.

How is Oxford different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the very good sights and museums in either Oxford or Bern.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Oxford can be an interesting and educational experience. This town is filled with culture, history, and world class museums. Check out the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Modern Art, Ashmolean Museum, or the Museum of Oxford.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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 Oxford or Bern? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Oxford and Bern offer good local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Oxford. In addition to the typical British pubs and fish and chips shops, you'll find a wide diversity of ethnic food around town. Thai, sushi, Indian, and more are common dining options. Head to the Oxford Covered Market to try a traditional British breakfast or have some delicious ice cream.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Bern. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Is Oxford or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Oxford 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.

Oxford offers plenty to do in the evening. As a college town, you'll find an active nightlife scene with trivia nights and plenty of parties. There are pubs around town where you can grab a drink or find out if there's a concert while you're in town.

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

Is Oxford or Bern Better for its Old Town?

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

Many visitors go to Bern to see the historical old town. 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.

Oxford does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Oxford or Bern?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bern. 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.

Oxford offers some nice shopping areas. Shops around town offer the perfect opportunity to pick up some Oxford gear or by a few items from the Harry Potter franchise.

Is Oxford or Bern Better for Families?

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

Bern is a very family-friendly destination. 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 Oxford. Families will enjoy taking a paddle boat out on the water and exploring the beautiful setting. There are also a number of sights that were influential in the making of Harry Potter. In particular, you'll find the inspiration for the "Great Hall" if you take a tour of Christ Church College. The tour must be booked in advance and they often sell out. Older kids will also enjoy exploring the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Is Oxford or Bern Better for Couples?

Oxford and Bern are both very good to visit as a couple.

Oxford makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The beautiful campus and striking architecture make this a great destination for romance. Hire a boat and explore the water or wander through one of the impressive gardens.

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 Oxford or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Oxford is lacking in good options for backpackers.

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

Oxford is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town that offer affordable accommodation. As a college town, Oxford also has an active nightlife scene and a young crowd that keeps things affordable and fun.

Is Oxford or Bern Better for Students?

Oxford is renowned for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Oxford. At its heart, Oxford is a college town and students are at the heart of the city and its culture.

Bern is not popular with students.

Is Oxford 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, Oxford is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Bern. There are trams and buses that run around town.

You'll find some public transit in Oxford, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses available if your legs get tired.

Is Oxford or Bern a more walkable city?

Oxford and Bern are very good when it comes to walkability.

Oxford is very walkable. The best way to explore most of the town is on foot, so you can soak up the full collegiate atmosphere.

Bern is a very walkable college town. 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 Oxford Worth Visiting? and Is Bern Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bern or Oxford?

How long in Oxford or Bern?

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

Families should spend more time in Bern than Oxford. 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.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bern than Oxford 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 Bern.

One day in Oxford or Bern?

Oxford is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Oxford or Bern?

Oxford 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.

Bern 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.

Five days in Oxford or Bern?

Oxford is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This college town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

A week in Oxford or Bern?

Because Oxford is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming destination of Bern. This city 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, 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 Oxford and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Oxford much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Oxford would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Oxford 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 Oxford.

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

Which is Bigger, Oxford or Bern?

Oxford has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Oxford 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 Oxford 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 Oxford or Bern in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Oxford as well as Bern. Many visitors come to Oxford in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Oxford is cooler than Bern in the summer. The daily temperature in Oxford averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Bern fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. In the summer, Oxford often gets less sunshine than Bern. Oxford gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun.

Oxford usually gets less rain in July than Bern. Oxford gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Oxford or Bern in the Autumn?

Both Bern and Oxford are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Oxford for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Bern because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Oxford is cooler than Bern. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Oxford in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Bern averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Oxford usually receives less sunshine than Bern during autumn. Oxford gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Oxford usually receives more rain than Bern. Oxford gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Oxford or Bern in the Winter?

Both Bern and Oxford during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Oxford because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

It's quite cold in Bern in the winter. The weather in Oxford can be very cold. In January, Oxford is generally a little warmer than Bern. Daily temperatures in Oxford average around 3°C (38°F), and Bern fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Oxford often gets less sunshine than Bern. Oxford gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun.

Oxford usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Bern. Oxford gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Oxford or Bern in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Oxford and Bern. The small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Oxford this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bern for the natural beauty.

Oxford is cooler than Bern in the spring. The daily temperature in Oxford averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Bern fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Oxford usually receives less sunshine than Bern during spring. Oxford gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Oxford usually receives less rain than Bern. Oxford gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bern and Oxford