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

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

Porto

Porto is a historic, cultural, and cosmopolitan port city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bergen

Bergen is a friendly, laid back, and nostalgic city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Porto and Bergen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Porto or Bergen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Porto. Although Porto and Bergen are roughly the same size, Porto has more sights and attractions for tourists. Porto is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Bergen is more popular for its shopping and small town charm. Porto is more touristy than Bergen and is popular for its authentic old town and the local port wine. Also, Porto is famous for Cais da Ribeira. Bergen is well known for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

How is Porto different from Bergen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Porto 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.

Porto offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. With such a long history, there are many landmarks and sights in the city. Popular attractions include the Clérigos Tower, Palácio da Bolsa, and Igreja de São Francisco.

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 Porto or Bergen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Porto is very popular for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Porto is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The area's cuisine combines the ocean setting with the agriculture of the surrounding area, so you'll enjoy both seafood dishes as well as fresh meats and vegetables. The area is also famous for its Port wines and red wines. There are plenty of cellar tours as well was waterfront seafood restaurants to choose from.

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 Porto or Bergen Better for Nightlife?

Porto is notable for its evening party scene. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Porto has plenty to do after the sun goes down. This city comes to life in the evening, particularly on weekends when locals and tourists alike flock to the many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

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 Porto or Bergen Better for its Old Town?

Porto 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 Porto. Known as Porto Ribeira, the city's historic district is the most visited part of the town. It begins on the banks of the River Douro and climbs into the hills behind it.

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 Porto or Bergen?

Bergen is a great city for shopping. Also, Porto is not as popular, but is still a nice port city 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.

Porto offers some nice shopping areas. The city has both your standard shopping mall stores as well as local vendors and boutique shops.

Is Porto or Bergen Better for Families?

You'll find great kid-friendly activities in either Porto or Bergen.

Porto is a very family-friendly destination. The city has several cool museums including the interactive museum - The World of Discoveries. There are also parks, playgrounds, zoos, and aquariums that you can explore. For families that enjoy being outside, this is a great city. Kids will enjoy spotting street art, riding the funicular, and taking a cellar tour. If the kids need a break from the city, head to the beach for the day.

Bergen is a very kid-friendly port 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.

Is Porto or Bergen Better for Couples?

Both Porto and Bergen are great destinations to visit as a couple.

Porto is a great port city if you're traveling as a couple. You can visit the palaces, enjoy shopping, or dine in a nice Portuguese restaurant. Take a cellar tour and sample port then catch a ride on the funicular. This city has plenty for couples to do on a romantic getaway.

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.

Is Porto or Bergen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Porto is very popular for backpackers. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Porto is a very popular port city to visit for backpackers. By combining world-class activities with affordability, this city has become a popular stop off for backpackers in the area.

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

Is Porto or Bergen Better for Students?

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

Porto is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. The city has a number of good research programs and study abroad opportunities that attract international students from around the world.

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

Porto and Bergen both offer great public transit to get you around.

Public transit in Porto is fairly effecient and thorough. There is a metro system as well as a bus system. While the metro system does have six lines, most stations aren't close to the tourist attractions, so it likely won't be that helpful to visitors.

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.

Is Porto or Bergen a more walkable city?

Porto and Bergen are great when it comes to walkability.

Porto is very walkable. The city center is very compact with most of the sights within a short walk of each other. The area is also very hilly, so getting from place to place can require a bit of effort.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bergen or Porto?

How long in Porto or Bergen?

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

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

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

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

One day in Porto or Bergen?

Porto is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. 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 nostalgic 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 Porto or Bergen?

Porto is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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 Porto or Bergen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Porto. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. 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 Porto or Bergen?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the dynamic big city of Porto. This port 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.

You'll find food and shopping around the laid back 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 Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, 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 Porto and Bergen, we can see that Porto 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 Porto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Porto 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 Porto Expensive? and Is Bergen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Porto or Bergen?

Porto has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of Bergen. When comparing the sizes of Porto 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 Porto 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 Porto or Bergen in the Summer?

Both Bergen and Porto during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Porto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Bergen because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Porto is generally a little warmer than Bergen. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 21°C (69°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Porto usually gets less rain in July than Bergen. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Porto or Bergen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Bergen. The autumn months attract visitors to Porto because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Bergen this time of year.

Porto is much warmer than Bergen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Bergen fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Porto usually receives less rain than Bergen. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Porto or Bergen in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Porto as well as Bergen. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Porto this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Bergen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bergen. In the winter, Porto is much warmer than Bergen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Porto in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Bergen averages at about 2°C (35°F).

It's quite rainy in Bergen. Porto receives a lot of rain in the winter. Porto usually gets less rain in January than Bergen. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Porto or Bergen in the Spring?

Both Bergen and Porto are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Porto for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Bergen in the spring for the small town charm.

In April, Porto is generally much warmer than Bergen. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 14°C (56°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. It's quite rainy in Porto. In April, Porto usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bergen. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bergen and Porto