A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tartu vs. Bern for Nightlife, Old Town, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Tartu or Bern?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tartu and Bern 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.

Tartu

Tartu is a lively, intellectual, and student-oriented university town. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife.

Bern

Bern is a cultural, historic, and charming city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Tartu and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tartu or Bern?

You'll generally find more things to do in Bern than Tartu. Bern is bigger than Tartu, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Bern is better known for its museums, food, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Tartu is more popular for its nightlife. Bern is more touristy than Tartu and is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. Also, Bern is famous for The Zytglogge Clock Tower. Tartu is well known for its vibrant student population and long running university.

How is Tartu different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Bern is a great city for its historical sights. However, Tartu does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Tartu does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Tartu or Bern? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bern is a city with good options for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Tartu is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Bern is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Tartu offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The restaurant scene is surprisingly limited because of the large student population. Most students prefer saving their money for a night out drinking over a quiet meal at a restaurant. There are some cafes around town as well as pastry shops and a few good ethnic restaurants to choose between.

Is Tartu or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Tartu 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.

Tartu offers plenty to do in the evening. With its huge student population, there is plenty of activity year round. The nightlife scene includes many bars, dance clubs, and pubs that are popular with students and visitors alike. You'll find large parties and music festivals throughout the year that bring crowds to the city.

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

Is Tartu or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Both Tartu and Bern have excellent historic old towns worth visiting.

Tartu is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The old town is where you'll find one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. There is also Town Hall Square and St. John’s Quarter with many historic buildings and beautiful architecture.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Bern. 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Tartu or Bern?

Bern is a great city for its shopping areas. However, Tartu is not known for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in 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.

Tartu is a good destination for shopping. While most people don't visit to go shopping, there is an active art scene in town so you can find some creative pieces that are worth checking out.

Is Tartu or Bern Better for Families?

Bern is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Tartu is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Bern. 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.

Tartu is a family-friendly place to visit. Many of the kid-friendly activities are outdoors, so summer visits are better if you're traveling with children. There are adventure parks, animal parks, and educational museums that you can choose from.

Is Tartu or Bern Better for Couples?

Bern is a great city for couples. However, Tartu is not known for romance.

Bern is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Tartu is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The city has a young population, so you'll find many activities center around a more youthful vibe. There are some great museums that couples will enjoy, as well as a lively nightlife scene. Outside of old town, couples will enjoy wandering through the Karlova and Supilinn districts.

Is Tartu or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Tartu and Bern are excellent places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Tartu. With it's young population and budget friendly entertainment options, there are many things that backpackers will enjoy. It's not nearly as popular with backpackers as some other cities, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a lot to offer.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Bern. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Is Tartu or Bern Better for Students?

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

Many students frequent Tartu. It is a university town and home to one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. The student population is large here, with many activities, museums, and nightlife options to choose from. There always seems to be something going on in this vibrant city.

Bern is not popular with students.

Is Tartu or Bern Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bern is a great city for times when you don't have a car. Also, Tartu is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Bern. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Tartu has a few public transit options. There is a comprehensive bus system around the town.

Is Tartu or Bern a more walkable city?

Tartu and Bern are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Tartu is a very walkable destination. The city is compact with most of its sights and restaurants close together along a couple of streets.

Bern is very walkable. 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 Tartu Worth Visiting? and Is Bern Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bern or Tartu?

How long in Tartu or Bern?

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

Families should spend more time in Bern than Tartu. 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 Tartu. 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 Tartu 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 Tartu or Bern?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the destination of Tartu. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Bern, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this historic destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Tartu or Bern?

Tartu is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bern. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Tartu or Bern?

You'll find nightlife around the student-oriented destination of Tartu. This university town offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

A week in Tartu or Bern?

The lively university town of Tartu offers nightlife. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

You'll find food and shopping around the historic destination of Bern. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Estonia, The Best Budget Tours to Estonia, 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 Tartu and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Tartu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tartu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tartu 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 Tartu.

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

Which is Bigger, Tartu or Bern?

Bern has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Tartu. When comparing the sizes of Tartu 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 Tartu 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 Tartu or Bern in the Summer?

Both Bern and Tartu during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Tartu for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Tartu is cooler than Bern. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tartu in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Bern averages at about 21°C (70°F).

In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tartu. In the summer, Tartu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bern. Tartu gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun.

Tartu usually gets more rain in July than Bern. Tartu gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tartu or Bern in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tartu and Bern. Many visitors come to Tartu in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Tartu is generally much colder than Bern. Daily temperatures in Tartu average around 6°C (43°F), and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Tartu usually receives less sunshine than Bern during autumn. Tartu gets 86 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Tartu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bern. Tartu gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Tartu or Bern in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tartu as well as Bern. Most visitors come to Tartu for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Bern can be very cold. Tartu can be very cold during winter. Tartu is much colder than Bern in the winter. The daily temperature in Tartu averages around -7°C (19°F) in January, and Bern fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Tartu often gets less sunshine than Bern. Tartu gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun.

Tartu usually gets less rain in January than Bern. Tartu gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tartu or Bern in the Spring?

Both Bern and Tartu are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Tartu because of the natural beauty. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

The weather in Tartu can be very cold. In the spring, Tartu is much colder than Bern. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tartu in April average around 5°C (41°F), and Bern averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Tartu usually receives more sunshine than Bern during spring. Tartu gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Tartu usually receives less rain than Bern. Tartu gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bern and Tartu