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

Should you visit Tokyo or Bern?

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

Should I visit Tokyo or Bern? 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.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a cutting edge, high tech, and high energy city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

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.

Tokyo and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tokyo or Bern?

You'll generally find more things to do in Tokyo than Bern. Tokyo is bigger than Bern, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Tokyo is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Bern is more popular for its historical sights. Tokyo is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its ultramodern skyscrapers, neon lights, historic temples, lively karaoke bars, and peaceful parks. Also, Tokyo is famous for The Sensō-ji Temple. Bern is well known for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Tokyo different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Tokyo is renowned for its sights and museums. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Tokyo that are not to be missed. This iconic city is filled with recognizable landmarks and world class museums including the Meiji Shrine, the Sensō-ji Temple, and the Tokyo Skytree.

Many visitors head to Bern specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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 Tokyo or Bern? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Tokyo is renowned for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Tokyo is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. With an astonishing number of Michelin star restaurants, this is one of the most interesting and impressive food destinations in the world. Not all restaurants are high end though. You'll find plenty of cheap eateries that offer their own rewarding culinary experience. Must try local dishes include okonomiyaki, ramen, and of course, sushi.

Bern has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

Is Tokyo or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Tokyo is renowned for nightlife. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Tokyo is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The professional urgency that you feel during the day morphs into a vibrant, laid back city at night. The neon lights turn on and locals head out to destress. There are karaoke bars, casual pubs, high energy nightclubs, and more. Popular areas for nightlife include Roppongi, Shibuya and Shinjuku.

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

Is Tokyo or Bern Better for Music?

Tokyo is renowned for live music. However, Bern is not a live music destination.

Tokyo is a world class music destination. The music scene features both national and international artists and the music style is as eclectic as the city itself. You'll find many underground venues, vintage record stores, and local bars that have each created their own niche.

Bern is not a live music destination.

Is Tokyo or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Bern is great for its historic old town charm. However, Tokyo does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting 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.

Tokyo does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Tokyo or Bern?

Tokyo is renowned for shopping. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Tokyo is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city is known for its electronics, anime products, and trendy fashion brands. Many neighborhoods are also shopping districts with malls or markets throughout. Prices can be steep, but products are generally high quality. For some of the city's best shopping, head to Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ginza.

Bern is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Is Tokyo or Bern Better for Families?

Tokyo is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Tokyo is a very family-friendly destination. This is an incredibly kid-friendly city. There's Disneyland, but there are also many other entertainment centers, amusement areas, a zoo, aquarium, and more. Kids will also enjoy experiencing the city's fascinating culture. They can visit temples, museums, and the Tokyo Tower. Another fun local experience is to go to a baseball game.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Bern is very family-friendly. 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.

Is Tokyo or Bern Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Tokyo and Bern make for a high quality place to visit.

Tokyo is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. This high tech city offers luxury hotels and spas, award winning restaurants, and unique date night opportunities like karaoke or sushi making classes. The city has many parks and gardens as well as malls, dynamic neighborhoods, and interesting museums.

Bern is a very popular place to visit for couples. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Is Tokyo or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Tokyo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers 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.

Tokyo is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Known for it's high prices, it can be a bit difficult to visit this city on a budget. There are dorm rooms available but they still come with a high price tag. Food is a bit easier as the eateries are diverse with many options on the cheaper side.

Is Tokyo or Bern Better for Students?

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

Many students frequent Tokyo. The city attracts many international students and there are a number of prestigious universities to choose from. Perhaps the biggest challenge is navigating the language difference, but that is all part of the experience when studying abroad.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Tokyo is renowned for its public transit. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Tokyo has a great public transit system. Trains, subways, and buses make up the complex transportation system and, while it may seem overwhelming at first, the system is actually very clean, efficient, and reliable.

The public transit in Bern can get you around easily. There are trams and buses that run around town.

Is Tokyo or Bern a more walkable city?

Tokyo is renowned for its walkability. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Tokyo on foot. Many neighborhoods are very easy to explore on foot, so it's fun to just wander without a plan, seeing where you end up.

Bern is a very walkable city. 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 Tokyo Worth Visiting? and Is Bern Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bern or Tokyo?

How long in Tokyo or Bern?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Tokyo and Bern. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Tokyo than in Bern. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Tokyo, and 1-3 days is enough time in Bern.

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

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

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

One day in Tokyo or Bern?

Tokyo is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Bern, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this charming 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 Tokyo or Bern?

Tokyo is a fun place to experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. 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 Tokyo or Bern?

Tokyo is a high tech big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

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 Tokyo or Bern?

Tokyo is a cutting edge city where you can fill many days. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

You'll find food and shopping around the cultural 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 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, 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 Tokyo and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Tokyo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tokyo is in Asia and Bern is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Tokyo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tokyo 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 Tokyo.

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

Which is Bigger, Tokyo or Bern?

Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Tokyo 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 Tokyo 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 Tokyo or Bern in the Summer?

Both Bern and Tokyo during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Tokyo because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

In the summer, Tokyo is a little warmer than Bern. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tokyo in July average around 26°C (78°F), and Bern averages at about 21°C (70°F).

In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Tokyo often gets less sunshine than Bern. Tokyo gets 137 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Tokyo. Tokyo usually gets more rain in July than Bern. Tokyo gets 127 mm (5 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tokyo or Bern in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tokyo and Bern. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Tokyo this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Tokyo is generally a little warmer than Bern. Daily temperatures in Tokyo average around 18°C (64°F), and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Tokyo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bern during autumn. Tokyo gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Tokyo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Tokyo usually receives more rain than Bern. Tokyo gets 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Tokyo or Bern in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tokyo as well as Bern. Many travelers come to Tokyo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bern can get quite cold in the winter. Tokyo is much warmer than Bern in the winter. The daily temperature in Tokyo averages around 5°C (42°F) in January, and Bern fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Tokyo often gets more sunshine than Bern. Tokyo gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun.

Tokyo usually gets less rain in January than Bern. Tokyo gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tokyo or Bern in the Spring?

Both Bern and Tokyo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Tokyo in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Tokyo is a little warmer than Bern. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tokyo in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Bern averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Tokyo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bern during spring. Tokyo gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Tokyo. In April, Tokyo usually receives more rain than Bern. Tokyo gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bern and Tokyo