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

Should you visit Wellington or Bern?

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

Should I visit Wellington 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.

Wellington

Wellington is a funky, compact, and laid-back city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Bern

Bern is a charming, beautiful, and cultural city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Wellington and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Wellington or Bern?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Wellington than Bern. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Wellington is very popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, and hiking, while Bern attracts visitors for its museums, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Wellington is more touristy than Bern and is popular for its waterfront promenade, quirky cafe culture, and relaxing beaches. It is also well known for Zealandia Ecosanctuary. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Wellington different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Bern is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Bern offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Wellington. As the capital city, you'll find a number of museums and sights around town. Check out the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Beehive, the Wellington Museum, and the City Gallery.

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

Wellington is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Wellington makes for a great culinary experience. There are waterfront restaurants and a vibrant cafe scene around town. You'll also find local markets and many diverse eateries that you can explore.

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 Wellington or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Wellington 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.

Wellington offers plenty to do in the evening. The best nightlife scene is found along Courtenay Place. There you'll find nightclubs, pubs, and cocktail bars. Cuba Street is another fun area with a bit more of a local vibe, and the waterfront is another great nightlife district in 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 Wellington or Bern Better for Beaches?

Wellington is a well-known place for its beaches. However, Bern is not a beach destination.

Wellington is considered a top beach destination. There are nice beaches within walking distance of the city center. There are also beaches that are well worth the drive if you're looking to get a bit out of town. In the summer months, there are swimming beaches, and year around they have nice views and a good atmosphere.

Bern is not a beach destination.

Is Wellington or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a very popular place for its old town. However, Wellington 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.

Wellington does not have a historic old town.

Is Wellington or Bern Better for Hiking?

Wellington is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Bern is not a hiking destination.

Wellington is a good destination for hiking. The area has rolling hills and beautiful coastlines that are filled with walking trails and scenic views. Some of the more popular trails in the area are the Red Rocks walk and the City-to-Sea walk.

Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Wellington or Bern?

Shoppers can find a variety of high quality stores in both Wellington and Bern.

Wellington is well-known for its shopping. For the city's best shopping, head to the "Golden Mile". This is the area defined by Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street and Courtenay Place. There are boutique designers and high end fashion outlets throughout the area. The city also has many great markets and local shopping areas.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity 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.

Is Wellington or Bern Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Wellington or Bern.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Wellington is very family-friendly. There's the Wellington Zoo as well as Island Bay Marine Education Centre, both of which are great for animal-lovers. Waitangi Park is a nice park where kids can run around and play, and if you're looking for something indoors, head to the Space Place at Carter Observatory. If everyone needs some down time, there's always the beach with is fun to hang out at.

Bern is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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 Wellington or Bern Better for Couples?

Bern is a very popular place for its romantic activities. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Bern makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With charming restaurants, a beautiful rose garden, and nice hotels and spas, this town makes a beautiful romantic getaway.

Wellington is a good city for couples to visit. The botanical gardens are beautiful to explore, and there is also a bird sanctuary in the area as well. Couple's will also enjoy the many nice restaurants and beautiful outdoor space around town.

Is Wellington or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Wellington and Bern are both high quality destinations for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Wellington. Located on the south side of the North Island, many backpackers use this city as a gateway to the South Island. There are many hostels around town and other fellow backpackers to hang out with.

Bern is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. 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 Wellington or Bern Better for Students?

Wellington is a popular place for students. However, Bern is not popular with students.

Wellington is a good city to visit for students. The locals are friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere is a nice setting for students.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find high quality public transit in both Wellington and Bern.

Wellington has some very good public transit options. There are city buses, trains, and ferries that are popular with tourists and locals alike.

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

Is Wellington or Bern a more walkable city?

Wellington and Bern are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Wellington is a very walkable city. This is one of New Zealand's most walkable cities and it has a compact city center.

Bern is a very walkable destination. 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 Wellington Worth Visiting? and Is Bern Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bern or Wellington?

How long in Wellington or Bern?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Wellington and Bern. In our opinion, Wellington has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Wellington than Bern. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Wellington, and 1-3 days is enough time in Bern.

Couples should spend more time in Bern than Wellington. 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 Wellington 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 Wellington.

One day in Wellington or Bern?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Wellington. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

With museums and nightlife around the charming city of Bern, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bern, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Wellington or Bern?

Wellington is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Bern, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Wellington or Bern?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the funky destination of Wellington. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Bern, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Wellington or Bern?

The compact city of Wellington offers nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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.

Bern is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, 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 Wellington and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Wellington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Wellington is in Pacific 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 Wellington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wellington 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 Wellington.

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

Which is Bigger, Wellington or Bern?

Wellington has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Wellington 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 Wellington or Bern?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Wellington is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Bern has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Wellington or Bern in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Wellington as well as Bern. The summer months attract visitors to Wellington because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

In January, Wellington is generally cooler than Bernin July. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 18°C (64°F), and Bern fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bern. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wellington this time of the year. In the summer, Wellington often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bernin July. Wellington gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun.

Wellington usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Bernin July. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Wellington or Bern in the Autumn?

Both Bern and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Wellington this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Wellington is a little warmer than Bern in the autumn. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.

Wellington usually receives more sunshine than Bern during autumn. Wellington gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In April, Wellington usually receives more rain than Bernin October. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Wellington or Bern in the Winter?

Both Bern and Wellington during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Wellington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, 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. In the winter, Wellington is much warmer than Bern. Typically, the winter temperatures in Wellington in July average around 10°C (49°F), and Bern averages at about 3°C (37°F)in January.

In the winter, Wellington often gets more sunshine than Bernin January. Wellington gets 122 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Wellington. Wellington usually gets more rain in July than Bernin January. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Wellington or Bern in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and Bern. Many visitors come to Wellington in the spring for the beaches. Also, most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months.

In October, Wellington is generally a little warmer than Bernin April. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 13°C (55°F), and Bern fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

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

In October, Wellington usually receives more rain than Bernin April. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bern and Wellington