A Travel Price Comparison for Switzerland Zurich vs. Bern for Old Town, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Zurich or Bern?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zurich and Bern. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Zurich

Zurich is a liberal, beautiful, and historic city. 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 historic, charming, and beautiful city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Zurich and Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Zurich or Bern?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Zurich than Bern. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Zurich is more touristy than Bern and is known for its beautiful setting on Lake Zurich as well as its cafes, restaurants, and high prices. It is also well known for The Grossmünster. Bern is famous for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory.

How is Zurich different from Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the superb sights and museums in both Zurich and Bern.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Zurich. Make sure you check out the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fraumünster, as well as the Swiss National Museum.

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.

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

Zurich 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, Zurich makes for a great culinary experience. Many restaurants have a strong German influence, but you'll also find traditional Swiss dishes such as cheese and chocolate fondue. There are also several Michelin star restaurants in town.

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 Zurich or Bern Better for Nightlife?

Zurich 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.

Zurich offers plenty to do in the evening. The city has some of the best nightlife in Switzerland. There are a high concentration of bars and clubs around town, or you could check out one of the badis, which are pools that also act as bars during the summer months. They're usually located by the lake.

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

Is Zurich or Bern Better for Music?

Zurich is a well-known place for live music. However, Bern is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Zurich is very popular with diverse venues. There are many nightclubs that offer a variety of music types including electronic music, rock, and even reggae.

Bern is not a live music destination.

Is Zurich or Bern Better for its Old Town?

Zurich is renowned for its historic old town. Also, Bern is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its old town.

The old town of Zurich is one of the most recognized in the world. The city has an old town that is split into two parts on each side of the Limmat River. The historic districts are filled with churches, squares, and charming areas that are fun to explore. Walking tours are the best way to explore the old town.

There is a nice variety of sights 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 Zurich or Bern?

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

Zurich is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. Visitors often buy chocolate, watches, and jewelry in this city. You'll find brand names and luxury items that are of high quality. Each neighborhood has its own character with stores ranging from traditional to international.

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 Zurich or Bern Better for Families?

Both Zurich and Bern are superb family-friendly destinations.

Zurich is a very kid-friendly city. It's a surprisingly mellow city with a relaxing vibe that makes it easy to explore with kids. Popular family-friendly activities include swimming in the Limmat River, sailing on Lake Zurich, and visiting Josefwiese park, which has a large playground.

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.

Is Zurich or Bern Better for Couples?

Zurich and Bern both superb destinations for a couple.

Zurich is a very popular place to visit for couples. One of the most romantic experiences you can have in town is visiting the Zurich Thermal Baths and Spa. There's an outdoor rooftop thermal pool as well as many ways that you can pamper yourselves.

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.

Is Zurich or Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bern is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bern is a great city to visit for backpackers. Like most of Switzerland, prices are a bit high, but there are some hostels and free activities that backpackers and budget travelers can enjoy.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Zurich. The city has a number of hostels to choose from, but, like most of Switzerland, the city is expensive in general.

Is Zurich or Bern Better for Students?

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

Many students frequent Zurich. The city offers a number of unique experiences for international students. The academics are good and the university campuses are nice.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Both Zurich and Bern offer superb public transit options.

Zurich has some very good public transit options. The system is made up of streetcars and buses.

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

Is Zurich or Bern a more walkable city?

Zurich and Bern both are superb when exploring on foot.

Zurich is a very walkable city. There are paths that lead along the rivers and the lake connecting the old town areas to other parts of the city.

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 Zurich Worth Visiting? and Is Bern Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bern or Zurich?

How long in Zurich or Bern?

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

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

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

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

One day in Zurich or Bern?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of Zurich. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

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 Zurich or Bern?

Zurich is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the shopping. 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.

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 Zurich or Bern?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the beautiful destination of Zurich. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

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 Zurich or Bern?

The liberal city of Zurich offers shopping and museums. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural 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 Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best Luxury Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland.

When comparing the travel costs between Zurich and Bern, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Zurich or Bern?

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

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Zurich or Bern in the Summer?

Both Bern and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The music scene and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Zurich this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Zurich is generally around the same temperature as Bern. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 21°C (70°F), and Bern fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

It's quite sunny in Bern. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zurich. Zurich usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bern during summer. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 250 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Zurich usually receives more rain than Bern. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Bern receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Zurich or Bern in the Autumn?

Both Bern and Zurich during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Zurich for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Zurich is around the same temperature as Bern in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Bern fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Zurich often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bern. Zurich gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 126 hours of full sun.

Zurich usually gets more rain in October than Bern. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Bern receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Zurich or Bern in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and Bern. Many visitors come to Zurich in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Bern can be very cold during winter. Zurich can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Zurich is a little warmer than Bern. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zurich in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Bern averages at about 3°C (37°F).

Zurich usually receives less sunshine than Bern during winter. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Bern receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Zurich usually receives more rain than Bern. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Bern receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Zurich or Bern in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Zurich as well as Bern. Most visitors come to Zurich for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty.

In April, Zurich is generally around the same temperature as Bern. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 12°C (53°F), and Bern fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Zurich often gets less sunshine than Bern. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bern receives 164 hours of full sun.

Zurich usually gets more rain in April than Bern. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bern receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bern and Zurich