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

Should you visit Bergen or Milan?

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

Should I visit Bergen or Milan? 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.

Bergen

Bergen is a nostalgic, friendly, and laid back city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Bergen travel costs.

Milan

Milan is a chic, cultural, and trendy city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. You'll find world class beauty in Milan as well. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, and museums. See Milan travel costs.

Bergen and Milan: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bergen or Milan?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Milan than Bergen. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Milan is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, music, historical sights, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Bergen attracts visitors for its small town charm. Bergen is famous for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty. Milan is famous for its grand squares, dramatic architecture, and its leadership in the fashion world. It is also well known for Piazza del Duomo.

How is Bergen different from Milan?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Milan 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.

Milan offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The Milan Cathedral is the most famous landmark in the city, but other sights include Castello Sforzesco, Pinacoteca di Brera, and Sant'Ambrogio.

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 Bergen or Milan? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Milan 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, Milan is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city has a mix of traditional dishes combined with modernized, trendy restaurants. You can try a new dish by a groundbreaking chef, or sample a long running favorite like risotto alla Milanese.

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 Bergen or Milan Better for Nightlife?

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

Milan is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The city has a huge number of students and young professionals, which make it a fun place with an active nightlife. There are cocktail bars, trendy clubs, and relaxed pubs that you can chose from.

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 Bergen or Milan Better for Music?

Milan is very popular for its music scene. However, Bergen is not a live music destination.

In Milan you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. The diversity of music ranges from classical concerts to techno raves. Popular venues include Blue Note Milan, Santeria Social Club, and Spirit de Milan.

Bergen is not a live music destination.

Is Bergen or Milan Better for its Old Town?

Milan is very popular 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.

Milan has a world-famous historical area. Known as the Centro Storic, this area is the most popular with tourists. It's where you'll find the most historic buildings and beautiful sights in the city.

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 Bergen or Milan?

Milan is very popular for its shopping areas. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for shopping.

Milan is a world class destination for shoppers. Famous as the fashion capital of Italy, shopping is the thing to do here. There are many streets that are lined with the biggest designers in fashion. Make sure you check out Via Monte Napoleone, Via Della Spiga, and Corso Buenos Aires.

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.

Is Bergen or Milan More Beautiful?

Milan is very popular for its scenery and beauty. However, Bergen is not a destination known for its beauty.

You'll find world class beauty in Milan as well. There is stunning architecture and beautiful neighborhoods that you can explore.

Bergen is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bergen or Milan Better for Families?

Bergen is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Milan is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

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

Milan is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has a science museum and a children's museum, MuBa, that is great for the kids. There are also a number of parks to explore as well as playgrounds where the kids and get out their energy.

Is Bergen or Milan Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Bergen and Milan make for a excellent place to visit.

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.

Milan makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are many beautiful buildings, excellent shopping, and romantic restaurants that make for a wonderful couple's getaway.

Is Bergen or Milan Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Milan is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. While not as popular with backpackers as some Italian city's, there are a number of hostels and great activities that are fun for visitors.

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

Is Bergen or Milan Better for Students?

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

Many students frequent Milan. It is one of the more popular city's for international students in Italy. It is very livable with a lot of culture and a fun nightlife, so you're sure to have the experience of a lifetime.

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

Milan is very popular for its public transit. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Milan has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. Options include metro, bus, tram, and train lines.

Public transit in Bergen is fairly effecient and thorough. 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 Bergen or Milan a more walkable city?

Milan is very popular for its ease of walking around. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Milan on foot. In particular, the city center is walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Milan or Bergen?

How long in Bergen or Milan?

In either Bergen or Milan, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Milan than Bergen because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bergen, and 1-5 days is enough time in Milan.

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

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

One day in Bergen or Milan?

In Bergen, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this friendly 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.

Milan is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Bergen or Milan?

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.

Milan 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 Bergen or Milan?

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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Milan. 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.

A week in Bergen or Milan?

You'll find food and shopping around the nostalgic 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the trendy big city of Milan. 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 10-Day Tours in Norway, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Norway, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bergen and Milan, we can see that Milan 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 Milan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milan 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 Bergen Expensive? and Is Milan Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bergen or Milan?

Milan has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Bergen. When comparing the sizes of Bergen and Milan, 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 Bergen or Milan?

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 Bergen or Milan in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bergen as well as Milan. Many visitors come to Bergen in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Milan for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Bergen is much colder than Milan in the summer. The daily temperature in Bergen averages around 15°C (58°F) in July, and Milan fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Bergen usually gets more rain in July than Milan. Bergen gets 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Milan receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bergen or Milan in the Autumn?

Both Milan and Bergen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bergen for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Milan because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Bergen is much colder than Milan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bergen in October average around 9°C (48°F), and Milan averages at about 15°C (58°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Milan. It's quite rainy in Bergen. In October, Bergen usually receives more rain than Milan. Bergen gets 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain, while Milan receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bergen or Milan in the Winter?

Both Milan and Bergen during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Bergen because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Milan this time of year.

It's quite cold in Milan in the winter. The weather in Bergen can be very cold. In January, Bergen is generally much colder than Milan. Daily temperatures in Bergen average around 2°C (35°F), and Milan fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. Bergen usually gets more rain in January than Milan. Bergen gets 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while Milan receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bergen or Milan in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bergen and Milan. The small town charm are the main draw to Bergen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Milan for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Bergen is much colder than Milan in the spring. The daily temperature in Bergen averages around 6°C (43°F) in April, and Milan fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Bergen usually receives more rain than Milan. Bergen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Milan receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Milan and Bergen