A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. Malmo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bern or Malmo?

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

Should I visit Bern or Malmo? 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.

Where Should I go: Bern or Malmo?

Bern

The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.

Malmo

Located on the southern tip of Sweden, in the province of Skane, Malmo is Sweden's third largest city. It has a very international population with about a third of the residents being from countries other than Sweden. This diversity is evident within Malmo, which is rich in culture, interesting food, and an array of entertainment options. Historically, Malmo was an industrial city with a ship building company, Kockums being the area's largest employer. Today, however, the city is much more economicaly diverse with many eco friendly neighborhoods and plenty of suburban style housing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best 2-Week Tours from Stockholm, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Sweden.


Which place is cheaper, Malmo or Bern?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $341, while the average daily cost in Malmo is $115. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bern and Malmo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bern $187
    Malmo $55
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bern $374
    Malmo $110
Compare Hotels in Bern and Malmo

Looking for a hotel in Bern or Malmo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Bern


Hotels in Malmo


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bern Hotel Prices and Malmo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bern $39
    Malmo $9.11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:

  • Private direct transfer from Bern to Lucerne: $262
  • Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $251

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Malmo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Malmo:


  • Malmö Bus Card
    $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malmo

Also for Malmo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Malmo Private Transfer from Central Malmo to Malmo Airport: $57
  • Malmo City to Malmo Airport (MMX) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
  • Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
  • Malmo Private Transfer from Malmo airport to Central Malmo : $105
  • Malmö City to Copenhagen hotel/address Private Departure Transfer: $134
  • Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $136
  • Private Direct Transfer From Malmo to Copenhagen: $167

Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Malmo?

Prices for flights to both Malmo and Bern change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bern $120
    Malmo $51

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.

  • Bern Bites Food Tour Culinary Exploration of Bern's Old Town: $154

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bern $39
    Malmo $18

Tours and Activities in Bern

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:

  • Aare Gorge Mini Grand Canyon Express Sightseeing Tour from Bern: $160
  • Attraction Ticket: Day Pass for Lake Thun & Brienz Boat Cruises: $148
  • Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $88
  • Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $62
  • Bern Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $11
  • Bern Food Market: Tour w/o Brunch: $44
  • Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local: $178
  • Bern Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour With A Guide: $89
  • Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $185
  • Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $586
  • Bern Private Walking Tour: $367
  • Bern Private Walking Tour with a Local: $66

Tours and Activities in Malmo

For Malmo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Old Town Helsingborg: Exploration Game and Self-Guided Tour: $7.16
  • Self-guided audio tour in Lund: explore the story of the Locus Peccatorum murder: $8.63
  • The Headless Horseman in Malmö: A self-guided walking tour game: $8.63
  • Lund's Medieval and Modern History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Half Day Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour in Cosmopolitan Malmö: $16
  • Skip the Line: Disgusting Food Museum Entrance Ticket: $24
  • Canal Sightseeing Boat Tour of Malmö: $25
  • Malmo Syndicate City Escape Game Self Guided Experience: $31
  • Half Day Walking Tour in Lund City and University: $38
  • Guided Walking Tour in Malmö: $45
  • Malmö Private Walking Tour with a Local: $56
  • Malmö Photography Tour: $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bern $31
    Malmo $41


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Malmo, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Malmo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Malmo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Malmo 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 Malmo.

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


Which is Bigger, Bern or Malmo?

Malmo has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Malmo, 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 Bern or Malmo?

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 Bern or Malmo in the Summer?

Both Malmo and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences.

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

In Malmo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Malmo. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malmo receives 247 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in July than Malmo. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Bern 21°C (70°F) 
    Malmo 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Bern or Malmo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Malmo. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Bern is generally a little warmer than Malmo. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 13°C (55°F), and Malmo fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Bern usually receives more sunshine than Malmo during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Malmo receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Malmo. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Bern 13°C (55°F) 
    Malmo 10°C (50°F)

Should I visit Bern or Malmo in the Winter?

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

The weather in Malmo can be very cold. Bern can be very cold during winter. Bern is much warmer than Malmo in the winter. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Malmo fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

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

Bern usually gets more rain in January than Malmo. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Bern 3°C (37°F) 
    Malmo 0°C (32°F)

Should I visit Bern or Malmo in the Spring?

Both Malmo and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Bern is much warmer than Malmo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bern in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Malmo averages at about 5°C (42°F).

Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Malmo during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Malmo receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Malmo. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Bern 11°C (52°F) 
    Malmo 5°C (42°F)

Typical Weather for Malmo and Bern

Bern Malmo
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (37°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 0°C (32°F) 37 mm (1.4 in)
Feb 4°C (40°F) 51 mm (2 in) -0°C (32°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Mar 8°C (46°F) 50 mm (2 in) 2°C (35°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 5°C (42°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
May 15°C (60°F) 76 mm (3 in) 11°C (51°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 19°C (65°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 15°C (59°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Jul 21°C (70°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 17°C (62°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Aug 20°C (69°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 17°C (62°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 14°C (57°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Oct 13°C (55°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 6°C (42°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 4°C (38°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 2°C (36°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)