A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. San Jose for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Bern or San Jose?

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

Should I visit Bern or San Jose? 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.

Bern

Bern is a charming, beautiful, and cultural city. Bern is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Bern travel costs.

San Jose

San Jose is a colorful, bustling, and authentic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See San Jose travel costs.

Bern and San Jose: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bern or San Jose?

Travelers will usually find more to do in San Jose than Bern, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. San Jose is more popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Bern is known for its museums and attractions, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Bern is more touristy than San Jose and is popular for its well-preserved old town and its reputation as the home of the Lindt chocolate factory. San Jose is popular for its colorful markets and vibrant nightlife, as well as its easy access to the rest of the country. It is also home to The National Museum of Costa Rica.

How is Bern different from San Jose?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bern or San Jose?

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

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Bern can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

San Jose offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Despite most people rushing through town, there are a number of museums, plazas, and interesting buildings that are worth checking out.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at good restaurants in both Bern and San Jose.

Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city has cozy cafes, high end fine dining, traditional eateries, and modern venues.

San Jose has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Most people miss out on local cuisine during their time in Costa Rica, but the capital city offers the best opportunities to eat like a local. You can sample favorite local dishes such as chifrijo, gallo pinto, rondón, and casado. You should also wander through the Central Market and dine at one of the many local restaurants.

Is Bern or San Jose Better for Nightlife?

San Jose 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.

San Jose offers plenty to do in the evening. This city has the best nightlife in all of Costa Rica. You'll find a diversity of clubs and bars that are fun to explore. Check out the reggae bars, dance clubs, and sports bars (where you can enjoy a soccer game) while you're in town.

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

Is Bern or San Jose Better for its Old Town?

Bern is a very popular place for its historic old town. However, San Jose does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Bern to see the historical old town. 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.

San Jose does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bern or San Jose?

Both Bern and San Jose are very good shopping destinations.

Bern is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

San Jose is well-known for its shopping. There are a number of unique things you can buy in the city including jewelry, handbags, and wood workings. Make sure you check out the Central Market.

Is Bern or San Jose More Beautiful?

Bern is a very popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, San Jose is not a destination known for its beauty.

Bern is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. This beautifully preserved historic city has charm, personality, and a lot to do.

San Jose is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bern or San Jose Better for Families?

Bern is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, San Jose is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.

Bern is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

San Jose doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Most people pass through the city quickly, but if you have a day or two to explore, you can visit the Children's Museum (Museo de los Niños), Spirogyra Butterfly Gardens, or explore the Central Market.

Is Bern or San Jose Better for Couples?

Bern is a very popular place for romance. However, San Jose is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

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.

Most people don't think of San Jose as a couple's destination. While Costa Rica is a popular honeymoon destination, the capital city is often overlooked for the beaches and rainforests around the country.

Is Bern or San Jose Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Bern and San Jose are very good destinations for backpackers.

Backpackers come from all over to 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.

Many backpackers visit San Jose. Backpackers appreciate the affordability of the city and the wide range of hostels that you can choose from. The city also offers an authentic glimpse of life in Costa Rica.

Is Bern or San Jose Better for Students?

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

San Jose is a good city to visit for students. Many students come to Costa Rica to study the country's amazing environment and unique ecological systems. San Jose makes a good base as its easy to travel to other parts of this small country.

Bern is not popular with students.

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

Bern is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Public transit in Bern is fairly effecient and thorough. There are trams and buses that run around town.

You'll find some public transit in San Jose, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are local buses that travel through the city during the daytime hours.

Is Bern or San Jose a more walkable city?

Bern is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Bern is very walkable. 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.

San Jose is a somewhat walkable place. It can feel a bit chaotic, but it's relatively easy to get around on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bern Worth Visiting? and Is San Jose Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Jose or Bern?

How long in Bern or San Jose?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bern or San Jose to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bern than San Jose because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bern, and 1-2 days is enough time in San Jose.

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

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

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

One day in Bern or San Jose?

The beautiful city of Bern offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of San Jose. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bern or San Jose?

Bern is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bern, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

San Jose is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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.

Five days in Bern or San Jose?

Bern is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the authentic destination of San Jose. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bern or San Jose?

Bern is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

The colorful city of San Jose offers nightlife and food. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bern or San Jose?

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

Bern has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Jose experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Bern or San Jose in the Summer?

Both San Jose and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.

Bern is cooler than San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.

San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bern usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or San Jose in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and San Jose. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Bern is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Bern usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Bern usually receives less rain than San Jose. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in San Jose is the dry season. May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Bern or San Jose in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as San Jose. Most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.

Bern can be very cold during winter. In January, Bern is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bern or San Jose in the Spring?

Both San Jose 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. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Bern is much colder than San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in San Jose. Bern usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bern usually receives more rain than San Jose. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in San Jose is December to April. The hurricane season in San Jose is May to November.

Typical Weather for San Jose and Bern