A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Alesund vs. Quepos for Couples, Backpackers, Food, and Families

Should you visit Alesund or Quepos?

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

Should I visit Alesund or Quepos? 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.

Alesund

Alesund is a welcoming, friendly, and scenic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Alesund offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Alesund travel costs.

Quepos

Quepos is a local, laid-back, and relaxed town. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches. See Quepos travel costs.

Alesund and Quepos: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Alesund or Quepos?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Alesund than Quepos, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Alesund is better known for its museums and attractions, food, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Quepos is more popular for its resorts and beaches. Alesund is well known for its nouveau architecture, beautiful views, and access to the fjords. Also, Alesund is famous for the Art Nouveau Center. Quepos is well known for its big game sport fishing.

How is Alesund different from Quepos?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Alesund or Quepos?

Alesund is very good for its museums and history. However, Quepos is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Alesund. Check out the Atlantic Sea-Park and the Sunnmøre Museum. Also visit the small but interesting Fisheries Museum & Ålesund Museum.

Quepos offers a few options for museum-goers. You won't find much as far as museums go around town.

Is the Food Better in Alesund or Quepos? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Alesund is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Alesund has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. As Norway's largest fishing port, you'll find plenty of seafood offerings around town. A favorite is bacalao de noruega (dried and salted clipfish), but also make sure you try the lobster soup.

Quepos offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find a mix of cafes, fine dining, and seafood restaurants in the area. You can get traditional Costa Rican dishes as well as a more international flavor depending on your preference.

Is Alesund or Quepos Better for Nightlife?

Both Alesund and Quepos are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Alesund. There are plenty of bars around town as well as nightclubs and live music venues.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Quepos. You'll find a few bars and clubs around town, but it is a small town and the selection can be limited.

Is Alesund or Quepos Better for Resorts?

Quepos is a moderate town for its resorts. However, Alesund is not a resort destination.

Quepos has a few resort options worth checking out. It's a fishing town with a local vibe, so you'll likely want to stay outside of town if you're looking for an upscale resort.

Alesund is not a resort destination.

Is Alesund or Quepos Better for Beaches?

Quepos is a popular place for its beaches. However, Alesund is not a beach destination.

Quepos is a good option for a beach vacation. If you want to be close to the beach, you'll do better to stay at nearby Manuel Antonio. Quepos does have a waterfront and access to deep sea fishing.

Alesund is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Alesund or Quepos?

Both Alesund and Quepos are notable shopping destinations.

Alesund is a great destination for shopping. There are a number of shopping streets around town including the shopping areas in Aspøya, which are known for their homemade souvenirs.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Quepos. You'll find boutique shops around town that sell everything from clothing to art.

Is Alesund or Quepos More Beautiful?

Alesund is very good for its scenery and beauty. However, Quepos is not a destination known for its beauty.

Alesund offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The architecture, viewpoints, and nearby fjords make this a great stop off on any Norwegian adventure.

Quepos is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Alesund or Quepos Better for Families?

Quepos is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Quepos is a very family-friendly place to visit. Most of the beaches are kid-friendly and the children will love the wildlife. You'll also find zipline tours in the area as well as canopy walks.

Alesund is a family-friendly city. There's an aquarium and several great parks including Tueneset Naturlekeplass, which is near the aquarium. There's also hiking in the area and other outdoor adventures.

Is Alesund or Quepos Better for Couples?

Quepos is a world-class destination for romance. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Quepos makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The beaches and resorts make this a favorite honeymoon destination for couples. There are many great restaurants and plenty of activities like horseback riding or surfing nearby.

Alesund makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a beautiful setting with spectacular views and fun restaurants. There are many great hikes in the area, and many visitors like to use this town as a base for exploring nearby places.

Is Alesund or Quepos Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Quepos is a world-class destination for backpackers. However, Alesund is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Quepos is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. It's one of the more popular destinations in Costa Rica, so you'll find plenty of hostels and other backpackers to hang out with.

Alesund is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a limited number of hostels in town so apartments may be the best option for backpackers. It's also hard to get around the region without a car.

Is Alesund or Quepos Better for Students?

Alesund is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Quepos is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Alesund. There's a small student population, which means that the group stays close and everyone is very welcoming. The town also makes a great base for exploring this part of Norway.

Quepos is not popular with students.

Is Alesund or Quepos Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Alesund and Quepos offer notable public transit options.

Alesund has a few public transit options. There is a public bus system around town.

Quepos has some public transit options. There are a number of buses that pass through town. There are also buses that travel between Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

Is Alesund or Quepos a more walkable city?

Alesund and Quepos both are notable when exploring on foot.

Alesund is somewhat walkable. The city center can be explored on foot.

Quepos is a somewhat walkable place. It is a relatively walkable town.

For even more information, also check out Is Alesund Worth Visiting? and Is Quepos Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Quepos or Alesund?

How long in Alesund or Quepos?

It's fun to spend time in either Alesund or Quepos. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Quepos due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Alesund, and 2-4 days is enough time in Quepos.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Quepos than Alesund 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 Quepos.

One day in Alesund or Quepos?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Alesund. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Quepos, you'll find shopping and nightlife. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Alesund or Quepos?

Alesund 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.

In Quepos, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Quepos has to offer.

Five days in Alesund or Quepos?

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

Quepos is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Alesund or Quepos?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Alesund. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Quepos. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Quepos. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Norway, The Best Contiki Tours to Norway, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.

When comparing the travel costs between Alesund and Quepos, we can see that Quepos 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. Even though Alesund is in Europe and Quepos is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Alesund or Quepos?

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

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

Should I visit Alesund or Quepos in the Summer?

Both Quepos and Alesund during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Alesund this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.

In July, Alesund is generally much colder than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Alesund average around 12°C (54°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Alesund usually gets less rain in July than Quepos. Alesund gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alesund or Quepos in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Alesund and Quepos. Many travelers come to Alesund for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Alesund is much colder than Quepos in the autumn. The daily temperature in Alesund averages around 9°C (48°F) in October, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Alesund gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Alesund usually receives less rain than Quepos. Alesund gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in Quepos is the dry season. The hurricane season in Quepos is May to November.

Should I visit Alesund or Quepos in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Alesund as well as Quepos. Many visitors come to Alesund in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.

Alesund can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Alesund is much colder than Quepos. Typically, the winter temperatures in Alesund in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Alesund receives a lot of rain in the winter. Alesund usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Alesund gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alesund or Quepos in the Spring?

Both Quepos and Alesund are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Alesund for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Alesund can be very cold during spring. In April, Alesund is generally much colder than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Alesund average around 5°C (40°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

In April, Alesund usually receives more rain than Quepos. Alesund gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Quepos is December to April. May to November is the hurricane season in Quepos.

Typical Weather for Quepos and Alesund