A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Alexandria vs. Santa Barbara for Old Town, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

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 Alexandria and Santa Barbara. 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.

Alexandria

Alexandria is a charming, quaint, and historic city. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a stunning, wealthy, and opulent coastal town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Alexandria and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Barbara than Alexandria. While Alexandria is larger than Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Barbara is very popular for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Alexandria attracts visitors for its historical sights and small town charm. Alexandria is famous for its long-running history, beautiful architecture, and small town atmosphere. Santa Barbara is famous for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also well known for The Old Mission Santa Barbara.

How is Alexandria different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

You'll find a number of superb museums and attractions in both Santa Barbara and Alexandria.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Alexandria. George Washington's Mount Vernon home is an iconic destination in Alexandria. There are also many other museums in town that focus on the region's history. The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum and the Gadsby's Tavern Museum are both interesting. There's Gunston Hall and the Carlyle House, as well as an archeology museum and many historic landmarks around town.

Santa Barbara offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Is the Food Better in Alexandria or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Alexandria is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Barbara has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

Alexandria offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food, like the city itself, reflects the area's history. There are many southern classic dishes as well as a lot of seafood. You'll find lots of local restaurants that serve high quality dishes and a quaint atmosphere.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is nice in both Alexandria and Santa Barbara.

If you're looking for night time activities Alexandria has a few options to choose from. There's a great bar scene, as well as tons of restaurants that make for a relaxing night out.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is great for its luxury resorts. However, Alexandria is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Santa Barbara to choose from. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Alexandria is not a resort destination.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is adequate for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Alexandria is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are few places where you can go snorkeling in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Alexandria is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for the beach. However, Alexandria is not a beach destination.

Santa Barbara offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Alexandria is not a beach destination.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Alexandria is renowned for its historic old town charm. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its historic old town.

The old town of Alexandria is one of the most recognized in the world. At the heart of the city is the historic old town. Its lined with townhomes that date back to the 18th century. There are many historic sights that have stories from the early days of the country. There are also cobblestone streets and a great waterfront.

Santa Barbara is a good destination for visiting its old town. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for hiking. However, Alexandria is not a hiking destination.

Santa Barbara is well-known for its hiking and trekking. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Alexandria is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Alexandria is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many people travel to Santa Barbara specifically to go shopping. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Alexandria is an extremely popular place for shoppers. King Street is the main shopping street in town and it offers the largest concentration of independently owned boutiques in the Washington D.C. area. It's the perfectly place to spend an afternoon shopping.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Alexandria is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Santa Barbara. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Alexandria is not the most family-friendly destination. The waterfront area is nice to walk around. You can break up the history with an ice cream shop and kids will also enjoy taking a boat tour.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Alexandria is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Santa Barbara is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Alexandria is a very popular place to visit for couples. The charm of the old town makes this a quaint and romantic destination. There's a waterfront area and many historic buildings. There are also romantic restaurants and plenty of places to grab brunch.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Alexandria is a popular place for backpackers. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Alexandria. There aren't any true hostels in town, but you will find some cheap motels.

Santa Barbara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city isn't really known as a budget friendly destination, but there are a couple of hostels in the area. There's also a large student population with a fun nightlife scene.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Alexandria is not popular with students.

Many students visit Santa Barbara. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Alexandria is not popular with students.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Alexandria is renowned for its public transit. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Alexandria has a great public transit system. DASH is the local bus system, but the city is also connected into the Washington DC metro system.

Santa Barbara has some public transit options. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Is Alexandria or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Alexandria is renowned for its ease of walking around. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Alexandria on foot. It's a very easy city to walk around, particularly in the historic heart where most tourists spend their time.

Santa Barbara is very walkable. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Alexandria Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Alexandria?

How long in Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Alexandria and Santa Barbara. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Alexandria than in Santa Barbara. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Alexandria, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Alexandria than Santa Barbara 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 Alexandria.

One day in Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming destination of Alexandria. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

With museums and nightlife around the pristine coastal town of Santa Barbara, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Alexandria. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Santa Barbara, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this coastal town.

Five days in Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic destination of Alexandria. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

Santa Barbara, a popular coastal town, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

You'll find food and shopping around the beautiful city of Alexandria. 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. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Santa Barbara is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Santa Barbara, we can see that Santa Barbara is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Santa Barbara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Barbara than you might in Alexandria.

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

Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria and Santa Barbara, 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 Alexandria or Santa Barbara?

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 Alexandria or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

Both Santa Barbara and Alexandria during the summer are popular places to visit. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Alexandria this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Alexandria is a little warmer than Santa Barbara in the summer. The daily temperature in Alexandria averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).

Alexandria usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. Alexandria gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alexandria or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Alexandria and Santa Barbara. Many travelers come to Alexandria for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Alexandria is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Alexandria in October average around 60°F (15°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 62°F (17°C).

In October, Alexandria usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Alexandria gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Alexandria or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Alexandria as well as Santa Barbara. Many visitors come to Alexandria in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Alexandria can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Alexandria is generally much colder than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Alexandria average around 35°F (1°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

Alexandria usually gets less rain in January than Santa Barbara. Alexandria gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alexandria or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and Alexandria are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Alexandria for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

Alexandria is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara in the spring. The daily temperature in Alexandria averages around 56°F (14°C) in April, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In April, Alexandria usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Alexandria gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Alexandria