A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Alicante vs. Imperia for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Alicante or Imperia?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alicante and Imperia can help you decide which place is right for you.

Alicante

Alicante is a vibrant, cultural, and colorful city. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Imperia

Imperia is a charming, undiscovered, and authentic town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Alicante and Imperia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Alicante or Imperia?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Alicante. Although Alicante and Imperia are both popular with visitors, Alicante has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Alicante is more popular for its museums, food, beaches, and historical sights, while Imperia is known for its impressive beauty. Alicante is more touristy than Imperia and is known for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and authentic restaurants. It is also home to the Castillo de Santa Bárbara. Imperia is popular for its access to the Ligurian coastline.

How is Alicante different from Imperia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Alicante or Imperia?

Alicante is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

Alicante offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. This port city has a number of cultural and historical sights that are worth checking out. Castillo de Santa Bárbara, Museo Arqueológico Provincial de Alicante, and Basilica de Santa María are among the most well known.

Imperia is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several interesting buildings of importance around town.

Is the Food Better in Alicante or Imperia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Alicante is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Alicante is an experience not to be missed. It's by the sea, so you'll find plenty of seafood. Rice is the main staple for many dishes in town. This is also a vegetable growing region, so many recipes incorporate fresh vegetables. Popular dishes include arroz a banda, arroz con costra, and olleta alicantina.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Imperia. Food ranges from typical Italian dishes to local recipes that use local ingredients. Unique ingredients in the area include trumpet zucchini, flat breads, and anchovies.

Is Alicante or Imperia Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Alicante and Imperia.

Alicante has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. For the city's best nightlife, head to El Barrio Antiguo, which is the old district. This is where you'll find the highest concentration of bars and clubs, many of them having live music.

If you're looking for night time activities Imperia has a few options to choose from. There are some bars and lively restaurants around town where you can spend an enjoyable evening.

Is Alicante or Imperia Better for Beaches?

Alicante is a popular place for the beach. However, Imperia is not a beach destination.

Alicante is a good option for a beach vacation. If you step away from the touristy areas, you'll find some nice sandy beaches with blue water. Playa la Fustera is northeast of the city and popular with families and couples. If you have a car you can drive to the town of Moraira, which is near several nice beaches as well.

Imperia is not a beach destination.

Is Alicante or Imperia Better for its Old Town?

Alicante is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Imperia does not have a historic old town.

Alicante offers a nice historic old town area. The old district is filled with charming streets and some interesting museums. There are also a number of good restaurants in the area.

Imperia does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Alicante or Imperia?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Imperia and Alicante.

Alicante offers some nice shopping areas. The city is known for its leather goods, but you'll also find international brands and shopping streets with fashion and different European names.

Imperia has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are some shopping streets in town that have a mix of local brands and standard clothing shops.

Is Alicante or Imperia Better for Families?

Alicante is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Alicante is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. This seaside city has many kid-friendly resorts, long sandy beaches, and adrenaline-filled theme parks. There's the Terra Mitica Park as well as a waterpark - Aqua Natura. Tabarca Island is also well worth a visit.

Imperia is a family-friendly city. There's some nice walking trails in the countryside that the kids will enjoy.

Is Alicante or Imperia Better for Couples?

Alicante is notable for couples. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for romance.

Alicante is a very popular place to visit for couples. Nice resorts, long sandy beaches, and nearby vineyard tours make this a wonderful place for a couple's getaway. There are good restaurants and nice places where couples can take a stroll, hand in hand.

Imperia is a nice destination for couples. It's a beautiful town with a nice atmosphere that offers a nice break from the tourist crowds.

Is Alicante or Imperia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Alicante and Imperia are good places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Alicante is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels around town, as well as many budget-friendly hotels, so this is an affordable oceanfront destination for the budget-minded.

It's common for backpackers to visit Imperia. Accommodation tends to be affordable and there's an off-the-beaten-path vibe that some backpackers will appreciate.

Is Alicante or Imperia Better for Students?

Alicante is a popular place for students. However, Imperia is not popular with students.

Alicante is a good city to visit for students. It's by the water and it's an affordable city, making it a good option for students. The beaches and active nightlife will keep you entertained when you take a break from your studies.

Imperia is not popular with students.

Is Alicante or Imperia Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Alicante and Imperia.

You'll find some public transit in Alicante, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a comprehensive bus system through the city and region.

While Imperia offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses that connect the city to different areas.

Is Alicante or Imperia a more walkable city?

Alicante and Imperia both are good when exploring on foot.

Alicante is a somewhat walkable place. There are many parts of the city that can be explored on foot.

Imperia is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the town are convenient to walk around.

For even more information, also check out Is Alicante Worth Visiting? and Is Imperia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Imperia or Alicante?

How long in Alicante or Imperia?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Alicante or Imperia to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Alicante than Imperia because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Alicante, and 1-2 days is enough time in Imperia.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Alicante than Imperia 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 Alicante.

One day in Alicante or Imperia?

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

The town of Imperia offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Alicante or Imperia?

In Alicante, you'll find food and shopping. 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 Alicante has to offer.

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

Five days in Alicante or Imperia?

Alicante 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.

Imperia 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.

A week in Alicante or Imperia?

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

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Walking Tours in Italy, and The Best Luxury Tours to Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Alicante or Imperia?

Alicante has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Imperia. When comparing the sizes of Alicante and Imperia, 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 Alicante or Imperia?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Alicante or Imperia in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Alicante and Imperia. Most visitors come to Alicante for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Imperia because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Alicante is around the same temperature as Imperia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Alicante in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Imperia averages at about 25°C (76°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Imperia this time of the year. In Alicante, it's very sunny this time of the year. Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Imperia during summer. Alicante gets 341 hours of sunny skies, while Imperia receives 295 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Alicante usually receives less rain than Imperia. Alicante gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Imperia receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Alicante or Imperia in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Alicante as well as Imperia. The autumn months attract visitors to Alicante because of the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Imperia this time of year.

In October, Alicante is generally around the same temperature as Imperia. Daily temperatures in Alicante average around 20°C (68°F), and Imperia fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Alicante this time of the year. In the autumn, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Imperia. Alicante gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Imperia receives 183 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets less rain in October than Imperia. Alicante gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Imperia receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alicante or Imperia in the Winter?

Both Imperia and Alicante are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Alicante this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Imperia for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Alicante is around the same temperature as Imperia in the winter. The daily temperature in Alicante averages around 11°C (52°F) in January, and Imperia fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Imperia during winter. Alicante gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Imperia receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Alicante usually receives less rain than Imperia. Alicante gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Imperia receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Alicante or Imperia in the Spring?

Both Imperia and Alicante during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Alicante for the beaches. Furthermore, many visitors come to Imperia in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Alicante is around the same temperature as Imperia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Alicante in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Imperia averages at about 15°C (58°F).

It's quite sunny in Alicante. In the spring, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Imperia. Alicante gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Imperia receives 198 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets less rain in April than Imperia. Alicante gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Imperia receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Imperia and Alicante