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

Should you visit Alicante or Pompeii?

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 Pompeii can help you decide which place is right for you.

Alicante

Alicante is a cultural, colorful, and authentic city. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Pompeii

Pompeii is a iconic, one-of-a-kind, and ancient archeological site. And you can't forget about the museums.

Alicante and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Alicante or Pompeii?

Both Pompeii and Alicante have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Alicante is more popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, historical sights, and shopping, while Pompeii is known for its museums. Pompeii is more touristy than Alicante and is popular for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Alicante is popular for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and authentic restaurants.

How is Alicante different from Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Pompeii 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 Pompeii?

Pompeii is terrific for its museums and landmarks. Also, Alicante is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Pompeii are among the most recognizable in the world. Pompeii is a city frozen in time and it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The streets remain as they once stood, lined with shops and homes. Highlights of a visit include the Forum, the Antiquarium, the Temple of Isis, and the Teatro Grande.

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

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

Alicante is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Alicante has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

While Pompeii is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. While there is a café near the Forum, the quality of the food isn't great and it can get crowded. You'd do best to bring your own food as the site is large and you'll want to eat on your own schedule.

Is Alicante or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Alicante is very good for its evening party scene. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Alicante. 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Pompeii. As a popular tourist destination, you'll find some bars nearby, but most people visit as a day trip and head out of town before the evening hours.

Is Alicante or Pompeii Better for Beaches?

Alicante is very good for the beach. However, Pompeii is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Alicante to enjoy the beach. 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.

Pompeii is not a beach destination.

Is Alicante or Pompeii Better for its Old Town?

Alicante is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Pompeii does not have a historic old town.

Alicante has an old town worth visiting. The old district is filled with charming streets and some interesting museums. There are also a number of good restaurants in the area.

Pompeii does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Alicante or Pompeii?

Alicante is very good for its shopping areas. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for shopping.

Alicante has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city is known for its leather goods, but you'll also find international brands and shopping streets with fashion and different European names.

Pompeii has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There are some souvenir stands outside of the site where you can buy trinkets to remember your visit.

Is Alicante or Pompeii Better for Families?

You'll find very good kid-friendly activities in either Alicante or Pompeii.

Alicante is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Pompeii. Its a city frozen in time, and even kids will get lost in the history and story behind Pompeii. The trick is to find a kid-friendly tour and understand the layout before you arrive. Because it's so big, you want to know which places to visit and which you might want to skip with kids who have short attention spans.

Is Alicante or Pompeii Better for Couples?

Alicante is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Alicante makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Pompeii is a nice destination for couples. It's an iconic destination in Italy, and should be added to any Italian trip itinerary. It's not exactly a romantic destination, but it's something that every visitor should see.

Is Alicante or Pompeii Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Alicante and Pompeii 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 Pompeii. It's touristy and crowded, but also world renowned and not-to-be-missed. Whether you're a backpacker or a luxury traveler, Pompeii is on most itineraries.

Is Alicante or Pompeii Better for Students?

Alicante and Pompeii are good places to visit for students.

Alicante is popular with 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.

It's common for students to visit Pompeii. It's history and educational significance make it a great study abroad destination, whether you visit alone, with friends, or as part of a tour group.

Is Alicante or Pompeii 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 Pompeii.

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 Pompeii offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

Is Alicante or Pompeii a more walkable city?

Pompeii is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Alicante is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Pompeii on foot is easy. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Pompeii or Alicante?

How long in Alicante or Pompeii?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Alicante or Pompeii to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Alicante than Pompeii 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 Pompeii.

Families should spend more time in Alicante than Pompeii. 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 Pompeii. 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 Pompeii 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 Pompeii?

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 archeological site of Pompeii offers museums. 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 Pompeii?

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.

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

Five days in Alicante or Pompeii?

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.

Pompeii is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. 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 Pompeii?

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.

Pompeii is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This archeological site 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Alicante or Pompeii?

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 Alicante or Pompeii in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Alicante as well as Pompeii. The summer months attract visitors to Alicante because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Pompeii this time of year.

In the summer, Alicante is around the same temperature as Pompeii. Typically, the summer temperatures in Alicante in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Pompeii averages at about 23°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Alicante this time of the year. In the summer, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Pompeii. Alicante gets 341 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun.

Alicante usually gets less rain in July than Pompeii. Alicante gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alicante or Pompeii in the Autumn?

Both Pompeii and Alicante are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Alicante this time of year.

In October, Alicante is generally a little warmer than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Alicante average around 20°C (68°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Alicante. Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Pompeii during autumn. Alicante gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. In October, Alicante usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Alicante gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Alicante or Pompeii in the Winter?

Both Pompeii and Alicante during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Alicante for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Pompeii in the winter for the museums.

Alicante is a little warmer than Pompeii in the winter. The daily temperature in Alicante averages around 11°C (52°F) in January, and Pompeii fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Alicante often gets more sunshine than Pompeii. Alicante gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun.

Pompeii gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Alicante usually gets less rain in January than Pompeii. Alicante gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Alicante or Pompeii in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Alicante and Pompeii. Many visitors come to Alicante in the spring for the beaches.

In the spring, Alicante is a little warmer than Pompeii. Typically, the spring temperatures in Alicante in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Pompeii averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In Alicante, it's very sunny this time of the year. Alicante usually receives more sunshine than Pompeii during spring. Alicante gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Alicante usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Alicante gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Alicante