A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amsterdam vs. Phoenix for Nightlife, Backpackers, Attractions, and Couples

Should you visit Amsterdam or Phoenix?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam or Phoenix, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a party-oriented, laid-back, and scenic city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Many visitors also come to Amsterdam because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music. See Amsterdam travel costs.

Phoenix

Phoenix is a desert, laid back, and sprawling city. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and food. See Phoenix travel costs.

Amsterdam and Phoenix: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Amsterdam or Phoenix?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Amsterdam than Phoenix. While Phoenix is larger than Amsterdam, Amsterdam has more sights and attractions for tourists. Amsterdam is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, music, historical sights, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Phoenix is known for its food and hiking. Amsterdam is more touristy than Phoenix and is popular for its scenic canals, huge biking culture, and its wild nightlife scene. It is also home to The Rijksmuseum. Phoenix is popular for its desert landscapes, high number of golf courses, and year round warm weather.

How is Amsterdam different from Phoenix?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Amsterdam or Phoenix?

Amsterdam is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Amsterdam. The city has a number of sights and museums including the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Royal Palace. The world renowned Rijksmuseum is a must see for any art enthusiast. There are also many smaller, lesser known museums that are well worth a visit.

Phoenix is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. You'll find art, science, and cultural museums around town. Favorites include the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, S'edav Va'aki Museum, and the Arizona Science Museum.

Is the Food Better in Amsterdam or Phoenix? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Phoenix is a nice place to visit for its restaurant scene. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Phoenix. There are many mom-and-pop shops around town that serve everything from casual meals to quality steaks. There's also a huge selection of Mexican restaurants, as well as other international options such as sushi, dim sum, and Italian.

Amsterdam may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Food is expensive in this city, particularly in the touristy areas. There are some markets that sell great local items and the dessert cafes are awesome!

Is Amsterdam or Phoenix Better for Nightlife?

Amsterdam is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Amsterdam is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The city has some of the best nightlife in Europe. There are plenty of bars, dance clubs, and other activities that you can enjoy throughout the night.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Phoenix. The best nightlife scene is found in downtown and central Phoenix. There are bars, restaurants, and venues where you can catch a show. North Phoenix also has grown into a popular evening spot with cocktail bars and pubs.

Is Amsterdam or Phoenix Better for Music?

Amsterdam is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Phoenix is not a live music destination.

Amsterdam has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The city attracts its share of world renowned DJs and musicians. Popular music venues include Paradiso, De Melkweg, and Chicago Social Club.

Phoenix is not a live music destination.

Is Amsterdam or Phoenix Better for its Old Town?

Amsterdam is a great city for its historic old town charm. However, Phoenix does not have a historic old town.

Amsterdam is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The old city center is one of the best preserved in Europe. It's enclosed by canals and has many historic churches, plazas, and buildings.

Phoenix does not have a historic old town.

Is Amsterdam or Phoenix Better for Hiking?

Phoenix is a nice place to visit for its hiking experiences. However, Amsterdam is not a hiking destination.

Phoenix has hiking trails worth exploring. You don't have to head far out of town for impressive hiking opportunities. You'll find trails that range from easy to challenging, and many pass through other-worldly landscapes. You'll find popular trails in Usery Mountain Regional Park, Papago Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, South Mountain Park and many others.

Amsterdam is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Amsterdam or Phoenix?

Amsterdam is a great city for its shopping areas. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Amsterdam. For the best shopping in town, head to the Nine Streets area in the historic district and the two main shopping streets of The Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat.

Phoenix is a great destination for shopping. There are plenty of shopping centers, outlets, and malls where you'll find the standard chain stores. You'll also find farmer's markets around town.

Is Amsterdam or Phoenix More Beautiful?

Amsterdam is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. However, Phoenix is not a destination known for its beauty.

Many visitors also come to Amsterdam because of it's amazing beauty. With its beautiful canals, historic churches, and relaxing parks, this is a beautiful city.

Phoenix is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Amsterdam or Phoenix Better for Families?

Phoenix is a nice place to visit for its family-friendly activities. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Phoenix. Kids will love the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center, the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, and the Bearizona Wildlife Park. There's also a number of parks and gardens as well as a children's museum and several other interactive museums for kids.

For families, Amsterdam is not always the best place to visit. The city does it's share of partying, and there are some areas, like the red light district, that aren't exactly kid-friendly, but there are some nice parks, playgrounds, and the impressive NEMO Science Museum that you can explore.

Is Amsterdam or Phoenix Better for Couples?

Amsterdam is a great city for couples. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Amsterdam is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. For many, a visit to this city is all about the party, but for couples who enjoy history, architecture, or boat rides along the scenic canals, the city also makes a great getaway. It's also fun to stay in a houseboat and have a unique experience.

Phoenix is a nice destination for couples. There are many parks and gardens in town as well as beautiful hikes and outdoor activities that couples will enjoy. In the evening, there's theater, shows, and many romantic restaurants.

Is Amsterdam or Phoenix Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Amsterdam is an unbeatable place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Phoenix is not known for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Amsterdam, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. With it's party-hard personality and countless low price hostels, this city attracts its share of backpackers. Do note that many of the hostels aren't focused on quality, so make sure you understand what you're paying for. It may be worth booking a slightly more expensive room in a hotel.

Phoenix is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is a hostel or two around town for budget travelers.

Is Amsterdam or Phoenix Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Amsterdam is an unbeatable place for times when you don't have a car. However, Phoenix is not known for its public transit.

Visitors in Amsterdam can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The city has metros, trams, buses, and ferries that help you get around. Since this is the Netherlands, getting around by bike is very popular.

Public transit is generally limited in Phoenix. There's a bus and light rail system, but you really need your own vehicle to get around.

Is Amsterdam or Phoenix a more walkable city?

Amsterdam is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. However, Phoenix is not known for its walkability.

Amsterdam is a very easy city to get around on foot. The historic parts of the city are very walkable and much of the city is best explored on foot.

Phoenix is generally not very walkable. It's a sprawling city and the only real area that's walkable is the downtown.

For even more information, also check out Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting? and Is Phoenix Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Phoenix or Amsterdam?

How long in Amsterdam or Phoenix?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Amsterdam and Phoenix. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Amsterdam than in Phoenix. Usually, 2-7 days is a good amount of time for Amsterdam, and 1-3 days is enough time in Phoenix.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Amsterdam than Phoenix 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 Amsterdam.

One day in Amsterdam or Phoenix?

Because Amsterdam is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Phoenix. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Phoenix has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Amsterdam or Phoenix?

Because Amsterdam is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Amsterdam has to offer.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the laid back destination of Phoenix. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Amsterdam or Phoenix?

Amsterdam is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Amsterdam has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the desert city of Phoenix. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Amsterdam or Phoenix?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Amsterdam. Because Amsterdam is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Phoenix is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Amsterdam or Phoenix?

Phoenix has a larger population, and is about 78% larger than the population of Amsterdam. When comparing the sizes of Amsterdam and Phoenix, 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 Amsterdam or Phoenix?

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 Amsterdam or Phoenix in the Summer?

Both Phoenix and Amsterdam during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Amsterdam this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Phoenix for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Phoenix can become quite hot in the summer. In the summer, Amsterdam is much colder than Phoenix. Typically, the summer temperatures in Amsterdam in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Phoenix averages at about 98°F (36°C).

In Phoenix, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Amsterdam. In the summer, Amsterdam often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Amsterdam gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 380 hours of full sun.

Amsterdam usually gets more rain in July than Phoenix. Amsterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Phoenix in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Amsterdam and Phoenix. Many travelers come to Amsterdam for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Phoenix in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In October, Amsterdam is generally much colder than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Amsterdam average around 11°C (51°F), and Phoenix fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phoenix this time of the year. Amsterdam usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during autumn. Amsterdam gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 305 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Amsterdam usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Amsterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Phoenix in the Winter?

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

Amsterdam can get quite cold in the winter. Amsterdam is much colder than Phoenix in the winter. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Phoenix fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phoenix. In the winter, Amsterdam often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Amsterdam gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 254 hours of full sun.

Amsterdam usually gets more rain in January than Phoenix. Amsterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Phoenix in the Spring?

Both Phoenix and Amsterdam are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Amsterdam for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Amsterdam is much colder than Phoenix. Typically, the spring temperatures in Amsterdam in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Phoenix averages at about 74°F (23°C).

It's quite sunny in Phoenix. Amsterdam usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during spring. Amsterdam gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 355 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Amsterdam usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Amsterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Phoenix and Amsterdam