A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arles vs. Genoa for Attractions, Old Town, Food, and Families

Should you visit Arles or Genoa?

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 Arles and Genoa can help you decide which place is right for you.

Arles

Arles is a quaint, historic, and charming town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Genoa

Genoa is a colorful, energetic, and historic port city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Arles and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arles or Genoa?

Both Genoa and Arles have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Arles is very popular for its museums, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Genoa attracts visitors for its beaches. Genoa is more touristy than Arles and is popular for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Arles is famous for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

How is Arles different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Arles or Genoa?

Arles is terrific for its historical sights. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Arles has many famous sights for visitors. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Genoa. The city has a long history and it is filled with monuments, palaces, and museums. Popular places to visit include the Via Garibaldi Palaces, the aquarium (one of the largest in Europe), the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and Santi Ambrogio.

Is the Food Better in Arles or Genoa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Arles and Genoa can be an enjoyable experience.

Dining out in Arles is an experience not to be missed. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Genoa. The city's maritime roots have influenced its cuisine and you'll find seafood in many local dishes. Other classic Genoese flavors include pesto, anchovies, fried squid, and focaccia and cheese.

Is Arles or Genoa Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Arles and Genoa.

Arles has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

If you're looking for night time activities Genoa has a few options to choose from. The city lights up at night and it's fun to experience the activity and energy. There's a nice evening atmosphere with many people out and about. You can grab drinks in Piazza Lavagna or see live music in Porto Antico. There are also many bars and clubs around town.

Is Arles or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Genoa is a port city with a few options for the beach. However, Arles is not a beach destination.

The beach in Genoa is worth checking out. While many people head to other nearby towns to enjoy the beach, you will also find a beach just ten minutes from the old town by bus. Boccadasse is one of the closest beaches to town. It's also possible to do a day trip to other more famous beaches in the area, but you need to be prepared to travel a bit farther.

Arles is not a beach destination.

Is Arles or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

Arles is terrific for its historic old town charm. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its historic old town.

Arles has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Many visitors go to Genoa to see the historical old town. The old town is large and complex, with many different time periods represented in the architecture and development style.

Is the Shopping Better in Arles or Genoa?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Genoa and Arles.

Many visitors go to Arles to go shopping. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Genoa. You can pick up a number of different souvenirs around town including baskets, t-shirts, and local pesto. Popular shopping areas include Galleria Mazzini, Via Roma, and Via XX Settembr.

Is Arles or Genoa Better for Families?

Genoa is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Genoa is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city is home to the second biggest aquarium in Europe as well as the Galata Maritime Museum and the Nazario Sauro Submarine. In the port there's also Vascello Nettuno, which was a pirate ship that was used in the filming of the movie 'Pirates' by Roman Polanski. Other fun kid-friendly attractions include La Biosfera, The Children's Museum, and the Bigo Lift.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Arles or Genoa Better for Couples?

Both Arles and Genoa are excellent destinations to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Arles frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Genoa is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's a beautiful port city with charming neighborhoods and some great restaurants. Couples will enjoy exploring this beautiful city and visiting its palaces and cathedrals.

Is Arles or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Genoa is well known for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Genoa is a very popular port city for backpackers and budget travelers. There are a number of affordable hostels in the area, and while this isn't the top backpacker destination in Italy, it is a nice place to spend some time.

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

Is Arles or Genoa Better for Students?

Genoa is well known for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Genoa is very popular with students. It's a popular study abroad destination so you'll find a number of international students in the area. The city is also well connected for exploring the region.

Arles is not popular with students.

Is Arles or Genoa Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Genoa is well known for its public transit. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Genoa. There's a wide range of different public transit options that are all operated by AMT. The system includes buses, an underground (one line), funiculars (two), lifts (ten), a boat, cogwheel and narrow gauge railways.

While Arles offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Arles or Genoa a more walkable city?

Arles and Genoa both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Arles is a very walkable destination. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

Genoa is very walkable. The old town, where most tourists spend the majority of their time, is easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Arles Worth Visiting? and Is Genoa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Arles?

How long in Arles or Genoa?

It's fun to spend time in either Arles or Genoa. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Genoa due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Arles, and 2-4 days is enough time in Genoa.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Genoa than Arles 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 Genoa.

One day in Arles or Genoa?

In Arles, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this compact destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Lots of people come for the museums. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Genoa, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this vibrant destination offers. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Arles or Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arles. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Genoa. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Arles or Genoa?

Arles is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Arles. Lots of people come for the museums. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Genoa is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Genoa. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Arles or Genoa?

You'll find food and shopping around the quaint destination of Arles. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the museums. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find food and shopping around the energetic destination of Genoa. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Arles and Genoa, we can see that Genoa 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. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Arles or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Arles and Genoa, 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 Arles or Genoa?

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 Arles or Genoa in the Summer?

Both Genoa and Arles during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Arles this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Genoa for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Arles is around the same temperature as Genoa in the summer. The daily temperature in Arles averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Genoa fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).

In Genoa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Arles. In the summer, Arles often gets more sunshine than Genoa. Arles gets 354 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun.

Arles usually gets more rain in July than Genoa. Arles gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arles or Genoa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Arles and Genoa. Many travelers come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Genoa in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Arles is cooler than Genoa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Arles in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Genoa averages at about 19°C (66°F).

Arles usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Genoa during autumn. Arles gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Arles gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Arles usually receives more rain than Genoa. Arles gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Arles or Genoa in the Winter?

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

In January, Arles is generally much colder than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Arles average around 7°C (44°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Arles often gets more sunshine than Genoa. Arles gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun.

Arles usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Genoa. Arles gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arles or Genoa in the Spring?

Both Genoa and Arles are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Arles for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Genoa because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

Arles is cooler than Genoa in the spring. The daily temperature in Arles averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Genoa fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. Arles usually receives more sunshine than Genoa during spring. Arles gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Arles usually receives less rain than Genoa. Arles gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Arles