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

Should you visit Arles or Milan?

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 Milan 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.

Milan

Milan is a chic, cultural, and trendy city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Arles and Milan: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arles or Milan?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Milan than Arles. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Milan is very popular for its food, nightlife, music, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Arles attracts visitors for its museums. Arles is famous for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. Milan is famous for its grand squares, dramatic architecture, and its leadership in the fashion world. It is also well known for Piazza del Duomo.

How is Arles different from Milan?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Arles is an amazing town to visit for its historical sights. Also, Milan is not as popular, but is still a nice 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.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Milan. The Milan Cathedral is the most famous landmark in the city, but other sights include Castello Sforzesco, Pinacoteca di Brera, and Sant'Ambrogio.

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

Milan is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Milan has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. The city has a mix of traditional dishes combined with modernized, trendy restaurants. You can try a new dish by a groundbreaking chef, or sample a long running favorite like risotto alla Milanese.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Arles. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Is Arles or Milan Better for Nightlife?

Milan is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The nightlife in Milan is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The city has a huge number of students and young professionals, which make it a fun place with an active nightlife. There are cocktail bars, trendy clubs, and relaxed pubs that you can chose from.

If you're looking for night time activities Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Arles or Milan Better for Music?

Milan is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Arles is not a live music destination.

In Milan you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. The diversity of music ranges from classical concerts to techno raves. Popular venues include Blue Note Milan, Santeria Social Club, and Spirit de Milan.

Arles is not a live music destination.

Is Arles or Milan Better for its Old Town?

Arles and Milan are both popular destinations with charming historical areas.

With a famous historical old-town, Arles offers plenty to see. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

The rich history of Milan can be explored in its historical center. Known as the Centro Storic, this area is the most popular with tourists. It's where you'll find the most historic buildings and beautiful sights in the city.

Is the Shopping Better in Arles or Milan?

Milan is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Milan is a world class destination for shoppers. Famous as the fashion capital of Italy, shopping is the thing to do here. There are many streets that are lined with the biggest designers in fashion. Make sure you check out Via Monte Napoleone, Via Della Spiga, and Corso Buenos Aires.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Arles or Milan Better for Families?

Milan is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Milan. The city has a science museum and a children's museum, MuBa, that is great for the kids. There are also a number of parks to explore as well as playgrounds where the kids and get out their energy.

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 Milan Better for Couples?

Both Arles and Milan are superb 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.

Milan is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. There are many beautiful buildings, excellent shopping, and romantic restaurants that make for a wonderful couple's getaway.

Is Arles or Milan Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Milan is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. While not as popular with backpackers as some Italian city's, there are a number of hostels and great activities that are fun for visitors.

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 Milan Better for Students?

Milan is an unbeatable place for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Milan. It is one of the more popular city's for international students in Italy. It is very livable with a lot of culture and a fun nightlife, so you're sure to have the experience of a lifetime.

Arles is not popular with students.

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

Milan is an unbeatable place for its public transit. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors in Milan can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. Options include metro, bus, tram, and train lines.

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 Milan a more walkable city?

Milan is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Milan on foot is easy. In particular, the city center is walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Milan or Arles?

How long in Arles or Milan?

In either Arles or Milan, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Milan than Arles because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Arles, and 1-5 days is enough time in Milan.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Milan 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 Milan.

One day in Arles or Milan?

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.

Each neighborhood in Milan has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Arles or Milan?

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 Milan. 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.

Five days in Arles or Milan?

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.

Milan is a fun place to experience. Each neighborhood in Milan has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A week in Arles or Milan?

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 museums and nightlife around the trendy big city of Milan. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Arles or Milan?

Milan has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Arles and Milan, 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 Milan?

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 Milan in the Summer?

Both Milan and Arles during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Arles for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Milan in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Arles is around the same temperature as Milan in the summer. The daily temperature in Arles averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Milan fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Milan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Arles. In the summer, Arles often gets more sunshine than Milan. Arles gets 354 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milan receives 250 hours of full sun.

Arles usually gets less rain in July than Milan. Arles gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Milan receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arles or Milan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Arles and Milan. Many visitors come to Arles in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Milan for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Arles is around the same temperature as Milan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Arles in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Milan averages at about 15°C (58°F).

Arles usually receives more sunshine than Milan during autumn. Arles gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Milan receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Milan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Arles gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Arles usually receives more rain than Milan. Arles gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Milan receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Arles or Milan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Arles as well as Milan. Most visitors come to Arles for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Milan because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Milan can be very cold. In January, Arles is generally a little warmer than Milan. Daily temperatures in Arles average around 7°C (44°F), and Milan fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Arles often gets more sunshine than Milan. Arles gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milan receives 119 hours of full sun.

Arles usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Milan. Arles gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Milan receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arles or Milan in the Spring?

Both Milan and Arles are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Arles because of the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Milan this time of year.

Arles is around the same temperature as Milan in the spring. The daily temperature in Arles averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Milan fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. Arles usually receives more sunshine than Milan during spring. Arles gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Milan receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Arles usually receives less rain than Milan. Arles gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Milan receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Milan and Arles