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

Should you visit Arles 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 Arles and Pompeii can help you decide which place is right for you.

Arles

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

Pompeii

Pompeii is a iconic, one-of-a-kind, and ancient archeological site. Other popular activities here include museums.

Arles and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arles or Pompeii?

Both Pompeii and Arles have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Pompeii is more touristy than Arles and is popular for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Arles is famous for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

How is Arles different from Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Arles or Pompeii.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Arles on the map. 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.

Travelers visit Pompeii from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. 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.

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

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

Arles has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

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 Arles or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Arles 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 Arles. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

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 Arles or Pompeii Better for its Old Town?

Arles is renowned for its historic old town charm. However, Pompeii does not have a historic old town.

The old town of Arles is one of the most recognized in the world. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Pompeii does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Arles or Pompeii?

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

Arles has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

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 Arles or Pompeii Better for Families?

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

Pompeii is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

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 Pompeii Better for Couples?

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

Arles makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

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 Arles or Pompeii Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Pompeii is very good for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Pompeii is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

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 Pompeii Better for Students?

Pompeii is very good for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Pompeii is popular with students. 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.

Arles is not popular with students.

Is Arles 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 Arles and Pompeii.

You'll find some public transit in Arles, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

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 Arles or Pompeii a more walkable city?

Pompeii 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 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.

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 Pompeii Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pompeii or Arles?

How long in Arles or Pompeii?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Arles or Pompeii to fill your time. In our opinion, Arles has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Arles than Pompeii. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Arles or Pompeii?

In Arles, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

In Pompeii, many people enjoy the museums that this iconic destination offers. Lots of people come for the museums. This archeological site 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 Pompeii?

In Arles, you'll find food and shopping. 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. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Arles has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pompeii. 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 Pompeii?

Arles is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the destination of Pompeii. Lots of people come for the museums. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Arles or Pompeii?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arles. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Arles. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

You'll find museums around the iconic destination of Pompeii. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Arles and Pompeii, we can see that Pompeii 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 Pompeii Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Arles 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 Arles or Pompeii in the Summer?

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

Arles is around the same temperature as Pompeii in the summer. The daily temperature in Arles averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Pompeii fluctuates around 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 Arles this time of the year. In the summer, Arles often gets more sunshine than Pompeii. Arles gets 354 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun.

Arles usually gets more rain in July than Pompeii. Arles gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arles or Pompeii in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Arles is around the same temperature as Pompeii. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Arles in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Pompeii averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Arles usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pompeii during autumn. Arles gets 178 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. It's quite rainy in Arles. In October, Arles usually receives around the same amount of rain as Pompeii. Arles gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Arles or Pompeii in the Winter?

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

In January, Arles is generally cooler than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Arles average around 7°C (44°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Arles often gets more sunshine than Pompeii. Arles gets 146 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. Arles usually gets less rain in January than Pompeii. Arles gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arles or Pompeii in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Arles and Pompeii. Many visitors come to Arles in the spring for the natural beauty.

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

In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. Arles usually receives more sunshine than Pompeii during spring. Arles gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Arles usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Arles gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Arles