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

Should you visit Arles or Rome?

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

Arles

Arles is a compact, quaint, and historic town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Rome

Rome is a fun-filled, popular, and ancient 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 Rome: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arles or Rome?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rome than Arles. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Rome is very popular for its food, nightlife, music, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Arles attracts visitors for its historical sights. Rome is more touristy than Arles and is known for its iconic archaeological sites such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, as well as its gelato, Italian cuisine, and strong religious roots. It is also well known for The Colosseum. Arles is famous for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

The Colosseum

How is Arles different from Rome?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Rome from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The historical sights around the city are among the most impressive in the world. Almost anywhere you look you'll find a notable landmark but some of the most famous include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum.

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

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

Rome has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Homemade pasta, fresh sauces, and fine wine all make the food scene among the best. Also make sure you try the gelato.

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 Rome Better for Nightlife?

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

The nightlife in Rome is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. You'll find a huge concentration of bars and clubs in the Testaccio area. There are late night clubs with salsa dancing, merengue, and live DJ's spinning every type of music.

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 Rome Better for Music?

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

In Rome you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. Popular music venues include Live Alcazar, Atlantico Live, and Beba do Samba.

Arles is not a live music destination.

Is Arles or Rome Better for its Old Town?

Arles is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. However, Rome does not have a historic old town.

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.

Rome does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Arles or Rome?

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

Rome is a world class destination for shoppers. For the biggest brand names, head to Via del Corso, which is near the Spanish Steps. Popular items to buy include Italian ceramics, shoes, leather goods, and jewelry.

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

Is Arles or Rome Better for Families?

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

Rome is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. What kid wouldn't be thrilled to be surrounded by pizza and spaghetti restaurants? In addition to kid-friendly food options, there are also a number of great activities that the whole family can enjoy including exploring the Colosseum, taking a gladiator class, and eating gelato.

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 Rome Better for Couples?

Both Arles and Rome 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.

Rome is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. With many beautiful buildings, world class restaurants, and world renowned sights, this city makes a great romantic destination.

Is Arles or Rome Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rome is an unbeatable place for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Rome is a very popular city to visit for backpackers. Backpackers will find no shortage of hostels where they can stay, particularly near the main train station where accommodation is particularly cheap (but not always the best quality).

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 Rome Better for Students?

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

Students come from all over the world to visit Rome. The city is a popular study abroad destination and you'll find plenty of international students here.

Arles is not popular with students.

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

Rome 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 Rome can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. There's a metro system, trams, and a comprehensive bus system that goes around the city.

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 Rome a more walkable city?

Rome 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 Rome on foot is easy. You'll find many of the most popular sights in a compact area that's easily explored on foot. Do watch out for traffic, which can be a bit chaotic at times.

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 Rome Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rome or Arles?

How long in Arles or Rome?

Both Arles and Rome have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Rome than in Arles. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Arles, and 3-7 days is enough time in Rome.

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

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

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

One day in Arles or Rome?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Arles. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Each neighborhood in Rome has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This 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 Rome?

Arles is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the museums. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rome. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Arles or Rome?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the compact destination of Arles. This town offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

A week in Arles or Rome?

The quaint town of Arles offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Each neighborhood in Rome has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arles and Rome, we can see that Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Arles or Rome?

Rome has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Arles and Rome, 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 Rome?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Arles or Rome in the Summer?

Both Rome and Arles are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Arles for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Rome in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Arles is around the same temperature as Rome in the summer. The daily temperature in Arles averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Rome fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

It's quite sunny in Rome. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. Arles usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rome during summer. Arles gets 354 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Arles usually receives more rain than Rome. Arles gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Arles or Rome in the Autumn?

Both Rome and Arles during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Arles in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Rome 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 Rome. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Arles in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Rome averages at about 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Arles often gets less sunshine than Rome. Arles gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Arles. Arles usually gets more rain in October than Rome. Arles gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arles or Rome in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Arles and Rome. Most visitors come to Arles for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Rome because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

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

Arles usually receives more sunshine than Rome during winter. Arles gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Arles usually receives less rain than Rome. Arles gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Arles or Rome in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Arles as well as Rome. The spring months attract visitors to Arles because of the natural beauty. Additionally, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Rome this time of year.

Arles is around the same temperature as Rome in the spring. The daily temperature in Arles averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Rome fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rome. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arles this time of the year. In the spring, Arles often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Rome. Arles gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun.

Arles usually gets more rain in April than Rome. Arles gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Rome and Arles