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

Should you visit Arles or San Remo?

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 San Remo 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.

San Remo

San Remo is a beautiful, scenic, and authentic coastal city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Arles and San Remo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arles or San Remo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Arles. Although Arles and San Remo are roughly the same size, Arles has more sights and attractions for tourists. Arles is very popular for its museums and historical sights, while San Remo attracts visitors for its beaches. Arles is famous for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. It is also well known for L'Amphithéâtre Romain. San Remo is famous for its olives, lemons, and flower market.

How is Arles different from San Remo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Arles is terrific for its museums and history. However, San Remo does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

San Remo does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Arles and San Remo 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 San Remo. The local restaurants are charming and sell a number of local specialties. Many traditional dishes are made with rabbit or chicken. There are also vegetable pies and sardenaira, which is a type of pizza that's made with tomatoes, garlic, and anchovies. Also make sure you pick up Baci di Sanremo, which are soft chocolate biscuits that are available in local bakeries.

Is Arles or San Remo Better for Nightlife?

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

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 San Remo has a few options to choose from. The city has a number of clubs and bars where you can enjoy a drink or hang out late into the evening. It's a pretty mellow nightlife scene, but there's still plenty of places to go as well as a local vibe that doesn't have the influx of tourists that you find in many of other Italian cities.

Is Arles or San Remo Better for Beaches?

San Remo is well known for the beach. However, Arles is not a beach destination.

San Remo is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beautiful sandy beaches are nice to visit and it's possible to rent chairs and umbrellas in many places. The main beach in town is Spiaggia dei Porti. Other popular nearby beaches include Spiaggia dei tre ponti, which is a large public beach, and Cala degli Orsi, which is one of the most beautiful public beaches in the area.

Arles is not a beach destination.

Is Arles or San Remo Better for its Old Town?

Arles is terrific for its historic old town charm. Also, San Remo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of San Remo. The old quarter of Pigna is a Medieval area with narrow streets that feel as if they're frozen in time. The hills offer impressive city views and the area has a unique historic character.

Is the Shopping Better in Arles or San Remo?

Shopping is a popular activity in both San Remo 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 San Remo. There are local and international brands as well as a shopping mall and outlets where you can enjoy shopping.

Is Arles or San Remo Better for Families?

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

San Remo is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The area offers plenty of outdoor activities that the whole family will enjoy. There's horseback riding, hiking, rowing, snorkeling, cooking classes, farm tours and more. There are also a number of hotels in the area that have kid-friendly activities.

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 San Remo Better for Couples?

Both Arles and San Remo are great 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.

San Remo is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's known as the city of flowers, and the many beautiful gardens make this a truly romantic place to visit. Couples will enjoy soaking up the city's history and enjoy the vibrant culture and outdoor activities that are available.

Is Arles or San Remo 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 San Remo.

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 San Remo offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are local buses around town.

Is Arles or San Remo a more walkable city?

Arles and San Remo both are great when exploring on foot.

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

San Remo is very walkable. The old quarter is fun to explore on foot and there are a number of walking tours through town.

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

Should I spend more time in San Remo or Arles?

How long in Arles or San Remo?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Arles or San Remo to fill your time. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Arles than San Remo. 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 Arles than San Remo 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 Arles.

One day in Arles or San Remo?

The beautiful town of Arles offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In San Remo, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this historic destination offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. This coastal 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 San Remo?

Arles is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Arles, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

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

Arles is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

San Remo is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of San Remo. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Arles or San Remo?

Arles is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

You'll find nightlife and food around the historic destination of San Remo. Most people come for the beaches. 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 comparing the travel costs between Arles and San Remo, we can see that San Remo 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 San Remo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Arles or San Remo?

Arles has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of San Remo. When comparing the sizes of Arles and San Remo, 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 San Remo?

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 San Remo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Arles as well as San Remo. Most visitors come to Arles for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to San Remo because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Remo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arles this time of the year. In the summer, Arles often gets more sunshine than San Remo. Arles gets 354 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Remo receives 295 hours of full sun.

Arles usually gets more rain in July than San Remo. Arles gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arles or San Remo in the Autumn?

Both San Remo and Arles are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Arles because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to San Remo this time of year.

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

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

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Remo. It's quite rainy in Arles. In October, Arles usually receives more rain than San Remo. Arles gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Arles or San Remo in the Winter?

Both San Remo and Arles during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Arles this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Remo for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In January, Arles is generally cooler than San Remo. Daily temperatures in Arles average around 7°C (44°F), and San Remo fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

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

Arles usually gets less rain in January than San Remo. Arles gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arles or San Remo in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Arles and San Remo. Many travelers come to Arles for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to San Remo in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

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

In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. Arles usually receives more sunshine than San Remo during spring. Arles gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while San Remo receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Arles usually receives less rain than San Remo. Arles gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Remo and Arles