A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Arlington vs. Boise for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Arlington or Boise?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Arlington or Boise, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Arlington

Arlington is a educational, international, and historical city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Boise

Boise is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Arlington and Boise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arlington or Boise?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Arlington than Boise. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Arlington is more touristy than Boise and is known for its international connections, its biking and walking trails, and being the location of the Pentagon. It is also well known for Arlington National Cemetery. Boise is famous for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Arlington different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Arlington or Boise?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Arlington offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Arlington National Cemetery is where you'll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the tomb of John F. Kennedy Jr. There are many memorials around town, with the most famous being the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. There are also several museums like the DEA Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Boise is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Is the Food Better in Arlington or Boise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Arlington has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. It's a global city, and the restaurants reflect that. You'll find amazing Thai, Japanese, and Mexican restaurants. There are also less common cuisines to choose from such as Ethiopian, Moroccan, and Peruvian.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Arlington or Boise Better for Nightlife?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Arlington has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The city has a huge young population that drives the nightlife scene. There are clubs, bars, and lounges in many neighborhoods. There are also comedy clubs and plenty of live music.

Boise has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Is the Shopping Better in Arlington or Boise?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Arlington and Boise.

Arlington has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Many neighborhoods have local shops or farmer's markets. There are also shopping centers and malls such as Ballston Quarter, The Crossing Clarendon, and The Village at Shirlington.

Boise is a great destination for shopping. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Is Arlington or Boise Better for Families?

Arlington is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Arlington is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy seeing the planes talk off from Gravelly Point park. There are also plenty of outdoor spaces and educational opportunities in the area, including world class museums.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Arlington or Boise Better for Couples?

Arlington is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

Arlington is a good city for couples to visit. There's a vibrant cultural scene and many international restaurants that couples can enjoy. It's also a great place to take in a show or concert.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Arlington or Boise Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Boise is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Arlington. There are a couple of hostels and many free activities nearby. There's also great public transportation that makes for a convenient backpacker destination.

Boise is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. Backpackers rarely make their way to this town.

Is Arlington or Boise Better for Students?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Boise is not popular with students.

Arlington is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There are a huge number of colleges and museums in the area as well as many great internship and educational opportunities.

Boise is not popular with students.

Is Arlington or Boise Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Arlington is a must-visit destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Boise is lacking in options for its public transit.

Arlington has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. There is a reliable bus system around town as well as many metro connections.

Public transit is generally limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Is Arlington or Boise a more walkable city?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Boise is lacking in options for its walkability.

Arlington is a very walkable destination. There are many pedestrian-friendly areas around town, particularly in the neighborhoods that are concentrated around metro stations.

Boise is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Arlington Worth Visiting? and Is Boise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Boise or Arlington?

How long in Arlington or Boise?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Arlington or Boise to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Arlington than Boise because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Arlington, and 1-2 days is enough time in Boise.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arlington than Boise 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 Arlington.

One day in Arlington or Boise?

In Arlington, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this educational destination offers. 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.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Boise. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Boise has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Arlington or Boise?

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

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Boise. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Arlington or Boise?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the welcoming city of Boise. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Arlington or Boise?

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

Boise is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Arlington or Boise?

Arlington has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Boise. When comparing the sizes of Arlington and Boise, 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.