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

Should you visit Avignon or Pamplona?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Avignon and Pamplona. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Avignon

Avignon is a charming, scenic, and picturesque town. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food.

Pamplona

Pamplona is a elegant, laid-back, and historic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping.

Avignon and Pamplona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Avignon or Pamplona?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Pamplona than Avignon, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Pamplona is more popular for its nightlife, hiking, and big city activities, while Avignon is known for its museums, food, historical sights, and small town charm. Avignon is popular for its architectural beauty and historical importance. Pamplona is popular for being the home of the Running of the Bulls Festival. It is also home to The Running of the Bulls Festival.

How is Avignon different from Pamplona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Avignon or Pamplona?

Avignon is terrific for its sights and museums. Also, Pamplona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Avignon are among the most recognizable in the world. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Pamplona. Although most people visit in July for the Running of the Bulls, throughout the year there are some interesting museums and sights around town. You can check out the Cathedral of Pamplona, the Museo de Navarra, and the main plaza in town, Plaza del Castillo.

Is the Food Better in Avignon or Pamplona? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avignon is terrific for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Pamplona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Avignon is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

Pamplona has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Local cuisine includes lots of fresh vegetables like mushrooms, artichokes, asparagus, and onion. You'll find many unique dishes in the area, and you shouldn't leave without trying the txistorra (sausage), revuelto de setas (eggs and mushrooms), and ajoarriero (cod).

Is Avignon or Pamplona Better for Nightlife?

Pamplona is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Pamplona has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a good sized university population that keeps the nightlife active around town. The Old Quarter is likely where you'll find the most going on, particularly around Calle San Nicolás and Calle Estafeta. Earlier in the evening the crowd is pretty young, but as the evening passes you'll find the crowd matures a bit.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Avignon or Pamplona Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is terrific for its old town. Also, Pamplona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town charm.

Avignon has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Pamplona has an old town worth visiting. You'll find elegant buildings and grand plazas around the Old Quarter.

Is Avignon or Pamplona Better for Hiking?

Pamplona is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Avignon is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Pamplona. It's a stop off on the famed Camino de Santiago, so if you want to walk part of the route, this is a nice place to explore.

Avignon is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Avignon or Pamplona?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Avignon and Pamplona.

Avignon has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Pamplona is a great destination for shopping. You'll find some good markets around town. It's also fun to shop for local handicrafts or souvenirs to remember your trip by.

Is Avignon or Pamplona Better for Families?

Both Avignon and Pamplona are good family-friendly destinations.

Avignon is a family-friendly town. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Pamplona. The city is very green, with many parks and gardens where kids can stretch their legs. There's also the Pamplona Planetarium and several museums that relate to environmental education.

Is Avignon or Pamplona Better for Couples?

Avignon is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Pamplona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Avignon is a very popular place to visit for couples. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Pamplona is a good town for couples to visit. Although it's most known for the Running of the Bulls in July, the city also has some interesting sights at other times of the year. Couples can walk around the city walls, or explore the many parks in town. There are also some interesting museums.

Is Avignon or Pamplona Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Pamplona is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Pamplona. Backpackers are drawn to this city during July for the Running of the Bulls festival. It's also a stop along the Camino de Santiago, which brings in a young, budget-oriented crowd.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Is Avignon or Pamplona Better for Students?

Pamplona is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Avignon is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Pamplona. This is a quiet city, which appeals to some students. The laid back atmosphere makes it a nice place to relax and learn.

Avignon is not popular with students.

Is Avignon or Pamplona Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find good public transit in both Avignon and Pamplona.

Avignon has some public transit options. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

You'll find some public transit in Pamplona, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a comprehensive bus system around town.

Is Avignon or Pamplona a more walkable city?

Avignon is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Pamplona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Avignon on foot. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

Pamplona is a very walkable destination. It's a stop off on the Camino de Santiago, so many people arrive on foot. It's also an easy city to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Avignon Worth Visiting? and Is Pamplona Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pamplona or Avignon?

How long in Avignon or Pamplona?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Pamplona than Avignon 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 Pamplona.

One day in Avignon or Pamplona?

Avignon is a small town where visitors enjoy the 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 Pamplona, you'll find nightlife and food. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Avignon or Pamplona?

Avignon 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 Avignon, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

In Pamplona, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Pamplona has to offer.

Five days in Avignon or Pamplona?

Avignon is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

Pamplona is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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.

A week in Avignon or Pamplona?

Avignon is a great place to explore. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pamplona. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Pamplona. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Avignon or Pamplona?

Pamplona has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Avignon and Pamplona, 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 Avignon or Pamplona?

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 Avignon or Pamplona in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Avignon as well as Pamplona. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Avignon this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Pamplona for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Avignon is generally a little warmer than Pamplona. Daily temperatures in Avignon average around 24°C (75°F), and Pamplona fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pamplona. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Avignon this time of the year. In the summer, Avignon often gets more sunshine than Pamplona. Avignon gets 354 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pamplona receives 209 hours of full sun.

Avignon usually gets less rain in July than Pamplona. Avignon gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Pamplona receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Avignon or Pamplona in the Autumn?

Both Pamplona and Avignon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Avignon for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, many visitors come to Pamplona in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.

Avignon is around the same temperature as Pamplona in the autumn. The daily temperature in Avignon averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Pamplona fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Avignon usually receives more sunshine than Pamplona during autumn. Avignon gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Pamplona receives 144 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pamplona. It's quite rainy in Avignon. In October, Avignon usually receives less rain than Pamplona. Avignon gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Pamplona receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Avignon or Pamplona in the Winter?

Both Pamplona and Avignon during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Avignon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Pamplona for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, Avignon is cooler than Pamplona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Avignon in January average around 7°C (44°F), and Pamplona averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Avignon often gets more sunshine than Pamplona. Avignon gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pamplona receives 85 hours of full sun.

Pamplona gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Avignon usually gets less rain in January than Pamplona. Avignon gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Pamplona receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Avignon or Pamplona in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Avignon and Pamplona. Most visitors come to Avignon for the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Pamplona because of the activities around the city.

In April, Avignon is generally around the same temperature as Pamplona. Daily temperatures in Avignon average around 13°C (56°F), and Pamplona fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Avignon usually receives more sunshine than Pamplona during spring. Avignon gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Pamplona receives 141 hours of full sun in the spring.

Pamplona receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Avignon usually receives less rain than Pamplona. Avignon gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Pamplona receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pamplona and Avignon