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

Should you visit Avignon or Rijeka?

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 Rijeka. 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 scenic, picturesque, and historical town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Rijeka

Rijeka is a coastal, accessible, and diverse town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Avignon and Rijeka: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Avignon or Rijeka?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rijeka than Avignon. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Rijeka is very popular for its nightlife, beaches, and big city activities, while Avignon attracts visitors for its museums, food, historical sights, and small town charm. Avignon is more touristy than Rijeka and is popular for its architectural beauty and historical importance. Rijeka is famous for being a transportation hub in Croatia with a ferry and cruise ship port. It is also well known for Trsat Castle.

How is Avignon different from Rijeka?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Avignon is renowned for its sights and museums. Also, Rijeka is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

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

Rijeka is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Historical sights around town include Trsat Castle, the Petar Druzic Stairway, and Our Lady of Trsat. There are also museums such as PEEK&POKE Computer Museum and the Governor's Palace and Maritime and Historical Museum.

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

Avignon is renowned for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Rijeka is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Avignon has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. 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.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Rijeka. It's known for its Mediterranean cuisine which includes more than seafood. There are local vegetable specialties in the area as well including asparagus and white truffles. Codfish stew and cuttlefish risotto are also popular.

Is Avignon or Rijeka Better for Nightlife?

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

Rijeka has a large number of nightlife venues. The city center has plenty of bars and clubs. Restaurants also stay open late and are popular places to hang out for locals and tourists alike.

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 Rijeka Better for Beaches?

Rijeka is a decent place to visit for the beach. However, Avignon is not a beach destination.

The beach in Rijeka is worth checking out. There are pebbly and gravelly beaches in the area, with the best beaches to the west of the city. You'll need to take a public bus to reach most of them.

Avignon is not a beach destination.

Is Avignon or Rijeka Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is renowned for its historic old town charm. However, Rijeka does not have a historic old town.

The old town of Avignon is one of the most recognized in the world. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Rijeka does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Avignon or Rijeka?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Avignon and Rijeka.

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.

Rijeka is a great destination for shopping. There are many shopping centers, retail stores, and souvenir shops around town.

Is Avignon or Rijeka Better for Families?

Rijeka is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Rijeka. The city has a number of outdoor activities for kids like nature parks and nearby beaches. There's also a puppet theater as well as the Astronomical Center of Rijeka.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Avignon. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Avignon or Rijeka Better for Couples?

Avignon is a well-known place for couples. Also, Rijeka is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for romance.

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.

Rijeka is a nice destination for couples. It's a gateway to the Croatian islands. Many couples enjoy walking down the waterfront promenade or dining at a nice local restaurant. There are also beaches, parks, and historical sights to explore.

Is Avignon or Rijeka Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Avignon and Rijeka are both nice destinations for backpackers.

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Rijeka. There's no shortage of affordable hostels around town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Is Avignon or Rijeka Better for Students?

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

Plenty of students visit Rijeka. It's a laid back seaside city that makes a nice semester abroad destination. As a gateway to the Croatian islands, it also offers transportation connections to other points of interest.

Avignon is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Avignon and Rijeka.

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

You'll find some public transit in Rijeka, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. KD Autrolej buses provide transit throughout the city.

Is Avignon or Rijeka a more walkable city?

Avignon is renowned for its ease of walking around. Also, Rijeka is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its walkability.

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.

Rijeka is somewhat walkable. Parts of the city are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Rijeka or Avignon?

How long in Avignon or Rijeka?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Avignon or Rijeka 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 Rijeka. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Avignon than Rijeka. 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 Avignon than Rijeka 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 Avignon.

One day in Avignon or Rijeka?

Avignon might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Rijeka, you'll find nightlife and food. 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.

A weekend in Avignon or Rijeka?

Avignon is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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

Five days in Avignon or Rijeka?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Rijeka is a great place to explore. 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 Rijeka?

Avignon is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rijeka. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Rijeka. 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 Adventure Tours to Croatia, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Croatia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Avignon and Rijeka, we can see that Avignon is more expensive. And not only is Rijeka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rijeka would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rijeka 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 Rijeka.

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

Which is Bigger, Avignon or Rijeka?

Rijeka has a larger population, and is about 57% larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Avignon and Rijeka, 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 Rijeka?

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 Rijeka in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Avignon as well as Rijeka. Many travelers come to Avignon for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Rijeka in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Avignon is around the same temperature as Rijeka in the summer. The daily temperature in Avignon averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Rijeka fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rijeka. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Avignon this time of the year. In the summer, Avignon often gets more sunshine than Rijeka. Avignon gets 354 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rijeka receives 288 hours of full sun.

Avignon usually gets less rain in July than Rijeka. Avignon gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Avignon or Rijeka in the Autumn?

Both Rijeka and Avignon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Avignon in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Rijeka for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Avignon is around the same temperature as Rijeka. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Avignon in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Rijeka averages at about 16°C (60°F).

Avignon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rijeka during autumn. Avignon gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Rijeka receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Avignon. In October, Avignon usually receives more rain than Rijeka. Avignon gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Avignon or Rijeka in the Winter?

Both Rijeka and Avignon during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Avignon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Rijeka because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Avignon is generally a little warmer than Rijeka. Daily temperatures in Avignon average around 7°C (44°F), and Rijeka fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Avignon often gets more sunshine than Rijeka. Avignon gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rijeka receives 96 hours of full sun.

Avignon usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Rijeka. Avignon gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Avignon or Rijeka in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Avignon and Rijeka. The spring months attract visitors to Avignon because of the small town charm. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Rijeka this time of year.

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

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Avignon usually receives more sunshine than Rijeka during spring. Avignon gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Rijeka receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Avignon usually receives less rain than Rijeka. Avignon gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Rijeka receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rijeka and Avignon