A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Bangor vs. Santa Barbara for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Bangor or Santa Barbara?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangor and Santa Barbara can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Bangor

Bangor is a friendly, laid back, and welcoming town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a pristine, affluent, and scenic coastal town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. You'll find world class beauty here as well. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Bangor and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bangor or Santa Barbara?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santa Barbara. Although Bangor and Santa Barbara are popular destinations, Santa Barbara has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Barbara is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Bangor attracts visitors for its small town charm. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Bangor and is known for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also well known for The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Bangor is famous for its history as a lumber town.

How is Bangor different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bangor or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Bangor is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a couple of museums around town that focus on culture and daily life in Maine.

Is the Food Better in Bangor or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Santa Barbara is an experience not to be missed. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bangor. For a small town, there are a range of dining options in the area such as seafood, international cuisine, and quick eats.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Santa Barbara is a coastal town with good options for its evening party scene. However, Bangor is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Bangor. There are breweries and bars with laid back vibes and a casual atmosphere.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its resorts. However, Bangor is not a resort destination.

In Santa Barbara, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Bangor is not a resort destination.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a moderate coastal town for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Bangor is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Snorkeling is an option in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Bangor is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for the beach. However, Bangor is not a beach destination.

Santa Barbara is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Bangor is not a beach destination.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a coastal town with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Bangor does not have a historic old town.

Santa Barbara offers a nice historic old town area. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Bangor does not have a historic old town.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for the nearby hiking options. However, Bangor is not a hiking destination.

Around Santa Barbara visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Bangor is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bangor or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for shopping.

Santa Barbara is a world class destination for shoppers. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Bangor. Head downtown for the widest selection of locally own shops and boutiques.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Barbara is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Bangor is a family-friendly town. You'll find a number of parks and walking trails nearby. There's also fruit picking and playgrounds to explore.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for couples. However, Bangor is not a good town for romance.

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Bangor is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are local restaurants and several museums in town that couples will enjoy.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for students. However, Bangor is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Santa Barbara. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Bangor is not popular with students.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Barbara is a coastal town with good options for its public transit. However, Bangor is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.

Santa Barbara has a few public transit options. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Public transit is mostly limited in Bangor. There's a bus system, but visitors usually use their own car to get around.

Is Bangor or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its walkability.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable destination. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

Bangor is somewhat walkable. The downtown is compact and easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bangor Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Bangor?

How long in Bangor or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bangor and Santa Barbara. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Santa Barbara than in Bangor. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Bangor, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Bangor 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 Santa Barbara.

One day in Bangor or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the laid back destination of Bangor. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Santa Barbara. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bangor or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bangor. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Santa Barbara 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.

Five days in Bangor or Santa Barbara?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the laid back destination of Bangor. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Barbara. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

A week in Bangor or Santa Barbara?

You'll find museums and food around the town of Bangor. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the wealthy destination of Santa Barbara. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bangor or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bangor. When comparing the sizes of Bangor and Santa Barbara, 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 Bangor or Santa Barbara?

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 Bangor or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

Both Santa Barbara and Bangor are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bangor for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Bangor is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara in the summer. The daily temperature in Bangor averages around 69°F (21°C) in July, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).

In July, Bangor usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Bangor gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bangor or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

Both Santa Barbara and Bangor during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bangor in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Bangor is much colder than Santa Barbara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bangor in October average around 48°F (9°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 62°F (17°C).

Bangor usually gets more rain in October than Santa Barbara. Bangor gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bangor or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangor and Santa Barbara. Most visitors come to Bangor for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bangor can be very cold during winter. In January, Bangor is generally much colder than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Bangor average around 18°F (-8°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

In January, Bangor usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santa Barbara. Bangor gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bangor or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bangor as well as Santa Barbara. The spring months attract visitors to Bangor because of the small town charm. Also, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.

Bangor is much colder than Santa Barbara in the spring. The daily temperature in Bangor averages around 43°F (6°C) in April, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

Bangor usually gets more rain in April than Santa Barbara. Bangor gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Bangor