A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bangor vs. Victoria for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Bangor or Victoria?

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 Victoria 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. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Victoria

Victoria is a cultural, scenic, and relaxing city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and hiking.

Bangor and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Family-friendly
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less popular with couples
  • Less popular with backpackers
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers


Is there more to do in Bangor or Victoria?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Victoria. Although Bangor and Victoria are popular destinations, Victoria has more sights and attractions for tourists. Victoria is very popular for its nightlife and hiking, while Bangor attracts visitors for its small town charm. Victoria is more touristy than Bangor and is popular for its colonial buildings and public parks. It is also well known for Butchart Gardens. Bangor is famous for its history as a lumber town.

How is Bangor different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Bangor
Victoria

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Bangor or Victoria.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Bangor. There are a couple of museums around town that focus on culture and daily life in Maine.

Victoria is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several popular museums like the Royal BC Museum and Craigdarroch Castle. Also make sure you check out the Parliament Buildings.


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

Bangor
Victoria

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Bangor and Victoria can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

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

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Victoria. You'll find tons of fresh seafood around town. Make sure you try to the Dungeness crab, wild caught salmon, and fish chowder.

Is Bangor or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

Bangor
Victoria

Victoria is a city 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 Victoria. There are a good number of bars and pubs around town. Most offer a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy a cold drink in a casual setting.

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 Victoria Better for Hiking?

Bangor
Victoria

Victoria is a city with good options for the nearby hiking options. However, Bangor is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Victoria. There are many outdoor spaces and parks that offer local hiking trails. This is a great way to experience the scenic beauty of the area.

Bangor is not a hiking destination.


Is the Shopping Better in Bangor or Victoria?

Bangor
Victoria

Both Bangor and Victoria are nice shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Bangor to go shopping. Head downtown for the widest selection of locally own shops and boutiques.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Victoria. There are plenty of larger shopping malls as well as local boutiques and farmer's markets.

Is Bangor or Victoria Better for Families?

Bangor
Victoria

Victoria 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.

Victoria is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are plenty of opportunities to get outside and get the energy out. Walking trails are popular. You can also do the Malahat SkyWalk which offers impressive views. Cadboro-Gyro Park has a playground, zip-line, and picnic areas. Another hightlight for kids is a visit to the Beacon Hill Children's Farm. If the weather isn't cooperating, you can visit the BC Aviation Museum.

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 Victoria Better for Couples?

Bangor
Victoria

Victoria is a well-known place for couples. However, Bangor is not a good town for romance.

Victoria is a very popular place to visit for couples. The city offers many great activities for couples such as a visit to Hatley Park and Castle. The city is also famous for its many flower gardens which are best visited in spring. Kayaking, hiking, and exploring are also favorite activities for couples.

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 Victoria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bangor
Victoria

Victoria is a city with good options for backpackers. However, Bangor is not a good town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Victoria is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a few hostels around town that attract the backpacker and budget traveler crowd.

Bangor is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Budget accommodation is available, but most backpackers don't think the visit here.

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

Bangor
Victoria

Both Bangor and Victoria offer reasonable public transit options.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Victoria. While there are buses, it's best not to count on them because they're not particularly reliable.

Is Bangor or Victoria a more walkable city?

Bangor
Victoria

Victoria 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.

Victoria is a very walkable destination. Many of the sights are close by and easy to walk to.

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 Victoria Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Victoria or Bangor?

How long in Bangor or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either Bangor or Victoria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Victoria due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Bangor, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Victoria 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 Victoria.


  • How many days in Bangor or Victoria? Ideal Length of Stay
    Bangor 1-2 
    Victoria 3-4

One day in Bangor or Victoria?

The town of Bangor offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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

A weekend in Bangor or Victoria?

Bangor 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. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bangor, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Victoria is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Bangor or Victoria?

Bangor 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.

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

Bangor is a great place to explore. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Victoria. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Victoria or Bangor?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bangor is $197, while the average daily cost in Victoria is $184. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bangor and Victoria in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bangor $114
    Victoria $115
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bangor $228
    Victoria $230
Compare Hotels in Bangor and Victoria

Looking for a hotel in Bangor or Victoria? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Bangor


Hotels in Victoria


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bangor Hotel Prices and Victoria Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bangor $36
    Victoria $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangor

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangor:

  • Private Transfer from Bangor city hotels to Rockland Cruise Port: $71
  • Private Transfer from Bangor Airport(BGR) to Rockland Cruise Port: $71

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Victoria

Also for Victoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Victoria to Vancouver Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $75
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $89
  • From Victoria:Scenic Seaplane Transfer to Salt Spring Island: $125
  • From Vancouver: Scenic Seaplane Transfer to Victoria: $225
  • From Scenic Seaplane transfer to Vancouver : $232

Is it cheaper to fly into Bangor or Victoria?

Prices for flights to both Victoria and Bangor change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bangor $54
    Victoria $27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Victoria

For Victoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Chocolate Lovers Food Tour: $44
  • Chinatown and Old Town Food Tour with Tastings: $59
  • Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $68
  • Sip, Savor, Stroll Evening Food Tour: $147
  • Gourmet Dinner Tour Including Local Beer, Wine and City Highlights: $225

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bangor $45
    Victoria $46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangor

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bangor are as follows:


  • Children's Museum (for 4)
    $32

Tours and Activities in Bangor

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bangor are as follows:

  • Bangor Blitz Amazing Race & Tour: $22

Tours and Activities in Victoria

For Victoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Tips-Based City Highlights Walking Tour | 2.5-Hour: $3.31
  • Victoria self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.43
  • Victoria Tips-Based Walking Tour | 2.5-Hour: $5.00
  • Victoria Harbor: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.14
  • Saanichton: Family-Friendly Farm Experience: $7.17
  • Sights & Highlights tour: $11
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Experience Victoria Walking Tour: $15
  • Butterfly Gardens Admission Ticket: $15
  • Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria: $16
  • Cultural & Historical Victoria Walking Tour: $16
  • Historical Victoria Walking Tour: $17

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bangor $23
    Victoria $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Victoria

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Victoria:

  • Victoria BC: Tour & Tasting Around Award Winning Distillery: $21
  • Guided Pub Crawl with Ferry Rides and Appetizers: $50
  • Local Brewery Tour with a Guide: $88
  • 6-Hour Victoria to Cowichan Wine Tour: $129
  • Victoria Wine Tour with Wine Tastings and Charcuterie: $136
  • Victoria Bachelorette Full Day Guided Wine Tour with 4 Wineries: $157
  • Cowichan Valley Premium Wine Tour: $441


When comparing the travel costs between Bangor and Victoria, we can see that Bangor 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 North America, 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 Bangor Expensive? and Is Victoria Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bangor or Victoria?

Victoria has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Bangor. When comparing the sizes of Bangor and Victoria, 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 Victoria?

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 Bangor or Victoria in the Summer?

Both Victoria and Bangor during the summer are popular places to visit. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bangor this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Victoria for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Bangor is a little warmer than Victoria in the summer. The daily temperature in Bangor averages around 69°F (21°C) in July, and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Bangor usually gets more rain in July than Victoria. Bangor gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Bangor 69°F (21°C) 
    Victoria 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Bangor or Victoria in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangor and Victoria. Many travelers come to Bangor for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, many visitors come to Victoria in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Bangor is cooler than Victoria. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bangor in October average around 48°F (9°C), and Victoria averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In October, Bangor usually receives more rain than Victoria. Bangor gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Bangor 48°F (9°C) 
    Victoria 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Bangor or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bangor as well as Victoria. Many visitors come to Bangor in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Victoria for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Victoria can be very cold during winter. Bangor can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Bangor is generally much colder than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Bangor average around 18°F (-8°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

It's quite rainy in Victoria. Bangor usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Bangor gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Bangor 18°F (-8°C) 
    Victoria 5°C (41°F)

Should I visit Bangor or Victoria in the Spring?

Both Victoria and Bangor are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bangor for the small town charm during these months.

Bangor is much colder than Victoria in the spring. The daily temperature in Bangor averages around 43°F (6°C) in April, and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In April, Bangor usually receives more rain than Victoria. Bangor gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Bangor 43°F (6°C) 
    Victoria 10°C (49°F)

Typical Weather for Victoria and Bangor

Bangor Victoria
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 18°F (-8°C) 3 inches (77 mm) 5°C (41°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Feb 20°F (-6°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 7°C (44°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 31°F (-1°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm) 8°C (46°F) 67 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 10°C (49°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
May 54°F (12°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm) 12°C (54°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Jun 64°F (18°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm) 14°C (58°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Jul 69°F (21°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 16°C (60°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Aug 67°F (20°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm) 16°C (61°F) 19 mm (0.8 in)
Sep 59°F (15°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm) 15°C (58°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Oct 48°F (9°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm) 11°C (52°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Nov 37°F (3°C) 4.6 inches (116 mm) 8°C (46°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dec 24°F (-5°C) 4 inches (100 mm) 5°C (42°F) 153 mm (6 in)