A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Bar Harbor vs. Boise for Food, Couples, and Families

Should you visit Bar Harbor or Boise?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bar Harbor and Boise 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.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a quaint, charming, and picturesque coastal town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Boise

Boise is a friendly, welcoming, and authentic city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Bar Harbor and Boise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bar Harbor or Boise?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Bar Harbor than Boise, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Bar Harbor is better known for its food, resorts, beaches, hiking, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Boise is more popular for its museums & sights and nightlife. Bar Harbor is more touristy than Boise and is popular for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park. Also, Bar Harbor is famous for Acadia National Park. Boise is well known for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Bar Harbor different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bar Harbor or Boise?

Boise is a city with good options for its sights and museums. However, Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

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

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

Bar Harbor has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The town is famous for its Maine lobster, but there are also countless other types of fresh seafood available. You'll find waterfront restaurants with beautiful views and fresh ingredients.

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 Bar Harbor or Boise Better for Nightlife?

Boise is a city with good options for nightlife. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for nightlife and partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Boise. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Bar Harbor doesn't offer many options. It's a peaceful and sleepy town, so you wont find much in the way of nightlife.

Is Bar Harbor or Boise Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Boise is not a resort destination.

Bar Harbor has a few great resort options. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Boise is not a resort destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Boise Better for Beaches?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for the beach. However, Boise is not a beach destination.

Bar Harbor is a good option for a beach vacation. A nice beach is close by but do note that the sand is very shelly and there is a big difference between high and low tides.

Boise is not a beach destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Boise Better for Hiking?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Boise is not a hiking destination.

Bar Harbor is a good destination for hiking. Nearby Acadia National Park has plenty of hiking options. There's also the Bar Harbor Shore Path that wanders along the coastline and offers beautiful views.

Boise is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bar Harbor or Boise?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bar Harbor. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

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 Bar Harbor or Boise Better for Families?

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

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly coastal town. It is a small town with a lot of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife spotting are all fun activities for all ages.

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 Bar Harbor or Boise Better for Couples?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

Bar Harbor makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It is a quaint coastal town that is perfect for a couple's getaway or a short honeymoon. There are romantic restaurants, scenic walks, and beautiful views that make this a wonderful retreat.

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

Both Bar Harbor and Boise offer respectable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Bar Harbor. There is a free shuttle bus that will help you get around town if needed.

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

Is Bar Harbor or Boise a more walkable city?

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

Bar Harbor is a very walkable destination. The town is small enough that it's easily explored on foot.

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 Bar Harbor Worth Visiting? and Is Boise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Boise or Bar Harbor?

How long in Bar Harbor or Boise?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bar Harbor or Boise to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bar Harbor than Boise because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bar Harbor, and 1-2 days is enough time in Boise.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bar Harbor 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 Bar Harbor.

One day in Bar Harbor or Boise?

Even though Bar Harbor is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. This coastal town 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.

With museums and nightlife around the friendly city of Boise, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Boise, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Bar Harbor or Boise?

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

With nightlife and shopping around the destination of Boise, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Bar Harbor or Boise?

Bar Harbor is a fun place to experience. Bar Harbor is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Boise, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Bar Harbor or Boise?

Bar Harbor is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. 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 place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bar Harbor and Boise, we can see that Bar Harbor 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 Bar Harbor would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bar Harbor 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 Bar Harbor Expensive? and Is Boise Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bar Harbor or Boise?

Boise has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of Bar Harbor 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.