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

Should you visit Basel or Avignon?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Avignon, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Basel

Basel is a easily accessible, beautiful, and vibrant city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Avignon

Avignon is a picturesque, historical, and quaint 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.

Basel and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Basel or Avignon?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Avignon than Basel. While Basel is larger than Avignon, Avignon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Avignon is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and small town charm, while Basel is known for its nightlife, shopping, and impressive beauty. Avignon is more touristy than Basel and is popular for its architectural beauty and historical importance. It is also home to Palais des Papes. Basel is popular for its many museums and its nice old town.

How is Basel different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Avignon is a world-class destination for its sights and museums. Also, Basel 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Basel. The city is filled with history. Head to Minster Hill to see the beautiful historic church and Münsterplatz. There are also several unique museums around town including Jean Tinguely Museum, the Paper Mill Museum, the Historical Museum, and the Museum of Art.

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

Avignon is a world-class destination for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Avignon is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. 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.

Basel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Food around town can be expensive, but there are some outdoor markets where you can buy fruit and a bratwurst for a reasonable price. The city is known for its breads, soups, and pastries, which are all delicious.

Is Basel or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Basel is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Basel. The city's nightlife comes alive as the sun sets. There are bars, pubs, and dance clubs that stay active until the early morning hours.

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 Basel or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is a world-class destination for its old town. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town charm.

The historic old town of Avignon is revered around the world. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Basel is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The charming old town is fun to explore on foot with its quaint streets and meandering alleys. The beautiful architecture and ornate fountains give the area a unique personality. On the hottest days you may even see locals swimming in some of the fountains.

Is the Shopping Better in Basel or Avignon?

Basel is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Basel. The old town is filled with shops that you can wander through as you explore. Popular shopping streets include Freie Strasse and the area around Marktplatz, where you'll find boutique shops and interesting trinkets. You can also head to the city's oldest department store - Manor.

Avignon is a great destination for shopping. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Basel or Avignon Better for Families?

Basel 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 Basel. The city has an impressive zoo, a really unique toy museum, as well as Aquabasilea with its pools and slides. It's also compact enough that little legs can explore and enjoy everything that it has to offer. If the weather's warm, head for the river to cool off.

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 Basel or Avignon Better for Couples?

Avignon is notable for its romantic activities. Also, Basel 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.

Basel is a good city for couples to visit. Nice restaurants, interesting museums, and several great spas make this a nice place for a romantic trip.

Is Basel or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Basel and Avignon are good destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Basel. There are a few hostels and a really useful City Pass that make this city an option for backpackers and budget travelers. It's also a major transit center so accessibility is convenient. If you're traveling around Europe by train, you'll likely pass through Basel at some point.

Avignon is a good city to visit for backpackers. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Is Basel or Avignon Better for Students?

Basel is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Avignon is not popular with students.

Many students visit Basel. The University of Basel brings in international students from around the world. The city makes a nice base for exploring Europe, but it's also a bit expensive which can be challenging on a student income.

Avignon is not popular with students.

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

Basel is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

The public transit in Basel can get you to most places easily. Trams and buses make it easy to get around town.

You'll find some public transit in Avignon, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Basel or Avignon a more walkable city?

Basel and Avignon both are world-class when exploring on foot.

It is easy to get around Basel on foot. The old town and most of the major attractions are easily accessible on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Basel?

How long in Basel or Avignon?

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

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

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

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

One day in Basel or Avignon?

In Basel, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town 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.

Even though Avignon is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Basel or Avignon?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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.

Five days in Basel or Avignon?

Basel is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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.

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

A week in Basel or Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Basel. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Basel. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Avignon is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Basel or Avignon?

Basel has a larger population, and is about 83% larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Basel and Avignon, 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 Basel or Avignon?

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 Basel or Avignon in the Summer?

Both Avignon and Basel during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Basel for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Avignon in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Basel is cooler than Avignon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basel in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Avignon averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basel. In the summer, Basel often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 354 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in July than Avignon. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Avignon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Avignon. Many visitors come to Basel in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Avignon for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months.

In October, Basel is generally cooler than Avignon. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 13°C (56°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Basel usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during autumn. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Avignon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Basel usually receives less rain than Avignon. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Basel or Avignon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Basel as well as Avignon. Most visitors come to Basel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Avignon because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Basel can be very cold during winter. Basel is much colder than Avignon in the winter. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Avignon fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Basel often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 146 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in January than Avignon. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Avignon in the Spring?

Both Avignon and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Basel because of the natural beauty. Also, the small town charm are the main draw to Avignon this time of year.

In the spring, Basel is cooler than Avignon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basel in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Avignon averages at about 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Avignon. Basel usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during spring. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Basel usually receives more rain than Avignon. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Basel