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

Should you visit Basel or Villach?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Villach, 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 historic, cultural, and museum-filled city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Villach

Villach is a historic, nature-filled, and outdoorsy town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the hiking, museums, and nightlife.

Basel and Villach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Basel or Villach?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Basel than Villach, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Basel is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and shopping, while Villach is known for its hiking and small town charm. Basel is popular for its many museums and its nice old town. It is also home to The Kunstmuseum Basel. Villach is popular for its many alpine hikes, nearby lakes, and its quaint main square.

How is Basel different from Villach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Basel is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Villach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

Basel offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Villach is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical buildings in town such as the Parish Church of St. Jakob, the Holy Cross Church, and the Parish Church of St. Martin. Also worth a visit is the Museum of the City of Villach.

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

Basel is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Villach is a mediocre town for its restaurants.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Basel area. 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.

Villach offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find the standard options of pizza and burgers around town. While the food scene isn't particularly special, the quality is decent and reliable.

Is Basel or Villach Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are good in both Basel and Villach.

There's a variety of activities in the evening 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Villach. The weekends are when you'll find the best nightlife. There are some local bars and clubs that come to life and attract a young crowd on a weekend night.

Is Basel or Villach Better for its Old Town?

Basel is notable for its historic old town charm. Also, Villach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Basel. 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.

Villach is a good destination for visiting its old town. You'll find churches and gardens throughout the charming old town. At the heart of the town is the main square.

Is Basel or Villach Better for Hiking?

Villach is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Basel is not a hiking destination.

Villach is a popular spot for hiking. The surrounding countryside is filled with both short and long hikes. You can take a short stroll or spend hours (or days) exploring the alpine scenery. Breathtaking views and peaceful retreats make this a wonderful area for hiking.

Basel is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Basel or Villach?

Basel is notable for its shopping areas. However, Villach is a mediocre town for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity 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.

Villach is a good destination for shopping. There are your standard shopping centers where you can pick up clothes or anything you may have forgotten for your trip.

Is Basel or Villach Better for Families?

Basel and Villach are both very good destinations for the whole family.

Basel is a very kid-friendly city. 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 family-friendly things to do in Villach. The area is filled with outdoor adventures that the whole family will enjoy. There's kid-friendly hiking, adventure parks, nature parks, and some swimming areas.

Is Basel or Villach Better for Couples?

Villach is notable for its romantic activities. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Villach is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples who enjoy outdoor adventures, beautiful hikes, and stunning scenery will appreciate a visit to this area.

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 Villach Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Villach is notable for backpackers. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Villach is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are a number of hostels in the area that cater to backpackers who enjoy the outdoor setting and beautiful hikes that are nearby.

Basel is a good city to visit for backpackers. 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.

Is Basel or Villach Better for Students?

Basel is notable for students. However, Villach is not popular with students.

Basel is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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.

Villach is not popular with students.

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

Basel is notable for its public transit. However, Villach is a mediocre town for times when you don't have a car.

Basel offers a very effecient public transportation network. Trams and buses make it easy to get around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Villach. There are buses and trains in the area, but to experience the nearby nature you'll want to have a car.

Is Basel or Villach a more walkable city?

Basel is terrific for its ease of walking around. However, Villach is a mediocre town for its walkability.

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

Villach is generally not a very walkable city. Parts of the town are walkable but the surrounding natural areas are most easily accessed with a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Villach or Basel?

How long in Basel or Villach?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Basel and Villach. In our opinion, Basel has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Basel than Villach. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Basel than Villach 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 Villach?

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.

In Villach, many people enjoy the nightlife and museums that this nature-filled destination offers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Villach?

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 Villach. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking 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 Villach?

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.

Villach is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and museums when visiting the destination of Villach. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Basel or Villach?

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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Villach. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 2-Week Tours in Austria, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Basel or Villach?

Basel has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Villach. When comparing the sizes of Basel and Villach, 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 Villach?

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 Basel or Villach in the Summer?

Both Villach and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Basel in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Villach for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

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

It's quite sunny in Villach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basel. Basel usually receives less sunshine than Villach during summer. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Villach receives 288 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Basel usually receives more rain than Villach. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Villach receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Basel or Villach in the Autumn?

Both Villach and Basel during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Basel for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Villach because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Basel is generally cooler than Villach. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 13°C (56°F), and Villach fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Basel often gets less sunshine than Villach. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Villach receives 167 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets less rain in October than Villach. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Villach receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Villach in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Villach. The winter months attract visitors to Basel because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Villach this time of year.

The weather in Basel can be very cold. Basel is much colder than Villach in the winter. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Villach fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Basel usually receives less sunshine than Villach during winter. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Villach receives 96 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Basel usually receives more rain than Villach. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Villach receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Basel or Villach in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Basel as well as Villach. The natural beauty are the main draw to Basel this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Villach for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

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

In the spring, Basel often gets less sunshine than Villach. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Villach receives 177 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets less rain in April than Villach. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Villach receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Villach and Basel