A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bath vs. Santiago de Compostela for Attractions, Old Town, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Bath or Santiago de Compostela?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bath and Santiago de Compostela can help you decide which place is right for you.

Bath

Bath is a architectural, charming, and historical spa town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is a religious, inspirational, and iconic city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bath and Santiago de Compostela: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bath or Santiago de Compostela?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santiago de Compostela. Although Bath and Santiago de Compostela are popular destinations, Santiago de Compostela has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santiago de Compostela is very popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and hiking, while Bath attracts visitors for its small town charm and impressive beauty. Santiago de Compostela is more touristy than Bath and is popular for its classic old town, its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture, and its significance as the culmination point for the Camino de Santiago. It is also well known for the Cathedral of Santiago. Bath is famous for its world-renowned Roman built baths as well as its historical architecture and many museums.

How is Bath different from Santiago de Compostela?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bath or Santiago de Compostela?

Spend time exploring the world-class sights and museums in either Bath or Santiago de Compostela.

Travelers visit Bath from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The main draw to Bath is the rich history and most sights are focused on the area's spa city past. The Roman Baths are a highlight of a trip to the city, but other not to be missed places include Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent, and Pulteney Bridge.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Santiago de Compostela are among the most recognizable in the world. The iconic Cathedral of Santiago has long attracted pilgrims and travelers from around Europe and the world. The spectacular sight includes a museum and the crypt and tomb of Saint James. Another interesting sight in town is the former hostel for pilgrims, the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos. Also make sure you visit Plaza del Obradoiro and the Galician Center of Contemporary Art.

Is the Food Better in Bath or Santiago de Compostela? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santiago de Compostela is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Bath is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Santiago de Compostela. Galician food has plenty of fresh seafood, lots of local beef, and regional vegetables that are seasonal and locally grown. Make sure you try the polbo á feira (boiled octopus), pimientos de padrón (fried green peppers), and steamed mussels.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Bath. Sample afternoon tea or try some local fish and chips. There are a diversity of restaurants to choose from so it's easy to find local favorites, vegetarian options, or international cuisine.

Is Bath or Santiago de Compostela Better for Nightlife?

Santiago de Compostela is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. Also, Bath is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Santiago de Compostela has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. As a university city, much of the nightlife is created by the student population. You'll find a lot of bars around Rúa de Santiago de Chile and Rúa de San Pedro de Mezonzo as well as along Rúa do Franco.

Bath has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Head to George Street, which is the liveliest part of the city at night. You'll find a mix of high end restaurants, pubs, and cocktail bars that keep the energy high. One of the most popular nightlife venues in Bath is Bath Komedia, which is a popular music and comedy club.

Is Bath or Santiago de Compostela Better for its Old Town?

Santiago de Compostela is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. Also, Bath is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Santiago de Compostela offers plenty to see. The old town reflects the city's importance in the Christian religion. There are Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings that draw Christian pilgrims from around the world.

Many visitors go to Bath to see the historical old town. The Roman old town has charming streets and a vibrant environment. On pleasant weekends you'll find tourists and locals alike filling the restaurants and town squares, giving the city an energy and lively atmosphere.

Is Bath or Santiago de Compostela Better for Hiking?

Santiago de Compostela is an unbeatable place for its hiking trails. However, Bath is not a hiking destination.

Many people visit Santiago de Compostela specifically for its hiking. This small city is the culmination point for the famed Camino de Santiago. The 780 kilometer route is followed by pilgrims and travelers who seek enlightenment or adventure. Hikers travel both independently or as part of organized tours.

Bath is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bath or Santiago de Compostela?

Shoppers can find a variety of great stores in both Bath and Santiago de Compostela.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bath. Head to Stall Street and Union Street for the most popular shopping streets in town. Many visitors pick up jewelry, glass, and fudge or other sweets while exploring the area.

Santiago de Compostela is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There are local markets, souvenir shops, and boutiques where you can buy items to commemorate the completion of your hike or your visit to town.

Is Bath or Santiago de Compostela Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Bath or Santiago de Compostela.

Bath is a family-friendly spa town. The city is all about history and architecture, so at times it can be challenging for the kids to stay entertained. For a change of pace, take a boat on the canal or explore one of the beautiful gardens.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Santiago de Compostela. The city has a sightseeing train as well as parks and playgrounds that kids can enjoy. A visit to the Museum of the Galician People is also fascinating for the whole family. Visiting the colorful markets around town is fun as well.

Is Bath or Santiago de Compostela Better for Couples?

Bath is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Santiago de Compostela is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Bath makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With its beautiful architecture and fascinating history, this city is perfect for couples. Take a canal cruise or wander through the scenic areas to enjoy a romantic trip.

Santiago de Compostela is a good spa town for couples to visit. The cobblestone streets and beautiful gardens make this a nice place for a couple's getaway. There are viewpoints that look out over the town as well as interesting buildings and great architecture.

Is Bath or Santiago de Compostela Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santiago de Compostela is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Bath is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Santiago de Compostela is very popular with the backpacker crowd. Backpackers hiking the Camino del Santiago will be rewarded with a beautiful city and many nice sights. There are plenty of hostels around town where backpackers can meet other travelers and swap stories.

It's common for backpackers to visit Bath. You'll find a surprising number of hostels around town so it's not hard to meet other backpackers while you're in the area.

Is Bath or Santiago de Compostela Better for Students?

Bath is well known for students. Also, Santiago de Compostela is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Bath is a very popular spa town for students and younger travelers. The University of Bath offers a number of different programs so this is a popular city for local and international students.

It's common for students to visit Santiago de Compostela. It's a small city with many students during the week, but on weekends it quiets down as many students leave town.

Is Bath or Santiago de Compostela Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Bath and Santiago de Compostela.

Bath has some public transit options. You likely won't need public transit because it's easy to walk most places, but there are buses around town.

You'll find some public transit in Santiago de Compostela, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses around town that are operated by Tralusa.

Is Bath or Santiago de Compostela a more walkable city?

Bath is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Santiago de Compostela is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Bath on foot is easy. It is a very walkable city with most sights and activities packed into a very compact area. There are also many pedestrian areas that are easy to explore on foot.

Santiago de Compostela is a very walkable destination. Many visitors reach the city on foot by doing the pilgrimage of the Camino del Santiago. The city itself and small and fairly walkable as well.

For even more information, also check out Is Bath Worth Visiting? and Is Santiago de Compostela Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santiago de Compostela or Bath?

How long in Bath or Santiago de Compostela?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santiago de Compostela than Bath 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 Santiago de Compostela.

One day in Bath or Santiago de Compostela?

The spa town of Bath offers museums and nightlife. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this spa town has to offer.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Santiago de Compostela. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bath or Santiago de Compostela?

The historical destination of Bath offers nightlife and food. This spa town offers something for everyone. It is common to spend a weekend here. Visiting the old town is also a must. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Santiago de Compostela is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bath or Santiago de Compostela?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bath. 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. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the iconic destination of Santiago de Compostela. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bath or Santiago de Compostela?

Bath is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Bath. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. 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.

The iconic city of Santiago de Compostela offers nightlife and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bath or Santiago de Compostela?

Bath has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Santiago de Compostela. When comparing the sizes of Bath and Santiago de Compostela, 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.