A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Birmingham vs. Arles for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Birmingham or Arles?

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 Birmingham and Arles can help you decide which place is right for you.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a vibrant, fun-filled, and bustling city. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, and museums.

Arles

Arles is a quaint, historic, and charming town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Birmingham and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Birmingham or Arles?

You'll generally find more things to do in Birmingham than Arles. Birmingham is bigger than Arles, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Birmingham is better known for its theatre productions, nightlife, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Arles is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Birmingham is well known for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere. Also, Birmingham is famous for Victoria Square. Arles is well known for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

How is Birmingham different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Birmingham or Arles?

Arles is an amazing town to visit for its historical sights. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Travelers visit Arles from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Birmingham can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

Is Birmingham or Arles Better for Theater?

Birmingham is well known for its shows and theatre. However, Arles is not a theatre destination.

Birmingham has a number of performance venues where you can see a variety of shows. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Arles is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Birmingham or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arles is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Arles. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Birmingham. Food reviews are mixed around town. The city has its share of award-winning restaurants, but there are also popular dishes that are more of an acquired taste. Local flavors include pork scratching, Birmingham soup, and brummie bacon cakes.

Is Birmingham or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Birmingham is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Birmingham is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. With tons of students and young people looking to party, there is plenty to do in the evening. You'll find no shortage of pubs, clubs, and music venues around town.

If you're looking for night time activities Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Birmingham or Arles Better for Music?

Birmingham is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Arles is not a live music destination.

In Birmingham you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. The city has long been a haven for musical creativity, and its influence over the global music scene is apparent. Popular music venues around town include Ghetto Golf, Digbeth Dining Club, and the Sunflower Lounge.

Arles is not a live music destination.

Is Birmingham or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is an amazing town to visit for its historic old town. However, Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Arles offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Birmingham or Arles?

Birmingham is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Birmingham. The city offers everything from large department stores to smaller local shops. There are several good shopping streets around town as well as large markets and even a jewelry quarter.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Birmingham or Arles Better for Families?

Birmingham is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Birmingham is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has put effort into making sure there are plenty of family-friendly activities around. You can visit a chocolate factory, explore an aquarium, enjoy an animal safari, or explore one of the hands-on museums.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Birmingham or Arles Better for Couples?

Both Birmingham and Arles are very good destinations to visit as a couple.

Birmingham is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

Arles is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Is Birmingham or Arles Better for Students?

Birmingham is an unbeatable place for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Birmingham. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.

Arles is not popular with students.

Is Birmingham or Arles Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Birmingham and Arles both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Birmingham offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Arles has a few public transit options. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Birmingham or Arles a more walkable city?

Birmingham and Arles are very good when it comes to walkability.

Birmingham is very walkable. Many parts of the city are very walkable.

Arles is a very walkable city. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Birmingham Worth Visiting? and Is Arles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arles or Birmingham?

How long in Birmingham or Arles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Birmingham or Arles to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Birmingham than Arles because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Birmingham, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arles.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Birmingham than Arles 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 Birmingham.

One day in Birmingham or Arles?

In Birmingham, many people enjoy the nightlife and live music that this vibrant destination offers. Lots of people come for the live music. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

With museums and nightlife around the quaint town of Arles, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Arles, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Birmingham or Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Birmingham. 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 food around the destination of Arles, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Five days in Birmingham or Arles?

Birmingham is a fun place to experience. In Birmingham, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this destination offers. Lots of people come for the live music. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Arles, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Birmingham or Arles?

You'll find shopping and museums around the bustling destination of Birmingham. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the live music. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Arles is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. 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 Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

When comparing the travel costs between Birmingham and Arles, we can see that Birmingham 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 Europe, 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 Birmingham Expensive? and Is Arles Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Birmingham or Arles?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Birmingham and Arles, 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 Birmingham or Arles?

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 Birmingham or Arles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Birmingham as well as Arles. The summer months attract visitors to Birmingham because of the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

In July, Birmingham is generally cooler than Arles. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 17°C (63°F), and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. In the summer, Birmingham often gets less sunshine than Arles. Birmingham gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets more rain in July than Arles. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Arles in the Autumn?

Both Arles and Birmingham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the music scene are the main draw to Birmingham this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Birmingham is cooler than Arles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Arles during autumn. Birmingham gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Arles. In October, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Arles. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Birmingham or Arles in the Winter?

Both Arles and Birmingham during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Birmingham for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Arles in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Birmingham. In the winter, Birmingham is much colder than Arles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Birmingham in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Arles averages at about 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Birmingham often gets less sunshine than Arles. Birmingham gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Arles. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Arles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Birmingham and Arles. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Birmingham is generally much colder than Arles. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 9°C (48°F), and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arles this time of the year. Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Arles during spring. Birmingham gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Arles. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Birmingham