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

Should you visit Cagliari 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 Cagliari and Arles can help you decide which place is right for you.

Cagliari

Cagliari is a historic, under-rated, and laid back city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Arles

Arles is a charming, compact, and quaint town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Cagliari and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cagliari or Arles?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Cagliari than Arles, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Cagliari is more popular for its nightlife, beaches, and big city activities, while Arles is known for its museums, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Cagliari is popular for its medieval quarter, beautiful hilltop setting, and impressive beaches. It is also home to Castello. Arles is popular for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

How is Cagliari different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Arles is an amazing town to visit for its museums and history. Also, Cagliari is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

The museums and tourist attractions in Arles are world-renowned. 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 Cagliari can be an interesting and educational experience. The Castello district is filled with ancient buildings including Bastione San Remy and the Duomo. Also make sure you check out the Archeology Museum.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Cagliari and Arles can be difficult as they are each very good in their own way.

Cagliari has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The cuisine mixes the island's sea and mountain settings. You'll find many local pastas, breads, seafood dishes, and cheeses. There's a wealth of diversity in the food and you should definitely step away from the more traditional Italian flavors and try something uniquely Sardinian.

Dining out in Arles is an experience not to be missed. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Is Cagliari or Arles Better for Nightlife?

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

Cagliari is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. There's a thriving nightlife scene that is mostly centered around tourists. You'll find a number of the best bars in the Castello district and the atmosphere is usually relaxed and laid back, like the town itself.

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 Cagliari or Arles Better for Beaches?

Cagliari is well known for the beach. However, Arles is not a beach destination.

Cagliari is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. While you'll find some nice beaches in town, if you're willing to head to the surrounding areas just outside of town, you'll be rewarded with amazing beaches. The beaches are enjoyable any time of the year.

Arles is not a beach destination.

Is Cagliari or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is an amazing town to visit for its old town. Also, Cagliari is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town charm.

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.

Many visitors go to Cagliari to see the historical old town. The Castello district is the city's old town. It's filled with narrow alleys, historic castles, and a truly unique atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Cagliari or Arles?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Cagliari and Arles.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Cagliari. Head to the Marina district for some of the city's best shopping opportunities. There are a number of shopping malls to choose from. For souvenirs and other handicrafts, the port area has a few shops.

Many visitors go to Arles to go shopping. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Cagliari or Arles Better for Families?

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

Cagliari is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of activities for kids to enjoy in the areas surrounding the city. If you're willing to get about an hour out of town, you can check out the Water Park of Pula. In town, there's a little train that young kids will enjoy. And, of course, there are the beaches!

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 Cagliari or Arles Better for Couples?

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

Cagliari makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The waterfront setting and nice beaches make this a great place for couples. There's also the Castello district, which is fun to wander through, and many parks and outdoor walking areas.

Couples visit Arles frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Is Cagliari or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cagliari is very good for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Cagliari is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's a hostel or two in the area that offer accommodation that backpackers will appreciate.

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

Is Cagliari or Arles Better for Students?

Cagliari is very good for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Cagliari is popular with students. There are some study abroad opportunities in town, and with the nearby beaches and wonderful weather, many international students enjoy their time here.

Arles is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find good public transit in both Cagliari and Arles.

Cagliari has some public transit options. There are buses that travel around town relatively efficiently.

You'll find some public transit in Arles, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Cagliari or Arles a more walkable city?

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

Cagliari is a very walkable city. While the city is very walkable, it is built on a large hill so come prepared for some steep climbs.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Arles or Cagliari?

How long in Cagliari or Arles?

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

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

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

One day in Cagliari or Arles?

In Cagliari, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this laid back destination offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

The beautiful town of Arles offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Cagliari or Arles?

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

Arles is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Arles, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Cagliari or Arles?

Cagliari is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Cagliari. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Arles is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Cagliari or Arles?

You'll find food and shopping around the historic destination of Cagliari. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Arles is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Italy, The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Cagliari or Arles?

Cagliari has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Cagliari 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 Cagliari 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 Cagliari or Arles in the Summer?

Both Arles and Cagliari during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Cagliari because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

In the summer, Cagliari is around the same temperature as Arles. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cagliari in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Arles averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cagliari. In the summer, Cagliari often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Arles. Cagliari gets 337 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Cagliari usually gets less rain in July than Arles. Cagliari gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cagliari or Arles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cagliari and Arles. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Cagliari this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Cagliari is generally a little warmer than Arles. Daily temperatures in Cagliari average around 18°C (65°F), and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Cagliari usually receives more sunshine than Arles during autumn. Cagliari gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Arles receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Cagliari usually receives less rain than Arles. Cagliari gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cagliari or Arles in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cagliari as well as Arles. Many travelers come to Cagliari for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Arles in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Cagliari is a little warmer than Arles in the winter. The daily temperature in Cagliari averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Cagliari often gets less sunshine than Arles. Cagliari gets 131 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Cagliari usually gets less rain in January than Arles. Cagliari gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cagliari or Arles in the Spring?

Both Arles and Cagliari are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Cagliari in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Cagliari is around the same temperature as Arles. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cagliari in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Arles averages at about 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Arles. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cagliari. Cagliari usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Arles during spring. Cagliari gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Cagliari usually receives less rain than Arles. Cagliari gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Cagliari