A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cambridge vs. Avignon for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Cambridge or Avignon?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cambridge and Avignon. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Cambridge

Cambridge is a scholarly, charming, and historic university town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Avignon

Avignon is a quaint, charming, and scenic town. Since it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Cambridge and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cambridge or Avignon?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Avignon than Cambridge. While Cambridge is larger than Avignon, Avignon has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Avignon is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, and small town charm, while Cambridge is more popular for its nightlife, shopping, and impressive beauty. Cambridge is well known for its iconic university and the many colleges associated with it. Avignon is well known for its architectural beauty and historical importance. Also, Avignon is famous for Palais des Papes.

How is Cambridge different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Avignon is a must-visit destination for its museums and history. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Avignon from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. 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.

Cambridge offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The history is rich and impressive in this university town. There are countless museums and architectural sights that you should check out. High on the list are the Cambridge University buildings, The Fitzwilliam Museum, the Bridge of Sighs, The Round Church, and many more.

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

Avignon is a must-visit destination for its restaurants. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Eat your way through Avignon, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. 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.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Cambridge. You'll find college pubs, local eateries, and fine dining, all in one charming town. Enjoy afternoon tea or fish chips at one of the many local restaurants around town.

Is Cambridge or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Cambridge 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 Cambridge. The nightlife scene is centered around the student culture and you'll find many university pubs, some lively clubs, theaters, and wine bars around town. Whether you're looking for a chill night with friends or a more wild experience, there are options in Cambridge.

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 Cambridge or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is a must-visit destination for its historic old town. However, Cambridge does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Avignon can be explored in its historical center. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Cambridge does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Cambridge or Avignon?

Cambridge 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 Cambridge. The town offers independent boutique shops, local brands, and a 7 day a week market. The three main shopping areas in town are The Grafton, Lion Yard and Grand Arcade.

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 Cambridge or Avignon Better for Families?

Both Cambridge and Avignon are notable family-friendly destinations.

Cambridge is a family-friendly university town. Kids will enjoy following the Treasure Trail, or climbing to the top of the Great St Mary’s Tower. Punting is another iconic experience. On a rainy day, head to the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, the Museum of Zoology, or the Cambridge Science Centre.

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 Cambridge or Avignon Better for Couples?

Cambridge and Avignon both excellent destinations for a couple.

Cambridge makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The quaint town is fun to explore as a couple. Try your hand at punting or take a tour of one of the colleges. You can also enjoy a picnic in the botanical gardens or have tea at the Orchard Tea Garden.

Couples visit Avignon frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Is Cambridge or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cambridge and Avignon are both notable destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Cambridge. With a handful of hostels and a vibrant student population, the town makes for a fun stop on your backpacking trip.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Is Cambridge or Avignon Better for Students?

Cambridge is renowned for its student-friendly activities. However, Avignon is not popular with students.

Cambridge is a very popular place to visit for students. The town is home to more than 25,000 students who come from 140 different countries. This is one of the most iconic university towns in the world, and there's really no better place for students to visit or reside.

Avignon is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find notable public transit in both Cambridge and Avignon.

Cambridge has some public transit options. There is a regional bus service that operates through 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 Cambridge or Avignon a more walkable city?

Cambridge and Avignon are terrific when it comes to walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Cambridge. Walking is the best way to explore the town.

Getting around Avignon on foot is easy. 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 Cambridge Worth Visiting? and Is Avignon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Cambridge?

How long in Cambridge or Avignon?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Cambridge or Avignon to fill your time. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Avignon than Cambridge. 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.

One day in Cambridge or Avignon?

In Cambridge, you'll find nightlife and food. This university town 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. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Avignon has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Cambridge or Avignon?

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

Avignon is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and food. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Cambridge or Avignon?

Cambridge is a great place to explore. 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 small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Cambridge or Avignon?

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

Avignon is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, 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 Cambridge and Avignon, we can see that Avignon is more expensive. And not only is Cambridge much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cambridge would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cambridge 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 Cambridge.

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

Which is Bigger, Cambridge or Avignon?

Cambridge has a larger population, and is about 43% larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Cambridge 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.