A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Canberra vs. Austin for Food, Nightlife, Attractions, and Families

Should you visit Canberra or Austin?

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

Should I visit Canberra or Austin? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Canberra

Canberra is a under-rated, cultural, and diverse city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for museums, nightlife, and food.

Austin

Austin is a unconventional, lively, and entrepreneurial city. It's a big city with many activities to entertain visitors, too. This is beautiful destination to visit. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Canberra and Austin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Canberra or Austin?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Austin than Canberra. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Austin is very popular for its food, nightlife, music, and impressive beauty, while Canberra attracts visitors for its hiking and big city activities. Austin is more touristy than Canberra and is popular for its live music scene, excellent Texas barbecue, authentic Mexican food, and vibrant student population. It is also well known for The Texas Capital. Canberra is famous for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves.

How is Canberra different from Austin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Canberra or Austin?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Canberra and Austin.

Canberra offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

Many visitors head to Austin specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Austin has a number of great museums and sights including the Blanton Museum of Art, the Mexic-Arte Museum, and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. There's also a huge supply of local art galleries. Perhaps the most notable landmark in town is the beautiful Texas Capital Building

Is the Food Better in Canberra or Austin? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Austin is terrific for its restaurants. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

For foodies, Austin is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. It is credited with being the original food truck city and you'll find many diverse food truck options around town. There is also amazing Mexican food, world renowned Texas barbecue, and many modern restaurants that reflect the city's culinary influence.

Dining out in Canberra is an experience not to be missed. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

Is Canberra or Austin Better for Nightlife?

Austin is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Austin is a must-see party destination. It's nightlife is centered around its thriving live music scene. Head for Sixth Street for some of the most popular bars and clubs. There are also many music festivals and outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months. Popular bars and clubs around town include the White Horse, the Rose Room, and Antone's Nightclub.

Canberra has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

Is Canberra or Austin Better for Music?

Austin is terrific for its live music scene. However, Canberra is not a live music destination.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in Austin. Music is what gives this city its character. There are many live music venues, concerts, and music festivals to experience. Austin has influenced many music genres such as rock, blues, jazz, hip hop, punk, and country.

Canberra is not a live music destination.

Is Canberra or Austin Better for Hiking?

Canberra is a nice place to visit for its hiking experiences. However, Austin is a city with minimal options for hiking.

Canberra has hiking trails worth exploring. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Many visitors include a hike while visiting Austin. Head just outside of town to explore a few great hiking spots right near town.

Is the Shopping Better in Canberra or Austin?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Canberra and Austin.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Canberra. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Many visitors go to Austin to go shopping. There are a number of local boutiques around town where you can enjoy shopping.

Is Canberra or Austin Better for Families?

Canberra is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Austin is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Canberra is a very family-friendly place to visit. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

Austin offers lots of family activities. The city is a popular destination for young travelers, but there are also some family-friendly activities like Barton Springs, Zilker Park, and several natural swimming holes. There's a number of nice parks around town that are great for kids of all ages.

Is Canberra or Austin Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Canberra and Austin make for a nice place to visit.

Canberra makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

Austin is a good city for couples to visit. Young couples will enjoy the city for its lively nightlife, fun music scene, and youthful vibe. There are also many outdoor areas where you can hike or explore. The restaurant scene is among the best as well.

Is Canberra or Austin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Austin is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Canberra is lacking in options for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Austin. Although the city is relatively small, it does see a disproportionate number of backpackers. There are a couple of hostels in town as well.

Canberra is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Despite being the capital city, few backpackers actually spend much time in town. There are some budget-friendly motels if you're stopping by.

Is Canberra or Austin Better for Students?

Both Canberra and Austin are very good destinations for students.

Canberra is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

Austin is very popular with students. The city has a huge university, the University of Texas at Austin, and it is a young city with tons for international students. There is a great nightlife scene and plenty for students to see and do.

Is Canberra or Austin Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Canberra is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Austin is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Canberra, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

Public transit is mostly limited in Austin. There are city buses and a very limited lightrail system, but you really need a car to explore the city.

Is Canberra or Austin a more walkable city?

Canberra is a nice place to visit for its walkability. However, Austin is a city with minimal options for its high level of walkability.

Canberra is somewhat walkable. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

Austin is generally not a very walkable city. The city, like most southern cities, isn't very walkable and it's important to have a car to get around. There are some downtown areas that are pedestrian-friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Canberra Worth Visiting? and Is Austin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Austin or Canberra?

How long in Canberra or Austin?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Canberra and Austin. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Austin than Canberra 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 Austin.

One day in Canberra or Austin?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Canberra. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The city of Austin offers museums and nightlife. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Canberra or Austin?

Canberra is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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

Five days in Canberra or Austin?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Canberra. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Austin is a popular choice for travelers. 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 Canberra or Austin?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Canberra. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Austin is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Canberra and Austin, we can see that Austin 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. Even though Canberra is in Pacific and Austin is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Canberra or Austin?

Austin has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Canberra and Austin, 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 Canberra or Austin?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Canberra is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Austin has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Canberra or Austin in the Summer?

Both Austin and Canberra during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Canberra for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Austin in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In January, Canberra is generally much colder than Austinin July. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 20°C (68°F), and Austin fluctuates around 87°F (30°C).

Canberra usually gets more rain in January than Austinin July. Canberra gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Austin receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Canberra or Austin in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Canberra and Austin. Many visitors come to Canberra in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Austin for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Canberra is cooler than Austin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Canberra averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Austin fluctuates around 73°F (23°C)in October.

Canberra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Canberra usually receives more rain than Austinin October. Canberra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Austin receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Canberra or Austin in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Canberra as well as Austin. Most visitors come to Canberra for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Austin because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Canberra is around the same temperature as Austin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Canberra in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Austin averages at about 51°F (11°C)in January.

Canberra usually gets less rain in July than Austinin January. Canberra gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Austin receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Canberra or Austin in the Spring?

Both Austin and Canberra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Canberra because of the activities around the city. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Austin this time of year.

In October, Canberra is generally cooler than Austinin April. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 15°C (60°F), and Austin fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

In October, Canberra usually receives around the same amount of rain as Austinin April. Canberra gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Austin receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Austin and Canberra