A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charlottesville vs. Boise for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Charlottesville or Boise?

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 Charlottesville and Boise. 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.

Charlottesville

Charlottesville is a southern, proud, and traditional university town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and hiking.

Boise

Boise is a welcoming, authentic, and friendly city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Charlottesville and Boise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Boise?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Charlottesville. Although Charlottesville and Boise are both popular with visitors, Charlottesville has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Charlottesville is more popular for its historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Boise is known for its shopping. Charlottesville is popular for being home to the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and serving as a gateway to Shenandoah National Park. It is also home to The University of Virginia Campus. Boise is popular for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Charlottesville different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Charlottesville or Boise?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Charlottesville and Boise.

Charlottesville offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. A highlight of a trip to the area is a visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. The city is also famously home to the beautiful University of Virginia, which has a manicured and beautiful campus. History buffs will also appreciate visiting the Civil War Sites that are nearby as well.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Boise. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Is the Food Better in Charlottesville or Boise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Charlottesville and Boise.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Charlottesville. Head to the Historic Downtown Mall to enjoy an outdoor meal at a top rated restaurant. There are also restaurants that cater specifically to students and offer affordable and quick meals.

Boise may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Charlottesville or Boise Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find good options in both Charlottesville and Boise.

If you're looking for night time activities Charlottesville has a few options to choose from. Charlottesville is a university town with an active nightlife. The best areas for nightlife are found around the Downtown Mall, Belmont neighborhood, the Corner, and University Ave west near the mall. Even though there are a number of activities to enjoy at night, this is still a small town and the nightlife scene reflects that.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Boise. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Is Charlottesville or Boise Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Boise does not have a historic old town.

Charlottesville has an old town worth visiting. The Historic Downtown Mall is filled with restaurants and shops. It's a pedestrian only area with a lot of character and energy.

Boise does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Boise Better for Hiking?

Charlottesville is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Boise is not a hiking destination.

Charlottesville is a good destination for hiking. Just outside of town there are plenty of hiking opportunities including in and around Shenandoah National Park. Hiking is at its best during the fall season when the leaves are changing.

Boise is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlottesville or Boise?

Boise is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Boise. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Boise Better for Christmas?

Charlottesville is an excellent place to visit for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Boise does not offer Christmas activities.

Since it has plenty to do, Charlottesville is a very popular place to visit during Christmas. From Christmas lights on campus to a festive atmosphere at the Monticello, the town is beautiful for Christmas.

Boise does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Charlottesville or Boise Better for Families?

Charlottesville is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Charlottesville is a family-friendly university town. Wandering the campus of UVA, picking fruit at Carter Mountain Orchard or exploring the downtown mall, including the Virginia Discovery Museum are all activities that everyone can enjoy. There are also great hiking trails just outside of town.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Charlottesville or Boise Better for Couples?

Charlottesville is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

Charlottesville is a good university town for couples to visit. The UVA campus is beautiful to explore, as is Monticello. The Downtown Mall has many great restaurants and activities that make for a nice date night and during the day, there's also beautiful hikes nearby that are at their peak during the fall season.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Charlottesville or Boise Better for Students?

Charlottesville is a must-visit destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Boise is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Charlottesville. The town is home to the beautiful University of Virginia and it's a popular destination for international students as well as local students. Much of the town is focused around student life, and the city's proximity to Washington, DC means it has access to global opportunities.

Boise is not popular with students.

Is Charlottesville or Boise Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Charlottesville and Boise both offer decent public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Charlottesville. There is a bus system that runs between campus, downtown, and several neighborhoods in Charlottesville.

Public transit is generally limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Is Charlottesville or Boise a more walkable city?

Charlottesville and Boise are decent when it comes to walkability.

Charlottesville is generally not a very walkable university town. While the University of Virginia campus and the Downtown Mall are both very walkable, most of the town is not.

Boise is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Charlottesville Worth Visiting? and Is Boise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Boise or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Boise?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Charlottesville than Boise 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 Charlottesville.

One day in Charlottesville or Boise?

Even though Charlottesville is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

The welcoming destination of Boise offers shopping and museums. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Charlottesville or Boise?

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

The city of Boise offers museums and nightlife. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Charlottesville or Boise?

Charlottesville is a fun place to experience. Charlottesville is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Boise is a great place to explore. This city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Charlottesville or Boise?

Charlottesville is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Boise. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Charlottesville and Boise, we can see that Charlottesville 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 North America, 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 Charlottesville Expensive? and Is Boise Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Charlottesville or Boise?

Boise has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Charlottesville. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Boise, 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.