A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Christchurch vs. Marseille for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Beaches

Should you visit Christchurch or Marseille?

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

Should I visit Christchurch or Marseille? 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.

Christchurch

Christchurch is a adventure-filled, cultural, and outdoorsy city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Marseille

Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Christchurch and Marseille: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Christchurch or Marseille?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Marseille than Christchurch, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Marseille is more popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Christchurch is known for its museums, beaches, and hiking. Marseille is more touristy than Christchurch and is popular for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity. It is also home to The Vieux Port. Christchurch is popular for its outdoor beauty and relaxing, scenic atmosphere.

How is Christchurch different from Marseille?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Christchurch or Marseille?

Christchurch is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Christchurch can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with street art and local galleries. There's also Canterbury Museum, the International Antarctic Centre, the Arts Centre, and the Riccarton House & Bush.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Christchurch or Marseille? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Marseille is terrific for its restaurant scene. Also, Christchurch is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

For foodies, Marseille is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

Christchurch has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There's a mix of cozy cafes and casual eateries around town. You'll also find some fine dining restaurants as well as international flavors.

Is Christchurch or Marseille Better for Nightlife?

Marseille is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Christchurch is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Marseille is a must-see party destination. Much of the city's nightlife is centered around being outdoors. Whether you're on the beach or hanging out at a rooftop bar, Marseille is a magical place.

Many people head to Christchurch for the nightlife scene. The city has its share of dance clubs, live music venues, and laid back bars. You'll find a number of popular hangout spots around Oxford Terrace or on the historic New Regent Street.

Is Christchurch or Marseille Better for Beaches?

Christchurch is an excellent place to visit for the beach. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its beaches.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Christchurch. There are sandy beaches in the area with water sports and various amenities. The summer months are the most popular time for hanging out at the beach, and you'll find local families playing in the sun or enjoying a picnic.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Marseille. The city has nice beaches that offer both culture and diversity, which may be lacking some other coastal parts of the French Riviera.

Is Christchurch or Marseille Better for its Old Town?

Marseille is terrific for its old town. However, Christchurch does not have a historic old town.

Marseille has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The Old Port is filled with shops and boutiques, and is the most scenic part of the city. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is filled with history and character.

Christchurch does not have a historic old town.

Is Christchurch or Marseille Better for Hiking?

Christchurch is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Marseille is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Christchurch. There are many beautiful hikes in the area that take you along the coastline or past local historic sights. The landscape is diverse and you'll find many amazing parks in the area. Hooker Valley Track is one of the best hiking routes nearby.

Marseille is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Christchurch or Marseille?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Marseille and Christchurch.

Christchurch is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There's a mix of boutique shops, outlet malls, and open air markets. Some of the best shopping places include the Tannery and the Colombo.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Marseille. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Is Christchurch or Marseille Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is a popular place for its Christmas markets. However, Christchurch does not offer Christmas markets.

Many visitors go to the Christmas markets in Marseille. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

Christchurch does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Christchurch or Marseille Better for Families?

Christchurch is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. However, Marseille is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Christchurch is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. The International Antarctic Centre is a thrilling and fun experience. There's also the Orana Wildlife Park or Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. For adrenaline junkies there are the ropes courses at the Adrenalin Forest. There are also many indoor playgrounds and rock climbing facilities.

Marseille doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Nearby beaches and an outdoor climbing area make it a diverse city to visit with kids.

Is Christchurch or Marseille Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Christchurch and Marseille make for a very good place to visit.

Couples visit Christchurch frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Punting on the Avon River is one of the most romantic activities in the city. There are also botanical gardens, parks, and natural areas that are fun to explore. Nearby, you can do a wine tour, or there are cocktail bars and charming restaurants in town. The city also has a nice theater and many other date night activities.

Marseille is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

Is Christchurch or Marseille Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Christchurch is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Christchurch. There's no shortage of hostels around town, and many backpackers pass through Christchurch on their epic New Zealand adventure.

Marseille is a good city to visit for backpackers. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

Is Christchurch or Marseille Better for Students?

Christchurch and Marseille are very good places to visit for students.

Christchurch is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's the largest city on the South Island and there are plenty of activities and nearby trips that you can enjoy.

Marseille is very popular with students. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

Is Christchurch or Marseille Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Christchurch and Marseille.

You'll find some public transit in Christchurch, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. While it's not a diverse transit system, the buses are well connected and offer the cheapest way to get around town.

While Marseille offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city has trams, a metro, and buses that you can use to explore.

Is Christchurch or Marseille a more walkable city?

Christchurch and Marseille both are very good when exploring on foot.

Christchurch is a very walkable city. The city center is relatively flat and easy to explore on foot.

Marseille is a very walkable destination. The Old Port (Vieux Port) is particularly walkable and is one of the best areas to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Christchurch Worth Visiting? and Is Marseille Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Marseille or Christchurch?

How long in Christchurch or Marseille?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Christchurch and Marseille. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Christchurch than in Marseille. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Christchurch, and 2-3 days is enough time in Marseille.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Christchurch than Marseille 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 Christchurch.

One day in Christchurch or Marseille?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Christchurch. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

In Marseille, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this vibrant city offers. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Christchurch or Marseille?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Christchurch. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Marseille is a fun place to experience. Visiting the old town is also a must. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Christchurch or Marseille?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the adventure-filled city of Christchurch. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find nightlife and food around the energetic destination of Marseille. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

A week in Christchurch or Marseille?

Christchurch is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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.

Marseille is a popular place to visit. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Christchurch and Marseille, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Christchurch much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Christchurch is in Pacific and Marseille is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Christchurch would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Christchurch 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille than you might in Christchurch.

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

Which is Bigger, Christchurch or Marseille?

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

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

Should I visit Christchurch or Marseille in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Christchurch as well as Marseille. Many travelers come to Christchurch for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Marseille in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Christchurch is cooler than Marseille. Typically, the summer temperatures in Christchurch in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Marseille averages at about 24°C (75°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Christchurch this time of the year. In the summer, Christchurch often gets less sunshine than Marseillein July. Christchurch gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun.

Christchurch usually gets more rain in January than Marseillein July. Christchurch gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Christchurch or Marseille in the Autumn?

Both Marseille and Christchurch are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Christchurch in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In April, Christchurch is generally cooler than Marseillein October. Daily temperatures in Christchurch average around 12°C (54°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Marseille. Christchurch usually receives less sunshine than Marseille during autumn. Christchurch gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In April, Christchurch usually receives less rain than Marseillein October. Christchurch gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Christchurch or Marseille in the Winter?

Both Marseille and Christchurch during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Christchurch for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Marseille because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Christchurch is cooler than Marseille in the winter. The daily temperature in Christchurch averages around 6°C (43°F) in July, and Marseille fluctuates around 7°C (44°F)in January.

In the winter, Christchurch often gets less sunshine than Marseillein January. Christchurch gets 122 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun.

Christchurch usually gets more rain in July than Marseillein January. Christchurch gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Christchurch or Marseille in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Christchurch and Marseille. The spring months attract visitors to Christchurch because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Furthermore, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.

In the spring, Christchurch is around the same temperature as Marseille. Typically, the spring temperatures in Christchurch in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Marseille averages at about 13°C (56°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. In Christchurch, it's very sunny this time of the year. Christchurch usually receives less sunshine than Marseille during spring. Christchurch gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Christchurch usually receives around the same amount of rain as Marseillein April. Christchurch gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Marseille and Christchurch