A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Columbia vs. Niagara Falls for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Columbia or Niagara Falls?

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

Should I visit Columbia or Niagara Falls? 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.

Columbia

Columbia is a friendly, welcoming, and suburban city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Columbia travel costs.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a breathtaking, impressive, and iconic city. The beauty of Niagara Falls is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and hiking. See Niagara Falls travel costs.

Columbia and Niagara Falls: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbia or Niagara Falls?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Niagara Falls than Columbia. While Columbia is larger than Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Niagara Falls is better known for its food, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Columbia is more popular for its museums and attractions. Niagara Falls is more touristy than Columbia and is known for the large volume of water that flows over it. Also, Niagara Falls is famous for the Journey Behind the Falls. Columbia is well known for its southern hospitality and friendly people.

How is Columbia different from Niagara Falls?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Columbia or Niagara Falls?

Columbia is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Niagara Falls is a mediocre city for its museums and history.

Columbia offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. As the state capital, there are some decent museums around town like the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina Military Museum, the South Carolina State Museum, and the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum.

While most people don't head to Niagara Falls specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The Niagara Falls History Museum is one of the best museums in the area. There are also more touristy museums and attractions that you can visit as well. There's also a butterfly conservancy that is worth checking out.

Is the Food Better in Columbia or Niagara Falls? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Niagara Falls is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Columbia is not a good city for its restaurants.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Niagara Falls. It's an iconic Canadian destination so, of course, you should try all things Canadian while you're in town. Maple syrup, poutine, butter tart, and beavertail (fried dough) are all things that should be on your list. Also make sure you sample some of the local game meat.

Columbia may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Barbecue and other southern favorites are among the more local dishes, but the city is also filled with fast food joints and other major chain restaurants.

Is Columbia or Niagara Falls Better for Nightlife?

Both Columbia and Niagara Falls are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Columbia. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Niagara Falls. There's a decent concentration of clubs, pubs, and bars around town that keep things fun late into the evening.

Is Columbia or Niagara Falls Better for Hiking?

Niagara Falls is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Columbia is not a hiking destination.

Niagara Falls is a popular spot for hiking. The nearby area is filled with hiking trails that let you escape into nature and enjoy impressive views.

Columbia is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbia or Niagara Falls?

Both Columbia and Niagara Falls are notable shopping destinations.

Columbia offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find independent and locally owned shops along Devine Street and in the Five Points area. Also interesting are the Vista, which is a warehouse district, and Trenholm Plaza.

Niagara Falls has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find touristy souvenir shops as well as outlets and malls nearby.

Is Columbia or Niagara Falls More Beautiful?

Niagara Falls is a well-known place for its scenery and beauty. However, Columbia is not a destination known for its beauty.

The beauty of Niagara Falls is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. It's an impressive sight and the Canadian side offers the best views. It's definitely something you should try and see at least once.

Columbia is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Columbia or Niagara Falls Better for Families?

Niagara Falls is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Niagara Falls is a very family-friendly destination. The views and setting are spectacular, and kids will love the boat tours or taking a ride on the Whirlpool Aero Car. There's also an indoor waterpark, a butterfly conservatory, and plenty of nature to explore.

Columbia is a family-friendly city. Around town you'll find parks, playgrounds, and kid-friendly restaurants. There's a zoo in the area as well as a nice state park - Sesquicentennial State Park. There's also EdVenture Children's Museum, which is filled with hands-on exhibits.

Is Columbia or Niagara Falls Better for Couples?

Niagara Falls is a well-known place for its romantic activities. However, Columbia is not a good city for couples.

Niagara Falls is a very popular place to visit for couples. The setting has long brought to mind romance, and to this day couples still honeymoon at this iconic destination. There are boat tours, nature trails, luxury hotels, and even wineries to explore.

Columbia is not always the best place to visit for a couple. You'll find parks to explore and some nice restaurants that make for a good date night.

Is Columbia or Niagara Falls Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Niagara Falls is a popular place for backpackers. However, Columbia is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Niagara Falls. There's a hostel or two where you can stay for cheap and meet other travelers.

Columbia is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not an expensive place to visit, there is little in the area to attract backpackers.

Is Columbia or Niagara Falls Better for Students?

Columbia is a popular place for students. However, Niagara Falls is not popular with students.

Columbia is a good city to visit for students. The University of South Carolina, and other nearby colleges all bring in a decent student population.

Niagara Falls is not popular with students.

Is Columbia or Niagara Falls Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Niagara Falls is a popular place for its public transit. However, Columbia is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Niagara Falls has a few public transit options. There is a bus system through town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Columbia. The COMET is the bus system through town, but you really must have your own car to enjoy the city.

Is Columbia or Niagara Falls a more walkable city?

Niagara Falls is a popular place for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Niagara Falls is a somewhat walkable place. Most of the attractions and close together by the falls, so it's relatively walkable.

Columbia is not a very walkable city. It's filled with suburban-style development and is generally very car dependent.

For even more information, also check out Is Columbia Worth Visiting? and Is Niagara Falls Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Niagara Falls or Columbia?

How long in Columbia or Niagara Falls?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Columbia and Niagara Falls. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Niagara Falls than in Columbia. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Columbia, and 2-3 days is enough time in Niagara Falls.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Niagara Falls than Columbia 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 Niagara Falls.

One day in Columbia or Niagara Falls?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the friendly destination of Columbia. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

The beautiful city of Niagara Falls offers nightlife and food. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Columbia or Niagara Falls?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Columbia. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Niagara Falls 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. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Niagara Falls, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbia or Niagara Falls?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Columbia. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

Niagara Falls 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 Columbia or Niagara Falls?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the city of Columbia. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Niagara Falls is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Columbia or Niagara Falls?

Columbia has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Niagara Falls. When comparing the sizes of Columbia and Niagara Falls, 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 Columbia or Niagara Falls?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Columbia or Niagara Falls in the Summer?

Both Niagara Falls and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Columbia because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Niagara Falls this time of year.

Columbia is a little warmer than Niagara Falls in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Niagara Falls fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Niagara Falls. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Niagara Falls during summer. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies, while Niagara Falls receives 306 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Columbia. In July, Columbia usually receives more rain than Niagara Falls. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Columbia or Niagara Falls in the Autumn?

Both Niagara Falls and Columbia during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Columbia this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Niagara Falls for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Columbia is a little warmer than Niagara Falls. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbia in October average around 64°F (18°C), and Niagara Falls averages at about 12°C (54°F).

It's quite sunny in Columbia. In the autumn, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Niagara Falls. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Niagara Falls receives 148 hours of full sun.

Columbia usually gets more rain in October than Niagara Falls. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Niagara Falls in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Niagara Falls. Many travelers come to Columbia for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Niagara Falls in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Niagara Falls can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Columbia is generally much warmer than Niagara Falls. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 45°F (7°C), and Niagara Falls fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).

Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Niagara Falls during winter. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Niagara Falls receives 89 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Columbia usually receives more rain than Niagara Falls. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Columbia or Niagara Falls in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Niagara Falls. Additionally, most visitors come to Niagara Falls for the natural beauty during these months.

Columbia is much warmer than Niagara Falls in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 64°F (18°C) in April, and Niagara Falls fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Niagara Falls. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In the spring, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Niagara Falls. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Niagara Falls receives 203 hours of full sun.

Columbia usually gets more rain in April than Niagara Falls. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Niagara Falls and Columbia