A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Curitiba vs. San Cristobal de Las Casas for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Curitiba and San Cristobal de Las Casas can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Curitiba

Curitiba is a cultural, active, and vibrant city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Curitiba travel costs.

San Cristobal de Las Casas

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a charming, colorful, and cultural town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. San Cristobal de Las Casas offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See San Cristobal de Las Casas travel costs.

Curitiba and San Cristobal de Las Casas: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Visitors will generally find more to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Curitiba. While Curitiba is larger than San Cristobal de Las Casas, San Cristobal de Las Casas has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. San Cristobal de Las Casas is more touristy than Curitiba and is known for its historical buildings, local markets, and traditional churches. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is famous for the Cathedral of San Cristobal de las Casas. Curitiba is well known for its performing arts, walkability, and culture.

How is Curitiba different from San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Curitiba. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town for its historical sights. Also, Curitiba is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into San Cristobal de Las Casas. The town is filled with historical churches such as the main Cathedral of San Cristobal. While this is the most notable church, there are also smaller churches worth visiting like the Templo Santo Domingo, Iglesia de Guadalupe, and Iglesia de San Cristobal. For museums, make sure you check out the Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya, Na Bolom, and Museo de Ambar.

Curitiba is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a variety of museums around town that include a number of history museums, a few art museums, and other cultural museums that are worth checking out.

Is the Food Better in Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Curitiba and San Cristobal de Las Casas offer a number of excellent restaurants to choose from.

Curitiba has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The official dish of the town is carne de onça, which first originated here and is a beef tartare that's served on flat bread. There are also many other traditional and authentic Brazilian restaurants around town, so this is a great place for a foodie to explore.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, San Cristobal de Las Casas makes for a great culinary experience. The cuisine is a mix of Spanish-influenced cured meats such as ham and sausage, as well as indigenous flavors like tamales and burritos. There's also a lot of great pizza around town as well as several Asian restaurants.

Is Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find excellent options in both Curitiba and San Cristobal de Las Casas.

The nightlife in Curitiba has something for everybody. Like most cities in Brazil, you'll find a great nightlife scene with plenty of bars and restaurants. Some of the best neighborhoods for nightlife are Batel, which is one of the most international parts of the city, Itupava Street, which is lined with Brazilian restaurants and bars, and São Francisco, which is popular with the student population because of its affordability.

San Cristobal de Las Casas offers plenty to do in the evening. There's an active nightlife scene that includes everything from late night clubs to salsa lessons. Most tourists who want to party head to the pedestrian streets around the plaza. There are countless bars where you'll likely find a crowd late into the night. Some clubs have a cover charge on weekends but, in general, drinks are cheap and getting around is easy.

Is Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for its Old Town?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town for its historic old town charm. However, Curitiba does not have a historic old town.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The town is filled with narrow pedestrian streets, colorful markets, and historic churches.

Curitiba does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a must-visit destination for its shopping areas. Also, Curitiba is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many people travel to San Cristobal de Las Casas specifically to go shopping. The nearby villages are famous for their weaving, leather, pottery, and embroidery, so many visitors pick up souvenirs at the colorful markets around town. This is one of the best towns in Mexico to purchase local items, and you should definitely set aside time to explore and shop.

Curitiba is a great destination for shopping. The city has large shopping malls and many great fashion boutiques. It's a great place to spend some time shopping.

Is Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas More Beautiful?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Curitiba is not a destination known for its beauty.

San Cristobal de Las Casas offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Set against the backdrop of mountains, this town is colorful and charming.

Curitiba is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Families?

Both Curitiba and San Cristobal de Las Casas are notable to visit with kids.

Curitiba offers lots of family activities. The city has parks and museums that are great for kids. In particular, the botanical gardens and Bosque Alemao appeal to young visitors.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a family-friendly place to visit. While kids may not appreciate the town's beauty and culture, they will have fun exploring the night market or taking a chocolate-making class. There are pedestrian streets where everyone can explore without fear of traffic and pizza restaurants that appeal to the kids as well.

Is Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Couples?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town for couples. Also, Curitiba is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy culture, markets, traditional cuisines, and new experiences will love their time here. It's a fun place to simply wander. You can explore the markets and then eat at a local restaurant before making your way back to your boutique hotel.

Curitiba is a nice destination for couples. The city has some great parks and restaurants that make it a pleasant place to explore with your significant other.

Is Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Curitiba is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit San Cristobal de Las Casas. There are a number of hostels in town as well as budget-friendly hotels. Backpackers love the laid back nature of this town as well as the many markets and nature-oriented activities.

Plenty of backpackers visit Curitiba. The nightlife and music scene, combined with a great public transit system, make this a good, but often overlooked destination for backpackers in Brazil.

Is Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Curitiba is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Public transit in Curitiba is fairly effecient and thorough. There's a great public transit system here that includes a metro system, trolleybuses, and buses.

You'll find some public transit in San Cristobal de Las Casas, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Urbano buses are minibuses that connect the town to the outlying residential areas. There are also colectivos that travel to nearby villages.

Is Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas a more walkable city?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a must-visit destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Curitiba is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its walkability.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very easy town to get around on foot. Walking is the best way to experience the town. Most of the sights can be reached on foot and there are pedestrian-only streets that let you avoid the traffic.

Curitiba is very walkable. It is a walkable city that is fun to explore on foot, but as always, take precautions in certain areas, particularly at night.

For even more information, also check out Is Curitiba Worth Visiting? and Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Curitiba?

How long in Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Curitiba and San Cristobal de Las Casas. In our opinion, San Cristobal de Las Casas has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Curitiba. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Curitiba. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in San Cristobal de Las Casas that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Curitiba 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas.

One day in Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

In Curitiba, many people enjoy the museums and nightlife that this vibrant destination offers. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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 Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

In Curitiba, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Many people spend a weekend here. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in San Cristobal de Las Casas, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Curitiba. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. This city offers something for everyone.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that shopping is why people visit. 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 Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Curitiba. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that shopping is why people visit. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Tours for Seniors to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Curitiba and San Cristobal de Las Casas, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is Curitiba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Curitiba is in South America and San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America, 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 Curitiba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Curitiba 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Cristobal de Las Casas than you might in Curitiba.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Curitiba Expensive? and Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Curitiba or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Curitiba has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of Curitiba and San Cristobal de Las Casas, 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.