A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dresden vs. Avignon for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Nightlife

Should you visit Dresden or Avignon?

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

Should I visit Dresden or Avignon? 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.

Dresden

Dresden is a cultural, park-filled, and friendly city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Dresden travel costs.

Avignon

Avignon is a charming, scenic, and picturesque town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping. See Avignon travel costs.

Dresden and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dresden or Avignon?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Dresden than Avignon. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Dresden is very popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Avignon attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, and small town charm. Dresden is famous for its beautiful palaces, castles, and many landmarks (such as the Baroque Zwinger Palace, Semperoper Opera House and the Church of Our Lady). It is also well known for Dresden Frauenkirche and The Royal Palace. Avignon is famous for its architectural beauty and historical importance.

How is Dresden different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dresden or Avignon?

Avignon is an amazing town to visit for its museums and landmarks. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Avignon on the map. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

Dresden is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's rich in culture and baroque architecture. Some of the main sights around town include Dresden Frauenkirche, the Dresden Royal Palace and Museums, the Zwinger and Old Masters Picture Gallery, and the Semper Opera.

Is the Food Better in Dresden or Avignon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avignon is an amazing town to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

For foodies, Avignon is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Dresden. The food features a number of Saxon specialties, which are typically hearty and heavy on the meat. If you have a sweet tooth, you'll also appreciate the many sweets that you can find around town. You should make sure you try a Fettbemme (open faced sandwich), Eierschecke (a cake), and Sächsische Kartoffelsuppe (potato soup) while you're in town.

Is Dresden or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Dresden is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Dresden has a large number of nightlife venues. Head to Neustadt for the highest concentration of bars and clubs. There's a diversity of trendy clubs and casual bars. Bar hopping is easy as most places are accessible by public transit.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Dresden or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is an amazing town to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town.

Avignon offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Dresden. Much of the city's old town has been rebuilt, but that's not to say it isn't beautiful. The main square and surrounding area are where you'll find the majority of the city's main sights.

Is the Shopping Better in Dresden or Avignon?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Avignon and Dresden.

Many visitors go to Dresden to go shopping. Kunsthofpassage Dresden is a network of streets where you'll find crafts, art, and other eclectic items for sale. Prager Strasse is a popular shopping street near old town and Seestrasse is where you'll find all of the trendy brands that are popular throughout Europe. The city also has many shopping malls.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Avignon. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Dresden or Avignon Better for Families?

Avignon is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, Dresden is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Avignon. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

For families, Dresden is not always the best place to visit. It doesn't have quite the abundance of activities for kids that you may find in other Germany cities, but that doesn't mean that kids will be bored. There's the Dresden Zoo, the Dresdner Parkeisenbahn (a small steam rail), and the Saxon Folk Art Museum. Families can also take a guided to of the Transparent Factory, which is owned by Volkswagon and provided information on the manufacturing of automobiles.

Is Dresden or Avignon Better for Couples?

Avignon is a great destination for couples. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Avignon frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Dresden is a nice destination for couples. Couples can explore the old town or walk through one of the city's many parks. The city has many cultural activities. In the new town you'll find many great bars and fascinating restaurants.

Is Dresden or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Dresden and Avignon are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Dresden. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and the city itself is not particularly expensive.

Avignon is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Is Dresden or Avignon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Dresden and Avignon.

You'll find some public transit in Dresden, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The city has two major train stations as well as tram and bus lines around town.

While Avignon offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Dresden or Avignon a more walkable city?

Avignon is an amazing town to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Avignon on foot is easy. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

Dresden is very walkable. Particularly in the compact city center you'll find Dresden to be very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Dresden Worth Visiting? and Is Avignon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Dresden?

How long in Dresden or Avignon?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Avignon than Dresden 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 Avignon.

One day in Dresden or Avignon?

In Dresden, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Avignon is a small town with plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Dresden or Avignon?

In Dresden, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Dresden has to offer.

Avignon might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Avignon has to offer.

Five days in Dresden or Avignon?

Dresden is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Avignon is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Dresden or Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Dresden. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Dresden. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. Since Avignon is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Germany, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Germany, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Dresden or Avignon?

Dresden has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Dresden and Avignon, 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 Dresden or Avignon?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Dresden or Avignon in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dresden as well as Avignon. Most visitors come to Dresden for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Avignon because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Dresden is cooler than Avignon in the summer. The daily temperature in Dresden averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Avignon fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

Dresden usually gets more rain in July than Avignon. Dresden gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dresden or Avignon in the Autumn?

Both Avignon and Dresden are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Dresden because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Avignon this time of year.

In the autumn, Dresden is cooler than Avignon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dresden in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Avignon averages at about 16°C (61°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Avignon. In October, Dresden usually receives less rain than Avignon. Dresden gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dresden or Avignon in the Winter?

Both Avignon and Dresden during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Dresden this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Avignon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Dresden in the winter. In January, Dresden is generally much colder than Avignon. Daily temperatures in Dresden average around 1°C (33°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Dresden usually gets less rain in January than Avignon. Dresden gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dresden or Avignon in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dresden and Avignon. Many travelers come to Dresden for the activities around the city. Furthermore, many visitors come to Avignon in the spring for the small town charm.

Dresden is cooler than Avignon in the spring. The daily temperature in Dresden averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Avignon fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In April, Dresden usually receives around the same amount of rain as Avignon. Dresden gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Dresden