A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ensenada vs. Cleveland for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Ensenada or Cleveland?

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

Should I visit Ensenada or Cleveland? 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.

Ensenada

Ensenada is a historic, cultural, and outdoorsy city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Cleveland

Cleveland is a diverse, authentic, and under-rated city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Ensenada and Cleveland: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ensenada or Cleveland?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Ensenada than Cleveland. While Cleveland is larger than Ensenada, Ensenada has more sights and attractions for tourists. Ensenada is very popular for its food and beaches, while Cleveland attracts visitors for its museums and music. Ensenada is more touristy than Cleveland and is popular for its local cuisine, golf, and outdoor sports. It is also well known for Avenida Lopez Mateos. Cleveland is famous for being the home to "rock 'n roll" as well as its friendly and hard working people.

How is Ensenada different from Cleveland?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ensenada or Cleveland?

Cleveland is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Ensenada is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Cleveland offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are diverse museums around town such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa), and the Great Lakes Science Center. Music lovers will appreciate a visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Ensenada. There are several good museums in town such as the Museo de Historia and Caracol Museo de Ciencias.

Is the Food Better in Ensenada or Cleveland? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Ensenada is a very popular place for its restaurants. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Ensenada. The town is known for its seafood, and fish tacos is one of the most popular dishes. You'll find seafood markets and street cards selling fresh and local items. Sample your way through the city and enjoy all of the local specialties.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Cleveland. Casual dining with comfort food is the way most residents prefer to eat. There are local foods that have made a name for themselves such as gourmet hot dogs and deli sandwiches. The food is also influenced by the city's German, Irish, Polish, and Italian roots. Pierogis, bratwurst, and chicken paprikash are all common.

Is Ensenada or Cleveland Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Ensenada or Cleveland has a better nightlife scene.

Ensenada has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a number of bars and nightclubs around town. Head to Avenida López Mateos for many of the best restaurants and bars.

If you're looking for night time activities Cleveland has a few options to choose from. Breweries have become a popular nighttime activity. There are also comedy clubs, music venues, and several theaters.

Is Ensenada or Cleveland Better for Music?

Cleveland is a great destination for its live music scene. However, Ensenada is not a live music destination.

Cleveland has become a hotbed of musicians and artists. Home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it has long been a destination for music enthusiasts. There are many independent music venues and it's the perfect place to catch a show.

Ensenada is not a live music destination.

Is Ensenada or Cleveland Better for Beaches?

Ensenada is a decent place to visit for its beaches. However, Cleveland is not a beach destination.

Ensenada is a good spot to see the beach. It's a working port town and the beaches in the area aren't great. You'll find the best options to the south of the city.

Cleveland is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ensenada or Cleveland?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Cleveland and Ensenada.

Ensenada offers some nice shopping areas. Avenida López Mateos is the main shopping street in town. You'll find many shops, but be prepared to pay more than you might elsewhere because shopkeepers are used to cruise ship riders who are willing to pay a high price tag.

Cleveland has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Large shopping malls offer plenty of selection. There's also West Side Market, which is the oldest public market in the city. Other interesting shopping areas include Little Italy and the Cleveland Flea.

Is Ensenada or Cleveland Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Ensenada or Cleveland.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Ensenada. You'll find ziplining, horseback riding, and surf lessons in the area. Kids will also enjoy seeing the Water Show or going whale watching.

Cleveland offers lots of family activities. Kid-friendly activities in the area include the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. There's also the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo as well as the smaller Akron Zoo.

Is Ensenada or Cleveland Better for Couples?

Ensenada is a nice place to visit for romance. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Ensenada is a nice destination for couples. The city has an authentic atmosphere that will let you experience a more genuine side to Mexico.

Most people don't think of Cleveland as a couple's destination. There are several romantic date night activities like boat rides on Lake Erie or dining at a nice restaurant.

Is Ensenada or Cleveland Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ensenada is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Ensenada. There are a few hostels and a number of cheap hotels around town.

Cleveland is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. There's little in the area that attracts the backpacker crowd.

Is Ensenada or Cleveland Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Ensenada and Cleveland.

Public transit is generally limited in Ensenada. Public transit in the area is limited.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cleveland. There are bus, trolley, and train lines through the city, but a car is the most efficient way to get around.

Is Ensenada or Cleveland a more walkable city?

Ensenada is a very popular place for its walkability. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

Ensenada is very walkable. The downtown area is walkable and easy to explore on foot.

Cleveland is generally not very walkable. While some neighborhoods are more walkable than others (Downtown, Ohio City and Buckeye - Shaker), most visitors need a car to easily access everything they wish to do.

For even more information, also check out Is Ensenada Worth Visiting? and Is Cleveland Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cleveland or Ensenada?

How long in Ensenada or Cleveland?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ensenada and Cleveland. In our opinion, Ensenada has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Ensenada than Cleveland. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Ensenada, and 1-3 days is enough time in Cleveland.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ensenada than Cleveland 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 Ensenada.

One day in Ensenada or Cleveland?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Ensenada. 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.

The city of Cleveland offers live music and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Ensenada or Cleveland?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the outdoorsy destination of Ensenada. 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.

Cleveland 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. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Cleveland, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Ensenada or Cleveland?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the outdoorsy city of Ensenada. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Cleveland 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 Ensenada or Cleveland?

Ensenada is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

Cleveland is a great place to explore. 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 Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Ensenada or Cleveland?

Cleveland has a larger population, and is about 75% larger than the population of Ensenada. When comparing the sizes of Ensenada and Cleveland, 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.