A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Galveston vs. Santa Barbara for Beaches, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Galveston or Santa Barbara?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Galveston and Santa Barbara can help you decide which place is right for you.

Galveston

Galveston is a coastal, historic, and charming town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a opulent, pristine, and affluent coastal town. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.

Galveston and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Galveston or Santa Barbara?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santa Barbara than Galveston, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Santa Barbara is more popular for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Galveston is known for its nightlife and small town charm. Galveston is popular for its long history that is centered around the shipping industry and hurricanes. Santa Barbara is popular for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also home to The Old Mission Santa Barbara.

How is Galveston different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Galveston or Santa Barbara?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Galveston and Santa Barbara.

Many visitors head to Galveston specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. With its long history and Victorian homes, there are a number of museums around town. A favorite mansion is the 1892 Bishop's Palace. There's also the Galveston Railroad Museum and the Galveston Arts Center.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Santa Barbara can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Is the Food Better in Galveston or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Galveston is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Barbara has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Galveston area. There's a great mix of seafood and Texas favorites. Seafood-lovers will enjoy the oysters, crab cakes, and po boys while land-lovers will like the brisket, Tex Mex, and Texas chili.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Galveston is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for nightlife.

Galveston offers plenty to do in the evening. There's a bit of a party town vibe in the evenings. Head to Pleasure Pier for rides and entertainment. The town also has taverns, lounges, and bars that you can check out.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is great for its luxury resorts. However, Galveston is not a resort destination.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Santa Barbara. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Galveston is not a resort destination.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is adequate for its diving and snorkeling. However, Galveston is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are few places where you can go snorkeling in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Galveston is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for the beache. Also, Galveston is not as popular, but is still a nice town for the beach.

With world-famous beaches, Santa Barbara is a very popular vacation destination. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Galveston has a beach worth visiting. There are miles of beaches that spread out from town. Some of the best include Babe's Beach, Stewart Beach, and Crystal Beach. Because of the proximity to the Mississippi River, the water can be a bit murky, but the beaches are still fun.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Galveston and Santa Barbara are both popular destinations with charming historical areas.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Galveston. The East End Historic District is filled with historic mansions with beautiful porches. It's possible to take a tour or you could explore independently.

Santa Barbara offers a nice historic old town area. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for hiking. However, Galveston is not a hiking destination.

Many people visit Santa Barbara specifically for its hiking. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Galveston is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Galveston or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Galveston is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Santa Barbara draws large crowds to its stores. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Many visitors go to Galveston to go shopping. There are plenty of places to pick up souvenirs like shell jewelry or t-shirts. There are also more eclectic shops as well as shopping centers and malls.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

You'll find great kid-friendly activities in either Galveston or Santa Barbara.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Galveston is very family-friendly. Head to Pier 21 where you'll find museums, harbor tours, and other kid-friendly activities. The city also offers a number of pirate-themed activities that kids enjoy as well as spooky ghost tours. For a bit of a thrill you can check out the rides at Galveston Pleasure Pier. And, of course, there are the beaches.

Santa Barbara is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Galveston is not as popular, but is still a nice town for couples.

For those traveling as a couple, Santa Barbara has plenty to offer. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Galveston is a very popular place to visit for couples. The Historic District is the perfect place to enjoy a nice meal and soak up the charm. The area's beaches and parks also offer a bit of romance and there are plenty of outdoor activities like kayaking, fishing, or swimming.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Galveston is not popular with students.

Santa Barbara is very popular with students. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Galveston is not popular with students.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Barbara is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Galveston is not a good destination for its public transit.

While Santa Barbara offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Public transit is generally limited in Galveston. While there are buses and trolley buses, a car is the best way to get around with the greatest flexibility and convenience.

Is Galveston or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is great for its high level of walkability. Also, Galveston is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its ease of walking around.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable coastal town. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

Galveston is a somewhat walkable town. There are some walkable areas such as the Historic District.

For even more information, also check out Is Galveston Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Galveston?

How long in Galveston or Santa Barbara?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Galveston 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 Santa Barbara.

One day in Galveston or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Galveston. 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.

You'll find shopping and museums around the coastal town of Santa Barbara. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

A weekend in Galveston or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Galveston. 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the scenic destination of Santa Barbara. 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 coastal town has to offer. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Galveston or Santa Barbara?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic destination of Galveston. This town 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the stunning coastal town of Santa Barbara. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Galveston or Santa Barbara?

You'll find food and shopping around the town of Galveston. 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.

Santa Barbara is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Galveston and Santa Barbara, we can see that Galveston is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Galveston or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 54% larger than the population of Galveston. When comparing the sizes of Galveston and Santa Barbara, 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 Galveston or Santa Barbara?

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 Galveston or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

Both Santa Barbara and Galveston during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Galveston for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Galveston is much warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the summer temperatures in Galveston in July average around 84°F (29°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 65°F (19°C).

Galveston usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. Galveston gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Galveston or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Galveston and Santa Barbara. The autumn months attract visitors to Galveston because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.

In October, Galveston is generally a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Galveston average around 71°F (22°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In October, Galveston usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Galveston gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Galveston or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Galveston as well as Santa Barbara. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Galveston this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Galveston is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara in the winter. The daily temperature in Galveston averages around 52°F (11°C) in January, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

Galveston usually gets less rain in January than Santa Barbara. Galveston gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Galveston or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and Galveston are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Galveston for the beaches and the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Galveston is much warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the spring temperatures in Galveston in April average around 70°F (21°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 57°F (14°C).

In April, Galveston usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Galveston gets 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Galveston