A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Geneva vs. Arles for Attractions, Old Town, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Geneva or Arles?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Geneva and Arles. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Geneva

Geneva is a professional, classy, and diverse city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Arles

Arles is a compact, quaint, and historic town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Geneva and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Geneva or Arles?

You'll generally find more things to do in Geneva than Arles. Geneva is bigger than Arles, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Geneva is better known for its shopping and big city activities, while Arles is more popular for its museums, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Geneva is well known for its role as a global hub for the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization. Also, Geneva is famous for The Geneva Water Fountain (The Jet d'Eau). Arles is well known for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

How is Geneva different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Geneva or Arles?

Arles is an unbeatable place for its museums and landmarks. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Arles that are not to be missed. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

Geneva offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Famous sights and landmarks include the spectacular Water Jet, St Pierre Cathedral, and the Palais des Nations. There are also impressive art and history museums in the city.

Is the Food Better in Geneva or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Geneva and Arles can be an enjoyable experience.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Geneva makes for a great culinary experience. The city has an amazing mix of traditional Swiss restaurants as well as diverse ethnic options. Traditional dishes include fondue and raclette, both of which involve the decadent Swiss cheese.

Arles has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Is Geneva or Arles Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Geneva or Arles has a better nightlife scene.

Geneva has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. During the day the city is all business, but at night the professionals, interns, students, and NGO workers all come together to enjoy a drink at a bar or dance at one of the city's diverse clubs.

If you're looking for night time activities Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Geneva or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Arles offers plenty to see. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Geneva. The Old Town offers a number of charming streets where you can wander as well as historical buildings including St. Pierre Cathedral.

Is the Shopping Better in Geneva or Arles?

Geneva is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Geneva is a world class destination for shoppers. Famous for its posh shops and luxury brands, this city is a popular shopping destination. From chic boutiques to deluxe toy stores, you'll find something for everyone. In particular, the city is known for its Swiss watches, Swiss Army knives, chocolate, and wine.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Geneva or Arles Better for Families?

Geneva is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Geneva. This diverse city has a number of chocolate shops, toy stores, and parks where kids can play. They'll be impressed by the Water Jet and there are few places where you can swim in the lake when the weather is warm.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Geneva or Arles Better for Couples?

Arles is a great destination for romance. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Arles frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Geneva makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Wandering Old Town, sampling Swiss chocolate, and enjoying one of the many ethnic restaurants around town all make for great date activities. Fondue in a traditional restaurant is also a not to be missed experience.

Is Geneva or Arles Better for Students?

Geneva is well known for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Geneva is very popular with students. The University of Geneva attracts many international students and the city is quite diverse. It feels like a mixing bowl of cultures, so students will feel very welcomed and comfortable here.

Arles is not popular with students.

Is Geneva or Arles Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Geneva is an unbeatable place for its public transit. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors in Geneva can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The very comprehensive system includes trams, buses, and boats.

While Arles offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Geneva or Arles a more walkable city?

Geneva and Arles both are high quality when exploring on foot.

Geneva is very walkable. Most areas where visitors spend their time can be easily explored on foot.

Arles is a very walkable city. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Geneva Worth Visiting? and Is Arles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arles or Geneva?

How long in Geneva or Arles?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Geneva than Arles 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 Geneva.

One day in Geneva or Arles?

Each neighborhood in Geneva has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Lots of people come for the shopping. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Arles. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Geneva or Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Geneva. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Arles is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Geneva or Arles?

Geneva is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the big city destination of Geneva. Lots of people come for the shopping. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arles. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Geneva or Arles?

You'll find food and shopping around the professional big city of Geneva. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the shopping. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming destination of Arles. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Geneva or Arles?

Geneva has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Geneva and Arles, 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 Geneva or Arles?

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 Geneva or Arles in the Summer?

Both Arles and Geneva are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Geneva for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Arles in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Geneva is generally around the same temperature as Arles. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 22°C (71°F), and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Arles. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Geneva. Geneva usually receives less sunshine than Arles during summer. Geneva gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Geneva usually receives more rain than Arles. Geneva gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Geneva or Arles in the Autumn?

Both Arles and Geneva during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Geneva in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Geneva is cooler than Arles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Geneva averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Geneva often gets less sunshine than Arles. Geneva gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun.

Arles gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Geneva usually gets less rain in October than Arles. Geneva gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Geneva or Arles in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Geneva and Arles. Most visitors come to Geneva for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Arles because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Geneva can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Geneva is much colder than Arles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Geneva in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Arles averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Geneva usually receives less sunshine than Arles during winter. Geneva gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Geneva usually receives less rain than Arles. Geneva gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Geneva or Arles in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Geneva as well as Arles. The spring months attract visitors to Geneva because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Additionally, the natural beauty are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

In April, Geneva is generally cooler than Arles. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 11°C (53°F), and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. In the spring, Geneva often gets less sunshine than Arles. Geneva gets 174 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun.

Geneva usually gets more rain in April than Arles. Geneva gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Arles and Geneva