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

Should you visit Graz or Bari?

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

Should I visit Graz or Bari? 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.

Graz

Graz is a medieval, cultural, and historical city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Bari

Bari is a local, cultural, and authentic port city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Graz and Bari: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Graz or Bari?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bari than Graz, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Bari is more popular for its food, beaches, and big city activities, while Graz is known for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Graz is more touristy than Bari and is known for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture. Bari is popular for its authentic old town and its role as a ferry port for travelers headed across the Adriatic. It is also home to San Nicola.

How is Graz different from Bari?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Graz or Bari?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Graz and Bari.

Graz offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The old town is among the largest in Europe and it's filled with sights and museums. The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower are among the most iconic sights but other highlights include the GrazMuseum, the Mohren Apotheke's Theriak Museum, a Gothic Franciscan Church, and the Robert Stolz Museum.

Many visitors head to Bari specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is filled with historical sights and archeological ruins. San Nicola is the main basilica in town and a popular tourist sight. The Castello is also a highlight, as is San Sabino.

Is the Food Better in Graz or Bari? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bari is renowned for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

For foodies, Bari is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. It's off-the-beaten-path vibe means that you won't find the overpriced tourist restaurants that have taken over more touristy cities. Instead you'll find locally owned pasta shops that cater to the town's residents. You can taste authentic Pugliese cuisine, which is centered around wheat and olive oil. Orecchiette is the local pasta and seafood is one of the most common staples.

Dining out in Graz is an experience not to be missed. There's a huge focus on sustainable dining in town, so you'll find many restaurants that use a farm to table approach. Local ingredients are heavily valued and it's fun to sample the many local flavors. Backhendl is a classic fried chicken dish that you must try.

Is Graz or Bari Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is superb in both Graz and Bari.

Many people head to Graz for the nightlife scene. The large student population means that there's an active nightlife scene that is diverse and fun. There's a wide variety of bars and pubs with almost any music genre you could want. There are also dance clubs for those who are looking for a party.

Bari has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The city really comes to life at night with many dance clubs, bars, and other fun venues. There's plenty of live music as well as jazz clubs and other local bars.

Is Graz or Bari Better for Beaches?

Bari is a popular place for the beache. However, Graz is not a beach destination.

Bari is a good option for a beach vacation. There's a sandy beach that you can reach by bus outside of the city center. There are also many great beaches around Puglia if you're willing to take a day trip or travel a bit farther.

Graz is not a beach destination.

Is Graz or Bari Better for its Old Town?

Graz is terrific for its historic old town charm. Also, Bari is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its historic old town.

Graz has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The medieval city center is very well preserved and one of the largest in Europe. The city has a lot of hidden charm and quaint streets to explore.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Bari. The old town is filled with historic sights, mazelike streets, and great food. It's pedestrian-only and, because Bari is not as popular with tourists, it holds on to its authentic charm.

Is the Shopping Better in Graz or Bari?

Graz is a great city for its shopping areas. Also, Bari is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Graz. You'll find a lot of shopping around both Jakominiplatz and Hauptplatz Squares. There are also a number of shopping streets in town including Herrengasse which is filled with shops, restaurants, and more.

Bari is a great destination for shopping. You won't find the souvenir shops that you find in more touristy cities, so if you take the time to do some shopping while you're in town, you can enjoy a truly authentic and cultural experience.

Is Graz or Bari Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Graz or Bari.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Graz is very family-friendly. Kids will love the fairytale train and there's also a 4D cinema that is fun for the whole family. In Schlossberg Hill, families should check out The Slide, which is the largest underground slide in the world. Other highlights include a Children's Museum, a Folklife Museum, and a Natural History Museum.

Bari is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are historical sites and castles to explore as well as the fun-filled Miragica amusement park. There's also an impressive underground city that will spark the kid's imagination. Other fun activities include visiting the nearby beaches, taking a kayak tour, or wandering around the old town.

Is Graz or Bari Better for Couples?

Graz is a great city for couples. Also, Bari is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for romance.

Graz is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. It's filled with culture, history, and amazing food. Couples will appreciate the romantic old town and the many world class sights around town.

Bari is a nice destination for couples. The old town is filled with mazelike streets and the city has many unique activities that appeal to history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Is Graz or Bari Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bari is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Bari. There's plenty of hostels around town and the prices are usually very reasonable. Many backpackers pass through this port city on their way to Greece or other Adriatic destinations.

Graz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

Is Graz or Bari Better for Students?

For students, both Graz and Bari are superb places to visit.

Graz is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's long been an education center in Austria and students make up a significant portion of the population. It's also a chill city with a relaxed and student-friendly vibe.

Bari is very popular with students. It's a great student city that offers access to many nearby Mediterranean destinations. There are also a number of historical sights within town that students can visit.

Is Graz or Bari Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Graz is a great city for times when you don't have a car. Also, Bari is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Graz. There are buses and trams that travel around the town.

Bari has a few public transit options. There are buses around town that are operated by the AMTAB.

Is Graz or Bari a more walkable city?

Graz is terrific for its ease of walking around. Also, Bari is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its walkability.

Graz is a very easy city to get around on foot. You'll find everything you'd want to see in the old town, which is large, but still compact enough to explore on foot.

Bari is very walkable. The old town is pedestrian-only and best explored on foot. It's also about a 20 minute walk from the central train station.

For even more information, also check out Is Graz Worth Visiting? and Is Bari Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bari or Graz?

How long in Graz or Bari?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bari than Graz 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 Bari.

One day in Graz or Bari?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Graz. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Bari. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Graz or Bari?

Graz is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Bari is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Graz or Bari?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the beautiful destination of Graz. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the local destination of Bari. This port city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Graz or Bari?

The beautiful city of Graz offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

The cultural port city of Bari offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria, The Best Bicycle Tours in Austria, The Best Historical Tours in Italy, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Graz and Bari, we can see that Bari 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 Europe, 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 Graz Expensive? and Is Bari Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Graz or Bari?

Bari has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Graz. When comparing the sizes of Graz and Bari, 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 Graz or Bari?

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 Graz or Bari in the Summer?

Both Bari and Graz are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Graz for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Bari because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Graz is around the same temperature as Bari. Typically, the summer temperatures in Graz in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Bari averages at about 25°C (76°F).

It's quite sunny in Bari. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Graz. Graz usually receives less sunshine than Bari during summer. Graz gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Bari receives 336 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Graz. In July, Graz usually receives more rain than Bari. Graz gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Bari receives 9 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Graz or Bari in the Autumn?

Both Bari and Graz during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Graz because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bari this time of year.

In October, Graz is generally cooler than Bari. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 13°C (55°F), and Bari fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).

In the autumn, Graz often gets less sunshine than Bari. Graz gets 139 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bari receives 178 hours of full sun.

Graz usually gets less rain in October than Bari. Graz gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bari receives 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Bari in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Graz and Bari. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Graz this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bari for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Graz in the winter. Graz is much colder than Bari in the winter. The daily temperature in Graz averages around 1°C (34°F) in January, and Bari fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

Graz usually receives less sunshine than Bari during winter. Graz gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Bari receives 110 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Graz usually receives less rain than Bari. Graz gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bari receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Graz or Bari in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Graz as well as Bari. Many travelers come to Graz for the natural beauty. Additionally, many visitors come to Bari in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Graz is cooler than Bari. Typically, the spring temperatures in Graz in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Bari averages at about 14°C (58°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bari. In the spring, Graz often gets less sunshine than Bari. Graz gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bari receives 203 hours of full sun.

Graz usually gets more rain in April than Bari. Graz gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bari receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bari and Graz