A Travel Price Comparison for South Carolina Greenville vs. Hilton Head Island for Families, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Greenville or Hilton Head Island?

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 Greenville and Hilton Head Island can help you decide which place is right for you.

Greenville

Greenville is a hospitable, southern, and welcoming city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island is a peaceful, beautiful, and resort-filled coastal town. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the shopping, food, and beaches.

Greenville and Hilton Head Island: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Greenville or Hilton Head Island?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Hilton Head Island. Although Greenville and Hilton Head Island are popular destinations, Hilton Head Island has more sights and attractions for tourists. Hilton Head Island is very popular for its food, resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty, while Greenville attracts visitors for its museums and nightlife. Hilton Head Island is more touristy than Greenville and is known for its long sandy beaches, many golf courses, popular tennis camps, and accessible bike trails. It is also well known for The Harbour Town Lighthouse. Greenville is famous for its outdoor spaces and its growing arts scene.

How is Greenville different from Hilton Head Island?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Greenville or Hilton Head Island?

Greenville is very good for its museums and history. However, Hilton Head Island does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Greenville. Museums focus on art, history, and science. Notable museums in town include the Greenville County Museum of Art, the Upcountry History Museum, and the Sigal Music Museum.

Hilton Head Island does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Greenville or Hilton Head Island? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Hilton Head Island is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Greenville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Hilton Head Island is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The island has many famous restaurants but reservations during the summer are a must. Restaurants can get very crowded during peak times. For some of the best restaurants head to Shelter Cove or Harbour Town. Popular local dishes include fried seafood and oysters.

Greenville offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The food scene is growing and the farm-to-table movement is apparent here, but the city is still often overlooked by foodies in the area.

Is Greenville or Hilton Head Island Better for Nightlife?

Greenville is very good for its evening party scene. However, Hilton Head Island is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Greenville. Bars, breweries, and low key clubs are what drive the city's nightlife scene. There are both piano bars and live music venues that often lean towards the local country classics.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Hilton Head Island. There are a few sports bars and comedy clubs, but nightlife isn't really a thing in Hilton Head. This is very much a family destination that shuts down with the sunset.

Is Greenville or Hilton Head Island Better for Resorts?

Hilton Head Island is a great coastal town for its luxury resorts. However, Greenville is not a resort destination.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Hilton Head Island. Most of the accommodation in the area is in the form of weekly condo rentals, which usually include a pool and outdoor space. Tennis and golf are also popular on the island so many resorts have facilities for each.

Greenville is not a resort destination.

Is Greenville or Hilton Head Island Better for Beaches?

Hilton Head Island is a great coastal town for the beach. However, Greenville is not a beach destination.

Hilton Head Island is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The island has nice beaches that are popular with families. They are great for swimming during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. While some beaches may get a bit crowded during peak holidays, they're usually pretty relaxed and less crowded than many nearby beaches.

Greenville is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Greenville or Hilton Head Island?

If you're looking to go shopping, Greenville and Hilton Head Island both offer plenty of nice spots.

Greenville has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find upscale shopping in the city's downtown and sprawling shopping malls in other neighborhoods. There are plenty of name brand stores where you can pick up the latest style.

Hilton Head Island is a great destination for shopping. The area has upscale shopping with designer names and local venues. Popular shopping areas include Shelter Cove Town Center and Harbor Town.

Is Greenville or Hilton Head Island Better for Families?

Hilton Head Island is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Greenville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Hilton Head Island is one of the most popular family destinations. This area is a popular family-friendly beach destination with a number of summer events for the whole family, peaceful beaches, and family-friendly restaurants throughout. Older kids will enjoy cycling around the island's many bike trails or attending a popular tennis camp.

Greenville is a family-friendly place to visit. There are many local families in town, so you'll find all kinds of kid-friendly activities to enjoy. Paris Mountain State Park is a popular place where everyone can run around. Falls Park on the Reedy River also has walking trails and is in the city's historic district. There's also a children's theater and plenty of playgrounds around town.

Is Greenville or Hilton Head Island Better for Couples?

Hilton Head Island is very good for couples. However, Greenville is not known for romance.

Hilton Head Island is a good coastal town for couples to visit. While the area is most popular with families, it is a fun place to explore as a couple because of the many high end restaurants and the beautiful setting. Couples can rent bikes to explore or play a friendly game of tennis.

Greenville is not the best destination for a couple to visit. You can take the free trolley down Main Street and then enjoy a meal at one of the local restaurants.

Is Greenville or Hilton Head Island Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Greenville is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Hilton Head Island is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Greenville. There are free trolleys that make their way around the downtown neighborhoods.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Hilton Head Island. You must have a car to get most places on the island, unless you bike. Rush hour during summer months can have intense traffic.

Is Greenville or Hilton Head Island a more walkable city?

Greenville and Hilton Head Island are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Greenville is generally not a very walkable city. The downtown area is surprisingly walkable, but like most cities in the area, you need a car to make the most of your visit.

Hilton Head Island is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around, but for those who are motivated, there is a great network of bike trails. It's mostly used for recreational purposes though.

For even more information, also check out Is Greenville Worth Visiting? and Is Hilton Head Island Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hilton Head Island or Greenville?

How long in Greenville or Hilton Head Island?

Both Greenville and Hilton Head Island have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Hilton Head Island than in Greenville. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Greenville, and 5-7 days is enough time in Hilton Head Island.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Greenville than Hilton Head Island 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 Greenville.

One day in Greenville or Hilton Head Island?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the hospitable destination of Greenville. 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.

With shopping and food around the family-friendly coastal town of Hilton Head Island, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Greenville or Hilton Head Island?

Greenville is a popular place to visit. Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the hospitable city of Greenville. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Greenville has to offer.

With food and shopping around the destination of Hilton Head Island, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Greenville or Hilton Head Island?

Many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting Greenville. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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.

Hilton Head Island, a popular coastal town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this coastal town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Greenville or Hilton Head Island?

Greenville is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. It offers something for everyone. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Hilton Head Island is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this coastal town makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal town has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Greenville or Hilton Head Island?

Greenville has a larger population, and is about 61% larger than the population of Hilton Head Island. When comparing the sizes of Greenville and Hilton Head Island, 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.