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

Should you visit Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a character-filled, historic, and quaint town. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. Other popular activities here include shopping, nightlife, and food.

Arles

Arles is a quaint, historic, and charming town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Heidelberg and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heidelberg or Arles?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Arles than Heidelberg. While Heidelberg is larger than Arles, Arles has more sights and attractions for tourists. Arles is very popular for its museums, while Heidelberg attracts visitors for its nightlife, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Heidelberg is more touristy than Arles and is popular for its picturesque beauty, romantic atmosphere, and its classic old town. Arles is famous for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. It is also well known for L'Amphithéâtre Romain.

How is Heidelberg different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Arles is an amazing town to visit for its historical sights. However, Heidelberg does not have museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Arles has many famous sights for visitors. 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.

Heidelberg does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Heidelberg and Arles can be difficult as they are each high quality in their own way.

Heidelberg has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The old town is filled with local restaurants that offer an assortment of traditional dishes. The restaurants offer a mix of outdoor and indoor seating and classic dishes include saumagen, lewwerkneedl, and dampfnudeln.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Arles makes for a great culinary experience. 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 Heidelberg or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Heidelberg is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Heidelberg is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. As a university town, you'll find a very young population and many bars, pubs, and nightclubs where you can hang out.

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 Heidelberg or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the first-rate old town areas in both Heidelberg and Arles.

Heidelberg offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The charming old town, or Altstadt, is lined with cafes that spill out onto the street and churches with bells that chime hourly. The area is filled with activity and there are many shops, ice cream vendors, and restaurants to choose from.

Arles has a world-famous historical area. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Is the Shopping Better in Heidelberg or Arles?

If you're looking to go shopping, Heidelberg and Arles both offer plenty of nice spots.

Heidelberg has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The pedestrian area is the best place to pass your time shopping. There are name brand stores mixed in with local independent shops which you'll mostly find on the side streets. Popular items to buy include wooden toys, Christmas decorations, and candy.

Arles is a great destination for shopping. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Heidelberg or Arles Better for Families?

Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg. With its many ice cream shops, playgrounds, and impressive castle, this city makes a nice stop for families with kids. The restaurants usually have a kid's menu and there are a number of kid-friendly museums and activities.

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 Heidelberg or Arles Better for Couples?

Heidelberg and Arles both high quality destinations for a couple.

Heidelberg is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. This beautiful city offers an impressive backdrop for a couple's getaway. The view from the castle looks out beautifully over the city and the old town has many excellent restaurants and activities that are great for couples.

Arles is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Is Heidelberg or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Heidelberg is well known for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Heidelberg is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. Prices are reasonable and there are a handful of hostels around town. As a university town, you can be assured there are plenty of fun activities and cheap places to eat.

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

Is Heidelberg or Arles Better for Students?

Heidelberg is very good for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Heidelberg is popular with students. It is a beautiful student town with a lot of activities for young visitors. This is not the most popular study abroad destination, but it does have a lot to offer for those who visit.

Arles is not popular with students.

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

Heidelberg is well known for its public transit. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Heidelberg. There are trams and buses that connect the old town to the train station.

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 Heidelberg or Arles a more walkable city?

Heidelberg and Arles are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Heidelberg is a very walkable destination. The old town is particularly walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Arles or Heidelberg?

How long in Heidelberg or Arles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Heidelberg or Arles to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arles.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg.

One day in Heidelberg or Arles?

In Heidelberg, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this quaint destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

With museums and nightlife around the compact town of Arles, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Arles, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Heidelberg or Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Heidelberg. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Arles, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Five days in Heidelberg or Arles?

Heidelberg is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the quaint destination of Heidelberg. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Arles, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Heidelberg or Arles?

You'll find nightlife and food around the lively destination of Heidelberg. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Arles is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Germany, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

When comparing the travel costs between Heidelberg and Arles, we can see that Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg Expensive? and Is Arles Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Heidelberg or Arles?

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

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 Heidelberg or Arles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Heidelberg as well as Arles. Many travelers come to Heidelberg for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Arles in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Heidelberg is cooler than Arles in the summer. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 21°C (69°F) in July, and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Heidelberg this time of the year. In the summer, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Arles. Heidelberg gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets more rain in July than Arles. Heidelberg gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Arles in the Autumn?

Both Arles and Heidelberg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Heidelberg in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Heidelberg is cooler than Arles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Heidelberg in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Arles averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Arles during autumn. Heidelberg gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Arles. In October, Heidelberg usually receives less rain than Arles. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Arles in the Winter?

Both Arles and Heidelberg during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Heidelberg for 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.

Heidelberg can be very cold during winter. In January, Heidelberg is generally much colder than Arles. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 3°C (37°F), and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Arles. Heidelberg gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets less rain in January than Arles. Heidelberg gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Arles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Heidelberg and Arles. The spring months attract visitors to Heidelberg because of the natural beauty. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

Heidelberg is cooler than Arles in the spring. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arles this time of the year. Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Arles during spring. Heidelberg gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Heidelberg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Arles. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Heidelberg