A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Heraklion vs. Brescia for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Heraklion or Brescia?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Heraklion and Brescia can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Heraklion

Heraklion is a accessible, bustling, and historic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for museums, nightlife, and food.

Brescia

Brescia is a historic, undisovered, and authentic city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Heraklion and Brescia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heraklion or Brescia?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Heraklion than Brescia. While Brescia is larger than Heraklion, Heraklion has more sights and attractions for tourists. Heraklion is very popular for its museums, nightlife, beaches, and big city activities, while Brescia attracts visitors for its shopping and impressive beauty. Heraklion is more touristy than Brescia and is popular for its archeological sights, local Cretan restaurants, and its vibrant nightlife scene. It is also well known for The Palace of Knossos. Brescia is famous for its historic and archeological sights.

How is Heraklion different from Brescia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Heraklion or Brescia?

Heraklion is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Brescia is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Heraklion can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with historical sights and archeological ruins. The impressive Palace of Knossos is a must-see, but also make sure you visit the Koules Fortress, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Natural History Museum of Crete.

Brescia offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are some great museums and historic sights around town such as the Museum of Art and History, Tempio Capitolino, the Roman Theater, and Duomo Nuovo.

Is the Food Better in Heraklion or Brescia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Heraklion and Brescia both to be high quality destinations.

Heraklion has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city is home to countless Cretan restaurants that range in style and budget. There are fine dining restaurants as well as local dives with casual street food. The restaurants reflect the island's multi-cultural past with many styles and flavors available.

Dining out in Brescia is an experience not to be missed. Much of the cuisine has its roots in peasant recipes, but many have been incorporated into fine dining and specialty experiences. The dishes come from the countryside and use many local ingredients. Bigoi Col Pestöm (a local pasta), Casoncelli Alla Bresciana (stuffed pasta), and polenta are all favorites in the area.

Is Heraklion or Brescia Better for Nightlife?

Heraklion is well known for nightlife. Also, Brescia is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

Heraklion is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city has some of the best nightlife on the island of Crete. There are many all-night clubs as well as bars that stay open until 2 or 3 in the morning. In particular, there are many British tourists hanging out at the clubs and bars.

If you're looking for night time activities Brescia has a few options to choose from. The city has a number of clubs and bars that make for a fun night out.

Is Heraklion or Brescia Better for Beaches?

Heraklion is well known for its beaches. However, Brescia is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Heraklion. You'll find world-class beaches just outside of town, if you're willing to explore a little. Agia Pelagia Beach is about half an hour away and Limanakia Beach is also not a bad day trip. If you want to stay closer to town, head to nearby Amnissos Beach.

Brescia is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Heraklion or Brescia?

Brescia is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Heraklion is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Brescia is well-known for its shopping. It's a small city, but there are a number of fashion brands found around town. Via Gramsci, Corso Magenta, Via Mazzini, and Via X Giornate are among the best shopping streets.

Many visitors go to Heraklion to go shopping. There are a number of unique shops around town that sell everything from traditional pottery to homemade jewelry.

Is Heraklion or Brescia Better for Families?

Heraklion is a nice place to visit for its family-friendly activities. However, Brescia is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Heraklion. In town you'll find many historical and educational sights such as the Palace of Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Koules Venetian fortress. Kids will also enjoy walking the Venetian Walls that are in town. If you're willing to head a bit outside of town, in about half an hour you can reach the Cretaquarium, Dinosauria Park, or Acqua Plus Water Park.

For families, Brescia is not always the best place to visit. There are several parks and swimming pools that the kids will enjoy as well as a castle and lots of archeology.

Is Heraklion or Brescia Better for Couples?

Heraklion is well known for romance. Also, Brescia is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Heraklion frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Most couples head outside of town to other parts of the island, but those who linger in town for a while will enjoy world-class museums and fascinating archeological sights.

Brescia makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's location near Lake Garda and its rich history and plethora of archeological sites make this a nice destination for couples.

Is Heraklion or Brescia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Heraklion is well known for backpackers. However, Brescia is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Heraklion. The city is filled with budget-friendly hostels that often have a social atmosphere and a fun vibe.

Brescia is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not a particularly popular backpacker destination but there are some affordable guesthouses.

Is Heraklion or Brescia Better for Students?

Brescia is a city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Heraklion is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Brescia. This is an affordable and interesting city for students. It's also in a beautiful setting, which makes for a nice experience.

Heraklion is not popular with students.

Is Heraklion or Brescia Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Heraklion and Brescia.

Heraklion has some public transit options. KTEL buses travel both within town and to nearby villages.

You'll find some public transit in Brescia, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses and light rail to help you get around town.

Is Heraklion or Brescia a more walkable city?

Heraklion is well known for its walkability. Also, Brescia is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Heraklion is very walkable. Many parts of the town are walkable and doing a walking tour is a great way to see many of the city's sights.

Brescia is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are easy to walk around.

For even more information, also check out Is Heraklion Worth Visiting? and Is Brescia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Brescia or Heraklion?

How long in Heraklion or Brescia?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Heraklion than Brescia 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 Heraklion.

One day in Heraklion or Brescia?

In Heraklion, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Brescia. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Brescia has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Heraklion or Brescia?

In Heraklion, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Heraklion has to offer.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the under-rated destination of Brescia. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Heraklion or Brescia?

Heraklion is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the undisovered city of Brescia. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Heraklion or Brescia?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Heraklion. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Heraklion. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Brescia is a popular choice for travelers. 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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Heraklion or Brescia?

Brescia has a larger population, and is about 37% larger than the population of Heraklion. When comparing the sizes of Heraklion and Brescia, 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 Heraklion or Brescia?

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 Heraklion or Brescia in the Summer?

Both Brescia and Heraklion during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Heraklion for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Brescia because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Heraklion is generally around the same temperature as Brescia. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 25°C (78°F), and Brescia fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Brescia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Heraklion. In the summer, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Brescia. Heraklion gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brescia receives 286 hours of full sun.

Heraklion usually gets less rain in July than Brescia. Heraklion gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Brescia receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heraklion or Brescia in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Heraklion and Brescia. The autumn months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Brescia this time of year.

Heraklion is a little warmer than Brescia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Brescia fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Brescia during autumn. Heraklion gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Brescia receives 137 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Brescia. Heraklion gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Brescia receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Heraklion or Brescia in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Heraklion as well as Brescia. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Heraklion this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Brescia for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Brescia. In the winter, Heraklion is much warmer than Brescia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Heraklion in January average around 12°C (54°F), and Brescia averages at about 1°C (35°F).

In the winter, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Brescia. Heraklion gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brescia receives 98 hours of full sun.

Heraklion usually gets more rain in January than Brescia. Heraklion gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Brescia receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heraklion or Brescia in the Spring?

Both Brescia and Heraklion are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Heraklion for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Brescia in the spring for the natural beauty.

In April, Heraklion is generally a little warmer than Brescia. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 16°C (61°F), and Brescia fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Heraklion. Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Brescia during spring. Heraklion gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Brescia receives 169 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Brescia. Heraklion gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Brescia receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Brescia and Heraklion