A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Paz vs. Reno for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit La Paz or Reno?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between La Paz and Reno 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.

La Paz

La Paz is a authentic, cultural, and beautiful city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Reno

Reno is a vibrant, energetic, and growing city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

La Paz and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Paz or Reno?

Tourists will generally find more to do in La Paz. Although La Paz and Reno are both popular with visitors, La Paz has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. La Paz is more popular for its museums, food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Reno is known for its nightlife. La Paz is more touristy than Reno and is popular for its beautiful beaches, fascinating cultural setting, and authentic local atmosphere. It is also home to Balandra Beach. Reno is popular for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is La Paz different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in La Paz or Reno?

La Paz is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

La Paz offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Sights and landmarks around town include La Paz Cathedral, the Museo de Antropología e Historia de Baja California Sur, the the Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur, and Teatro Juarez.

Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

Is the Food Better in La Paz or Reno? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

La Paz is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

La Paz has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. As the capital of Baja California Sur, you'll find many local restaurants that serve traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine. The recipes include seafood and local produce. You'll find everything from food stalls to high end restaurants around town.

Reno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is La Paz or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Reno is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, La Paz is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Reno has plenty to do after the sun goes down. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in La Paz. There are many bars and restaurants around the Malecón.

Is La Paz or Reno Better for Resorts?

La Paz is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Reno is not a resort destination.

La Paz has a few great resort options. There are a number of hotels and resorts around town that make for a nice vacation.

Reno is not a resort destination.

Is La Paz or Reno Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

La Paz is an excellent place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Reno is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting La Paz. There are organized diving and snorkeling excursions available around town. It's location by the Sea of Cortez makes diving a world class experience.

Reno is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is La Paz or Reno Better for Beaches?

La Paz is renowned for the beach. However, Reno is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in La Paz. The beaches in the area are the main draw, and you'll find beaches that are family-friendly, romantic, or full of amenities. Some consider the beaches in the area among the best in Mexico.

Reno is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in La Paz or Reno?

La Paz is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in La Paz. Local boutiques, souvenir shops, and art galleries all make for interesting shopping opportunities.

Reno is a great destination for shopping. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Is La Paz or Reno Better for Families?

La Paz is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in La Paz. Older kids will enjoy swimming with whale sharks, whale watching, and experiencing the region's wildlife. There are also many beaches in the area where kids can play.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is La Paz or Reno Better for Couples?

Both La Paz and Reno are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

La Paz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy walking along the beach promenade known as Malecon. There are also beaches and amazing animal experiences such as whale watching or dolphin viewing.

Reno is a good city for couples to visit. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Is La Paz or Reno Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Paz is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Reno is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit La Paz. The city offers an authentic experience and hostels that make it a budget-friendly option for backpackers.

Reno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really on the backpacker circuit so you won't find any real hostels in town.

Is La Paz or Reno Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

La Paz is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Reno is lacking in options for its public transit.

La Paz has some public transit options. There's a cheap local bus system around town.

Public transit is generally limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is La Paz or Reno a more walkable city?

La Paz is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

La Paz is a very walkable destination. The city is very walkable.

Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is La Paz Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or La Paz?

How long in La Paz or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both La Paz and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in La Paz than in Reno. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for La Paz, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in La Paz than Reno 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 La Paz.

One day in La Paz or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of La Paz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Reno. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in La Paz or Reno?

La Paz is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the beaches. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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.

Reno is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in La Paz or Reno?

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the authentic destination of La Paz. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Reno. 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 La Paz or Reno?

The cultural city of La Paz offers shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the vibrant destination of Reno. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, La Paz or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of La Paz. When comparing the sizes of La Paz and Reno, 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.