A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Lancaster vs. Santa Fe for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Lancaster or Santa Fe?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lancaster or Santa Fe, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Lancaster

Lancaster is a picturesque, scenic, and traditional town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a charming, artsy, and cultural historic town. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the museums, skiing, and live music.

Lancaster and Santa Fe: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lancaster or Santa Fe?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Santa Fe than Lancaster. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Santa Fe is very popular for its skiing, food, music, historical sights, hiking, and quaint atmosphere, while Lancaster attracts visitors for its museums and impressive beauty. Lancaster is famous for its history and long running Amish community. Santa Fe is famous for its strong arts scene, its Pueblo-style architecture, and its unique local cuisine. It is also well known for The Museum of New Mexico Complex.

How is Lancaster different from Santa Fe?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Lancaster or Santa Fe Better for Skiing?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for skiing. However, Lancaster is not a skiing destination.

Head to Santa Fe for some great skiing and other winter activities. There are a few good ski resorts not far from Santa Fe. Popular options include Taos Ski Valley, Ski Santa Fe, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, and Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort.

Lancaster is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Lancaster or Santa Fe?

Lancaster is a great town for its historical sights. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Lancaster specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Filled with history and local culture, there are many educational opportunities in the area where you can learn about Amish traditions. The Amish Village has tours and unique experiences. The town also has James Buchanan's Wheatland, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the National Toy Train Museum, the Ephrata Cloister, and the National Watch & Clock Museum, among many others.

Santa Fe is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Head to the Museum of New Mexico Complex, which has four museums that give a great overview of the history of the area. Also make sure you visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.

Is the Food Better in Lancaster or Santa Fe? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Fe is a great historic town for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Lancaster is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Fe has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There are many local restaurants that use regional ingredients and offer great flavors. There are also cafes and bistros where you can enjoy breakfast or brunch. Local dishes include sopaipillas made with Native American fry bread, slow-cooked beans, and anything made with red and green chili peppers.

Lancaster offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You can sample authentic Pennsylvania Dutch dishes at one of the Amish restaurants in the area. Many places serve food family-style and dishes include chicken pot pie, ham balls, and pork and sauerkraut. Whoopie pies also originated in the area.

Is Lancaster or Santa Fe Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find reasonable options in both Lancaster and Santa Fe.

Lancaster doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a small town, but you'll still find local pubs and cozy bars where you can enjoy a drink in a laid back atmosphere.

Most people don't head to Santa Fe specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. While most of the town quiets down at night, the city has a few areas that stay active late into the night. Live music is popular and diverse. It often includes different genres such as the blues, country, salsa or bluegrass.

Is Lancaster or Santa Fe Better for Music?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for its music scene. However, Lancaster is not a live music destination.

The music scene helps keep Santa Fe active and fun. The town has an eclectic music scene that includes a mix of the blues, country, Latin American music, and bluegrass.

Lancaster is not a live music destination.

Is Lancaster or Santa Fe Better for its Old Town?

Santa Fe is a great historic town for its historic old town charm. However, Lancaster does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Santa Fe to see the historical old town. As the 2nd oldest city in the United States, the old town historic district is filled with charm. The Pueblo-style buildings are brightly colored and there are churches throughout.

Lancaster does not have a historic old town.

Is Lancaster or Santa Fe Better for Hiking?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for hiking. However, Lancaster is not a hiking destination.

Santa Fe has hiking trails worth exploring. Because it's located right by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there are many beautiful hikes right outside of town. Popular trails include the Picacho Peak Trail and the Nambe Lake Trail. Bandelier National also has many places to hike.

Lancaster is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Lancaster or Santa Fe?

If you're looking to go shopping, Lancaster and Santa Fe both offer plenty of excellent spots.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Lancaster. Many visitors pick up hand-crafted Amish items while they're in town. Furniture and Amish quilts are particularly popular. Farmers markets and antique shopping are both unique in the area and there are also art galleries and several outlet stores that you can visit.

Santa Fe is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are many unique shops and art galleries that feature local artists and craftsmen.

Is Lancaster or Santa Fe Better for Families?

Lancaster is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Lancaster. In you area you'll find farms and petting zoos, amusement parks, and train rides. They can learn about a unique lifestyle at the Amish Experience or soak up the local beauty and farmland in the surrounding countryside.

Santa Fe is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a few kids' museums in Santa Fe including the Santa Fe Children's Museum and the Meow Wolf Art Complex. Kids also enjoy the botanical gardens at Museum Hill and Bandelier National Monument just outside of the city.

Is Lancaster or Santa Fe Better for Couples?

Lancaster is a great town for couples. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for romance.

Lancaster is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. This region is known for it's local beauty and serene farmland, making it a relaxing and peaceful destination for couples. There are walking trails, outdoor activities, buggy rides, and a variety of dining experiences. You can also stay at a bed and breakfast or local inn.

Santa Fe is a nice destination for couples. There are many romantic inns around town, each with a lot of character. The town also has a lot of atmosphere that makes for a romantic getaway.

Is Lancaster or Santa Fe Better for Students?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Lancaster is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Santa Fe. There are a few colleges and universities in town and students will appreciate the reasonable cost of living and outdoor activities nearby.

Lancaster is not popular with students.

Is Lancaster or Santa Fe Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Lancaster and Santa Fe both offer reasonable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Lancaster. The city has buses and several transportation options, but once you're outside of the urban core, your options are limited.

Public transit is generally limited in Santa Fe. There is a bus system - the Santa Fe Trails Bus Service.

Is Lancaster or Santa Fe a more walkable city?

Santa Fe is a great historic town for its ease of walking around. However, Lancaster is not known for its walkability.

Santa Fe is a very walkable destination. The historic district is walkable and it's easy to visit most of the tourist sights in this area on foot.

Lancaster is generally not very walkable. While the city itself has walkable areas, most visitors want to get out and explore the countryside, which requires a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Lancaster Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Fe Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Fe or Lancaster?

How long in Lancaster or Santa Fe?

In either Lancaster or Santa Fe, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Santa Fe than Lancaster because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Lancaster, and 2-5 days is enough time in Santa Fe.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Fe than Lancaster 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 Santa Fe.

One day in Lancaster or Santa Fe?

The beautiful town of Lancaster offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

You'll find skiing and live music around the historic town of Santa Fe. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Lancaster or Santa Fe?

Lancaster is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Lancaster, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

You'll find live music and food around the cultural destination of Santa Fe. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this historic town has to offer. This historic town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Lancaster or Santa Fe?

Lancaster is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the historic historic town of Santa Fe. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this historic town makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this historic town has to offer.

A week in Lancaster or Santa Fe?

Lancaster is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

Santa Fe is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Lancaster and Santa Fe, we can see that Lancaster 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 North America, 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 Lancaster Expensive? and Is Santa Fe Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Lancaster or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Lancaster. When comparing the sizes of Lancaster and Santa Fe, 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.