A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lyon vs. San Diego for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Lyon or San Diego?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lyon or San Diego, 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.

Lyon

Lyon is a beautiful, cultural, and quaint city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

San Diego

San Diego is a relaxed, outdoorsy, and idyllic coastal city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food.

Lyon and San Diego: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lyon or San Diego?

You'll generally find more things to do in San Diego than Lyon. San Diego is bigger than Lyon, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. San Diego is better known for its music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and hiking, while Lyon is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. San Diego is more touristy than Lyon and is popular for its relaxed coastal atmosphere, its many kid-friendly sights, and its beautiful beaches with critter-filled tidal pools. Also, San Diego is famous for The San Diego Zoo. Lyon is well known for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town.

How is Lyon different from San Diego?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Lyon or San Diego?

Lyon is renowned for its historical sights. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its sights and museums.

The museums and tourist attractions in Lyon are world-renowned. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

San Diego offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. While the city is famous for it's beaches, zoos, and aquariums, don't overlook the museums and other landmarks. Popular options include the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, the Old Town State Historic Park, and Point Loma and Cabrillo Monument.

Is the Food Better in Lyon or San Diego? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lyon is renowned for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through Lyon, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Known as "the Gastronomic Capital of the World" this city stands above the rest when it comes to Michelin star restaurants (there are 17!), fresh ingredients, and unique local flavors. Favorite local dishes include pâté en croûte, rosette de Lyon, and saucisson brioché.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the San Diego area. The city has great seafood and a diversity of cuisines. There are many casual dining options that serve informal foods like burgers or salads, but there are also award-winning fine dining restaurants with elegant atmospheres. Popular local dishes include fish tacos and California burritos.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Nightlife?

Both Lyon and San Diego are great when it comes to partying.

Lyon offers plenty to do in the evening. The city has enough diverse neighborhoods that you'll find a scene that is great for everyone. There are dance clubs, cocktail bars, and wine bars that meet every personality and style.

San Diego has a large number of nightlife venues. The heart of the city's nightlife scene is in the Gaslamp District, which is filled with bars, clubs, and music venues. There's a young student population that keeps the nightlife scene casual and fun.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Music?

San Diego is a well-known place for its live music scene. However, Lyon is not a live music destination.

The music scene in San Diego is very popular with diverse venues. Popular venues include the House of Blues, The Belly Up, and The Shout House.

Lyon is not a live music destination.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Resorts?

San Diego is a nice place to visit for its resorts. However, Lyon is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, San Diego makes a nice vacation spot. Most people prefer to stay in hotels or VRBOs, but several popular resorts include Fairmont Grand Del Mar, Paradise Point, and the famous Hotel del Coronado.

Lyon is not a resort destination.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

San Diego is a nice place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Lyon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

San Diego has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. Popular snorkeling and diving spots include La Jolla Cove, Mission Bay, and Turtle Town. The water's a bit chili, but it's still worth going for a dive or popping on a mask and snorkeling around for a bit.

Lyon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Beaches?

San Diego is an amazing coastal city to visit for the beache. However, Lyon is not a beach destination.

The beaches in San Diego are among the best in the world. The city has great beaches with tidal pools and interesting sea life at low tide. Adults and kids alike will enjoy hitting the beach when the tides are out and looking for local critters in the tidal pools. Popular beaches in the area include La Jolla Cove Beach, Coronado Beach, and Pacific Beach.

Lyon is not a beach destination.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for its Old Town?

Lyon is renowned for its old town. However, San Diego does not have a historic old town.

The old town of Lyon is one of the most recognized in the world. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.

San Diego does not have a historic old town.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Hiking?

San Diego is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Lyon is not a hiking destination.

San Diego is a popular spot for hiking. The city is filled with parks and has tons of natural beauty. There is plenty of urban hiking in town, or you can visit more natural areas just out of town. Head to Torrey Pines State Park or Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail for some nice hikes.

Lyon is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Lyon or San Diego?

Lyon is great for its shopping opportunities. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its shopping areas.

Lyon is well-known for its shopping. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.

Many visitors go to San Diego to go shopping. Head to Fashion Valley or Westfield UTC for some fun shopping. There are suburban shopping malls in the area as well as souvenir shops in the more touristy areas.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Families?

San Diego is an amazing coastal city to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

San Diego is an amazing family-friendly coastal city to visit. The city is filled with kid-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy. There's the world-class zoo, several amusement parks, the beaches, aquariums, and more. The year-round warm weather makes it easy to spend plenty of time outdoors in parks, playgrounds, and beaches where kids can stretch their legs and run around.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Lyon. The city has many kid-friendly museums including Musée des Confluences and the Cinema and Miniature Museum. There are also playgrounds, patisseries, and river cruises that you can enjoy as a family. Puppet shows are also fun, but do note that they're usually in French. While the restaurants are amazing for adults, it can be tricky to find a kid-friendly option with early opening hours that are convenient for little ones.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Couples?

San Diego is an amazing coastal city to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

San Diego has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. For adventurous couples, there are many outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. The beaches offer a great playground for adults who enjoy the water and warm weather. There are also restaurants and a great nightlife in San Diego.

Lyon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lyon is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Lyon. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit San Diego. Backpackers will enjoy the young vibe of the city. There are a few great hostels near the beach or in town.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Students?

Lyon and San Diego are both world-class destinations for students and younger travelers.

Lyon is a great destination for students. It is a very livable city with many fun cultural activities for students. There are many different entertainment options during the day, and during the evening there are plenty of places to hang out.

San Diego is a very popular city for students. With its young population and many universities, international students will feel right at home in San Diego. There are also many great outdoor activities for the adventurous.

Is Lyon or San Diego Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Lyon is renowned for times when you don't have a car. However, San Diego is not a good destination for its public transit.

Lyon has a great public transit system. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.

Public transit is generally limited in San Diego. The city has a trolley (light rail system) as well as a bus system. Most people depend on cars to get around, and you'll likely enjoy your trip a bit more if you have your own vehicle.

Is Lyon or San Diego a more walkable city?

Lyon is great for its high level of walkability. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its ease of walking around.

Lyon is a very walkable city. The old town is particularly walkable, but the hills can make things a bit challenging. There are also a number of pedestrian streets around town.

San Diego is a somewhat walkable city. The downtown area is walkable, but if you want to travel further, you'll need to find a different form of transportation.

For even more information, also check out Is Lyon Worth Visiting? and Is San Diego Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Diego or Lyon?

How long in Lyon or San Diego?

In either Lyon or San Diego, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. You can fill a similar amount of time in either place. In general, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Lyon, and 3-5 days is enough time in San Diego.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lyon than San Diego 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 Lyon.

One day in Lyon or San Diego?

People visit Lyon because there is so much to do. 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.

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of San Diego. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Lyon or San Diego?

People visit Lyon because there is so much to do. 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 city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

San Diego is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the beaches. It's also a great beach destination, too. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Lyon or San Diego?

People visit Lyon because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the relaxed destination of San Diego. This coastal city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Lyon or San Diego?

Lyon 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.

The energetic coastal city of San Diego offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lyon and San Diego, we can see that San Diego is more expensive. And not only is Lyon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lyon is in Europe and San Diego is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Lyon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lyon 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 San Diego would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Diego than you might in Lyon.

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

Which is Bigger, Lyon or San Diego?

San Diego has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Lyon. When comparing the sizes of Lyon and San Diego, 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 Lyon or San Diego?

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 Lyon or San Diego in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Lyon as well as San Diego. Many travelers come to Lyon for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to San Diego in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Lyon is around the same temperature as San Diego in the summer. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 22°C (71°F) in July, and San Diego fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lyon this time of the year. In the summer, Lyon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Diego. Lyon gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun.

Lyon usually gets more rain in July than San Diego. Lyon gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lyon or San Diego in the Autumn?

Both San Diego and Lyon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Lyon in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to San Diego for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Lyon is cooler than San Diego. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lyon in October average around 14°C (56°F), and San Diego averages at about 68°F (20°C).

It's quite sunny in San Diego. Lyon usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during autumn. Lyon gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Lyon usually receives more rain than San Diego. Lyon gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Lyon or San Diego in the Winter?

Both San Diego and Lyon during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Lyon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to San Diego because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Lyon can be very cold during winter. In January, Lyon is generally much colder than San Diego. Daily temperatures in Lyon average around 4°C (39°F), and San Diego fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Lyon often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Lyon gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun.

Lyon usually gets more rain in January than San Diego. Lyon gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lyon or San Diego in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lyon and San Diego. The spring months attract visitors to Lyon because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.

Lyon is cooler than San Diego in the spring. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 11°C (53°F) in April, and San Diego fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego this time of the year. Lyon usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during spring. Lyon gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Lyon usually receives more rain than San Diego. Lyon gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Diego and Lyon