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

Should you visit Mainz or Arles?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Mainz and Arles 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.

Mainz

Mainz is a charming, beautiful, and peaceful town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Arles

Arles is a charming, compact, and quaint town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Mainz and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mainz or Arles?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Arles than Mainz. While Mainz is larger than Arles, Arles has more sights and attractions for tourists. Mainz is more touristy than Arles and is popular for its quaint old town, Roman heritage, and beautiful town squares. Arles is well known for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. Also, Arles is famous for L'Amphithéâtre Romain.

How is Mainz different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Arles is terrific for its museums and history. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Arles from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. 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.

Mainz offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's an old university town with a number of historical sights. Check out the Church of St. Stephan, Mainz Cathedral, the Gutenberg Museum, and the Museum of Ancient Seafaring.

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Mainz and Arles.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Mainz. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes that serve local food. There are also wine taverns where you can sample the local wines and dine of regional specialties.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Arles. 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 Mainz or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Arles is a town with good options for nightlife. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Arles. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Mainz. It's a sleepy little town, so even locals often head to bigger cities for better nightlife.

Is Mainz or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is terrific for its historic old town. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its old town.

Arles has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Mainz. Filled with beautiful squares and cobblestone streets, this is a nice old town in a pleasant city.

Is the Shopping Better in Mainz or Arles?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Mainz and Arles.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Mainz. Head to the boulevard of Am Brand near the cathedral for some of the town's best shopping. There are shops that line the street and it's a nice area to walk around.

Arles offers some nice shopping areas. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Mainz or Arles Better for Families?

Neither Mainz nor Arles are considered to be the most family-friendly destination.

Mainz is not always a place people visit with their families. Kids will enjoy the Gutenburg Museum and the outdoor spaces where they can run around. There's also a nice old town that everyone will have fun exploring.

Arles doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Mainz or Arles Better for Couples?

Both Mainz and Arles are superb destinations for a couple's getaway.

Mainz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Located on the Rhine River, this scenic setting is popular for river cruises. The town is nice to explore on its own, or you can hop around and take in several of the German river towns. You can also sit at outdoor cafes and sip local wine.

Couples visit Arles frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Is Mainz or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Mainz is very good for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Mainz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. The town is popular with river cruises but you'll also find a hostel or two where budget travelers can save some money and meet other backpackers.

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 Mainz or Arles Better for Students?

Mainz is well known for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Mainz is very popular with students. It's a university town with a pleasant atmosphere and a beautiful setting.

Arles is not popular with students.

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

Mainz 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 Mainz. There are regional trains that make it easy to use Mainz as a base to explore the area, or you could visit Mainz as a day trip from another nearby town.

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 Mainz or Arles a more walkable city?

Mainz is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Mainz on foot is easy. The town is easily explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Arles or Mainz?

How long in Mainz or Arles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Mainz or Arles to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Mainz than Arles because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Mainz, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arles.

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

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

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

One day in Mainz or Arles?

In Mainz, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this peaceful destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

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

A weekend in Mainz or Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mainz. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arles. 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.

Five days in Mainz or Arles?

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

Arles is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Arles. Lots of people come for the museums. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Mainz or Arles?

You'll find food and shopping around the beautiful destination of Mainz. 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.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

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

Which is Bigger, Mainz or Arles?

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

Both Arles and Mainz during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Mainz in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Mainz is generally cooler than Arles. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 19°C (66°F), and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mainz. In the summer, Mainz often gets less sunshine than Arles. Mainz gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Mainz usually gets more rain in July than Arles. Mainz gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mainz or Arles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mainz and Arles. Most visitors come to Mainz for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Arles because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Mainz is cooler than Arles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mainz averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Mainz usually receives less sunshine than Arles during autumn. Mainz gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Arles receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Mainz usually receives less rain than Arles. Mainz gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mainz or Arles in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Mainz as well as Arles. The winter months attract visitors to Mainz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

The weather in Mainz can be very cold. In the winter, Mainz is much colder than Arles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mainz in January average around 2°C (35°F), and Arles averages at about 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Mainz often gets less sunshine than Arles. Mainz gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Mainz usually gets less rain in January than Arles. Mainz gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mainz or Arles in the Spring?

Both Arles and Mainz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Mainz this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Arles for the natural beauty.

In April, Mainz is generally cooler than Arles. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 11°C (51°F), and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Arles. Mainz usually receives less sunshine than Arles during spring. Mainz gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mainz usually receives less rain than Arles. Mainz gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Mainz