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

Should you visit Marbella or Arles?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marbella or Arles, 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.

Marbella

Marbella is a fun-filled, high energy, and ritzy resort town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Arles

Arles is a charming, compact, and quaint town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Marbella and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marbella or Arles?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Marbella than Arles, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Marbella is more popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Arles is known for its museums, food, and historical sights. Marbella is more touristy than Arles and is popular for its luxury hotels, beautiful beaches, and lively nightlife. It is also home to Plaza de los Naranjos. Arles is popular for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

How is Marbella different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Arles is very popular for its museums and history. However, Marbella does not have museums and landmarks.

The museums and tourist attractions in Arles are world-renowned. 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.

Marbella does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Arles is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Arles has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Marbella area. The area is filled with tourists, so finding an authentic dining experience can be difficult. Several favorite dishes include croquetas, boquerones, and pulpo.

Is Marbella or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Marbella is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The nightlife in Marbella is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. European tourists flock to the town for its beaches and resorts. The town has a glamorous nightlife scene with exclusive clubs and ritzy cocktail bars, particularly in Puerto Banus and along the Golden Mile.

If you're looking for night time activities Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Marbella or Arles Better for Music?

Marbella is well known for its music scene. However, Arles is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in Marbella. Some of the best music venues include Starlite, Kitch Social Club, and Momento.

Arles is not a live music destination.

Is Marbella or Arles Better for Resorts?

Marbella is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Arles is not a resort destination.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Marbella is a perfect choice. From luxury to family-friendly, this area has plenty of resorts to choose from. Popular resorts in the area include Marbella Club Hotel, Puente Romano Marbella, and Don Carlos Resort and Spa.

Arles is not a resort destination.

Is Marbella or Arles Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Marbella is an unbeatable place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Arles is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

The scuba diving and snorkeling in Marbella is not to be missed. There are more than 100 dive sights and endless snorkeling opportunities in the area. There are deep offshore reefs that you can explore as well as shallower wrecks and caves.

Arles is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Marbella or Arles Better for Beaches?

Marbella is an unbeatable place for the beach. However, Arles is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, Marbella is a very popular vacation destination. The area boasts some of the best beaches in Europe. They are hubs of activity with lots of energy, and there are more than 18 miles of sandy beach in the area. Popular options include Guadalmina Beach, San Pedro de Alcántara Beach, and Nueva Andalucía Beach.

Arles is not a beach destination.

Is Marbella or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is very popular for its old town. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town charm.

Arles has a world-famous historical area. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Marbella offers a nice historic old town area. Head into the old town to explore a quaint area with small, meandering streets, churches, restaurants, shops, and cafes.

Is the Shopping Better in Marbella or Arles?

Marbella is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Marbella is a world class destination for shoppers. This area attracts vacationers from around Europe and the shopping is some of the best in Europe.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Marbella or Arles Better for Families?

Marbella is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Marbella is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The area has beautiful, family-friendly beaches and many resorts with pools that are great for kids.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Marbella or Arles Better for Couples?

Marbella is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

For those traveling as a couple, Marbella has plenty to offer. The area has luxury resorts, nice beaches, water sports, golf, and water activities that are perfect for a honeymoon or a romantic weekend or a honeymoon.

Arles is a great resort town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Is Marbella or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Marbella is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a few good hostels in the area for backpackers who want to enjoy this part of Spain's cost. There's also a lively nightlife scene and plenty of opportunities to meet others.

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

Arles is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Marbella is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Arles has some public transit options. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Public transit is generally limited in Marbella. There is a bus system through the area, but most visitors prefer to get around by car.

Is Marbella or Arles a more walkable city?

Marbella and Arles are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Marbella is a very walkable resort town. The old town is particularly walkable and there are a number of hotels and nice resorts within a short walk of the town along a nice promenade.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Arles or Marbella?

How long in Marbella or Arles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Marbella or Arles to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Marbella than Arles because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Marbella, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arles.

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

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

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

One day in Marbella or Arles?

In Marbella, many people enjoy the live music and food that this fun-filled destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This resort 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.

The beautiful town of Arles offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Marbella or Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Marbella. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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.

Arles 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. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Arles, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Marbella or Arles?

Marbella is a fun place to experience. In Marbella, many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping that this destination offers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Arles is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. 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.

A week in Marbella or Arles?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the ritzy destination of Marbella. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Arles is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that museums is why people visit. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Marbella or Arles?

Marbella has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Marbella 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 Marbella 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 Marbella or Arles in the Summer?

Both Arles and Marbella during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Marbella for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Arles because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Marbella is around the same temperature as Arles. Typically, the summer temperatures in Marbella in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Arles averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Marbella. In the summer, Marbella often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Arles. Marbella gets 348 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Marbella usually gets less rain in July than Arles. Marbella gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marbella or Arles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Marbella and Arles. The autumn months attract visitors to Marbella because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

In October, Marbella is generally a little warmer than Arles. Daily temperatures in Marbella average around 19°C (67°F), and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In Marbella, it's very sunny this time of the year. Marbella usually receives more sunshine than Arles during autumn. Marbella gets 213 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, Marbella usually receives less rain than Arles. Marbella gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Marbella or Arles in the Winter?

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

Marbella is much warmer than Arles in the winter. The daily temperature in Marbella averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Marbella often gets more sunshine than Arles. Marbella gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Marbella usually gets more rain in January than Arles. Marbella gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marbella or Arles in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Marbella is a little warmer than Arles. Typically, the spring temperatures in Marbella in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Arles averages at about 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Arles. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marbella. Marbella usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Arles during spring. Marbella gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Marbella usually receives less rain than Arles. Marbella gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Marbella