A Travel Price Comparison for Spain Marbella vs. Girona for Nightlife, Old Town, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Marbella or Girona?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marbella or Girona, 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 ritzy, glamorous, and fun-filled resort town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Girona

Girona is a colorful, medieval, and ancient city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Because of its quaint atmosphere, it draws plenty of visitors, too. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

Marbella and Girona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marbella or Girona?

You'll generally find more things to do in Marbella than Girona. Marbella is bigger than Girona, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Marbella is better known for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Girona is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Marbella is more touristy than Girona and is popular for its luxury hotels, beautiful beaches, and lively nightlife. Also, Marbella is famous for Plaza de los Naranjos. Girona is well known for its ancient ruins, colorful old town, grand cathedral, and impressive local cuisine.

How is Marbella different from Girona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Girona 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 Girona?

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

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Girona can be an interesting and educational experience. Wander the ancient city walls, explore the beautiful Girona Cathedral, and learn about the Church of Sant Feliu. There are also some interesting museums in town including the Museum of Jewish History, the Archaeology Museum, and the Film Museum. Also make sure you walk across the famed Eiffel Bridge.

Marbella does not have museums and landmarks.

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

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

Girona has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The small city is filled with cafes and restaurants that spill out into the street. There are also markets such as El Lleó Marketplace where you can check out fresh, local items. Many restaurants also have Catalonian style tapas, seafood such as octopus, and garlic shrimp. For breakfast, there are many pastry shops where you can enjoy a European breakfast.

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 Girona Better for Nightlife?

Marbella is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. However, Girona is not a good city for its evening party scene.

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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Girona. It's a surprisingly quiet town, especially compared to other nearby party cities, but there are some nightclubs, bars, and music venues that are worth checking out.

Is Marbella or Girona Better for Music?

Marbella is a well-known place for its live music scene. However, Girona is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Marbella is very popular with diverse venues. Some of the best music venues include Starlite, Kitch Social Club, and Momento.

Girona is not a live music destination.

Is Marbella or Girona Better for Resorts?

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

Vacationers flock to Marbella for its luxury resorts. 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.

Girona is not a resort destination.

Is Marbella or Girona Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

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

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Marbella. 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.

Girona is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Marbella or Girona Better for Beaches?

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

Marbella offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. 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.

Girona is not a beach destination.

Is Marbella or Girona Better for its Old Town?

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

Girona has a world-famous historical area. It's a beautiful medieval old town with many wandering streets that are lined with storefronts and classic European cafes.

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 Girona?

Marbella is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Marbella make it a world-class shopping destination. This area attracts vacationers from around Europe and the shopping is some of the best in Europe.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Girona. In and around the old town you'll find modern shops, local eateries, charming markets, and anything you might need to purchase. There's also no shortage of souvenir and trinket shops, but they have a bit of personality and character to them.

Is Marbella or Girona Better for Families?

Marbella is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. However, Girona is not a good city for its kid-friendly activities.

Marbella is a very kid-friendly resort town. The area has beautiful, family-friendly beaches and many resorts with pools that are great for kids.

Girona is not always a place people visit with their families. While the old town is beautiful, with charming colorful buildings, the city itself doesn't have a wide number of activities for kids. There are ice cream shops where they can enjoy a sweet treat. There are also several museums and many restaurants have kid-friendly menus.

Is Marbella or Girona Better for Couples?

Marbella is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Marbella is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. 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.

Girona makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The setting is both beautiful and romantic. Couples can enjoy wandering the streets, popping in the many shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. There are also many great restaurants that make for a wonderful night out. Head up the hills towards the cathedral for the best viewpoints, or wander along the river and enjoy the colorful atmosphere.

Is Marbella or Girona Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Marbella and Girona are both notable destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Marbella. 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.

Girona is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. Prices aren't too crazy and it's not hard to find a place to stay for an affordable price, but you won't find the lively backpacker scene that is common in many nearby cities.

Is Marbella or Girona Better for Students?

Girona is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Marbella is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Girona. It's a smaller city with affordable accommodation and many great restaurants. It has a quintessential European atmosphere that makes it a fun place to spend some time as a student

Marbella is not popular with students.

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

Girona 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.

Girona has some public transit options. The town is small enough that you can likely walk anywhere you want to go, but if you need transit, there are 10 local bus routes.

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 Girona a more walkable city?

Girona is very popular for its high level of walkability. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Girona. Everything is easily accessible on foot and its best not to bring a car into town.

Marbella is a very walkable destination. 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.

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

Should I spend more time in Girona or Marbella?

How long in Marbella or Girona?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Marbella or Girona to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Marbella than Girona 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 Girona.

Families should spend more time in Marbella than Girona. 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 Girona. 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 Girona than Marbella 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 Girona.

One day in Marbella or Girona?

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Marbella. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The beautiful city of Girona 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 Girona?

Marbella 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.

Girona is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city 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 Girona, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Marbella or Girona?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Marbella. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Girona 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.

A week in Marbella or Girona?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the ritzy destination of Marbella. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Girona is a great place to explore. 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 city 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 Luxury Tours to Spain, and The Best Budget Tours to Spain.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marbella and Girona, we can see that Girona 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 Girona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Girona 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 Girona Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Marbella or Girona?

Marbella has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Girona. When comparing the sizes of Marbella and Girona, 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 Girona?

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 Girona in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Marbella as well as Girona. Many travelers come to Marbella for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Girona in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Marbella is around the same temperature as Girona in the summer. The daily temperature in Marbella averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Girona fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Girona. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marbella this time of the year. In the summer, Marbella often gets more sunshine than Girona. Marbella gets 348 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun.

Marbella usually gets less rain in July than Girona. Marbella gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marbella or Girona in the Autumn?

Both Girona and Marbella are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Marbella in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Girona for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Marbella is a little warmer than Girona. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Marbella in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Girona averages at about 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marbella. Marbella usually receives more sunshine than Girona during autumn. Marbella gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Marbella usually receives less rain than Girona. Marbella gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Marbella or Girona in the Winter?

Both Girona and Marbella during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Marbella for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Girona because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Marbella is generally much warmer than Girona. Daily temperatures in Marbella average around 12°C (54°F), and Girona fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the winter, Marbella often gets more sunshine than Girona. Marbella gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun.

Marbella usually gets more rain in January than Girona. Marbella gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marbella or Girona in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Marbella and Girona. The spring months attract visitors to Marbella because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, the small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Girona this time of year.

Marbella is a little warmer than Girona in the spring. The daily temperature in Marbella averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Girona fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In Marbella, it's very sunny this time of the year. Marbella usually receives more sunshine than Girona during spring. Marbella gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Marbella usually receives less rain than Girona. Marbella gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Girona and Marbella