A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Marbella vs. Urbino for Nightlife, Couples, Food, and Families

Should you visit Marbella or Urbino?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marbella or Urbino, 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 high energy, ritzy, and glamorous resort town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and live music.

Urbino

Urbino is a authentic, laid back, and historic 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 Urbino: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marbella or Urbino?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Marbella. Although Marbella and Urbino are both popular with visitors, Marbella has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Marbella is more popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Urbino is known for its museums and food. Marbella is more touristy than Urbino and is known for its luxury hotels, beautiful beaches, and lively nightlife. It is also home to Plaza de los Naranjos. Urbino is popular for its Renaissance walls, historic center, and authentic atmosphere.

How is Marbella different from Urbino?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Urbino is a nice place to visit for its museums and history. However, Marbella does not have museums and landmarks.

Urbino offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. At the heart of the city are its historical sights. The cathedral is worth a visit, as is The Ducal Palace, but for most visitors, simply soaking up the town's atmosphere is the best experience.

Marbella does not have museums and landmarks.

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

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

Urbino has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city's history has influenced its cuisine. Traditional foods include cornbread, truffles, and meat sausage. While these options aren't as common today, you can still find them if you seek them out.

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 Urbino Better for Nightlife?

Marbella is an amazing resort town to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for nightlife.

Marbella has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Urbino. Because of the large student population, there are usually some fun activities going on at night. You'll find some good bars around town that are fun to hang out at.

Is Marbella or Urbino Better for Music?

Marbella is great for its music scene. However, Urbino is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Marbella draws a good crowd. Some of the best music venues include Starlite, Kitch Social Club, and Momento.

Urbino is not a live music destination.

Is Marbella or Urbino Better for Resorts?

Marbella is an amazing resort town to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Urbino is not a resort destination.

Marbella is a world class resort vacation destination. 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.

Urbino is not a resort destination.

Is Marbella or Urbino Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Marbella is an amazing resort town to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Urbino is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Marbella is a world class destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. 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.

Urbino is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Marbella or Urbino Better for Beaches?

Marbella is an amazing resort town to visit for the beach. However, Urbino is not a beach destination.

Marbella is considered to be a world-class beach 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.

Urbino is not a beach destination.

Is Marbella or Urbino Better for its Old Town?

Marbella and Urbino both have good historical old towns that attract visitors.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Marbella. Head into the old town to explore a quaint area with small, meandering streets, churches, restaurants, shops, and cafes.

Urbino offers a nice historic old town area. The historic center feels a bit undiscovered by Italian standards. There are stone houses and the town is built on a steep hill, giving it a beautiful setting.

Is the Shopping Better in Marbella or Urbino?

Marbella is an amazing resort town to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many people travel to Marbella specifically to go shopping. This area attracts vacationers from around Europe and the shopping is some of the best in Europe.

Urbino is a great destination for shopping. You'll find galleries, book shops, and jewelry stores around town that are fun to pop into.

Is Marbella or Urbino Better for Families?

Marbella is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Marbella. The area has beautiful, family-friendly beaches and many resorts with pools that are great for kids.

Urbino is not the most family-friendly destination. The city is filled with history and architecture, which may be lost on the kids. There are the classic Italian restaurants which is a favorite among kids and adults alike.

Is Marbella or Urbino Better for Couples?

Marbella is an amazing resort town to visit for couples. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for romance.

Marbella is a great resort town for couples, as it 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.

Urbino is a very popular place to visit for couples. This walled city is fun to explore and can make for a great romantic stop. The city is walled and has many historical buildings which couples will enjoy learning about together.

Is Marbella or Urbino Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Marbella is a resort town with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Urbino is not a good destination for backpackers.

Marbella is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. 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.

Urbino is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not well known by backpackers and there are a very limited number of hostels in the area.

Is Marbella or Urbino Better for Students?

Urbino is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Marbella is not popular with students.

Urbino is a great town to visit as a student. The student population is a large part of this small city. University students are usually happy and enjoy many activities and outings into the surrounding area.

Marbella is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find decent public transit in both Marbella and Urbino.

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

Public transit is generally limited in Urbino. The town is accessible by bus but not by train.

Is Marbella or Urbino a more walkable city?

Marbella is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

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.

Urbino is somewhat walkable. Many parts of the city are easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Urbino or Marbella?

How long in Marbella or Urbino?

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

Families should spend more time in Marbella than Urbino. 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 Urbino. 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 Urbino 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 Urbino?

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 town of Urbino offers food and shopping. 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 Urbino?

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.

Urbino 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 Urbino, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Marbella or Urbino?

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.

Urbino 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 Urbino?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the high energy 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.

Urbino 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Marbella or Urbino?

Marbella has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Urbino. When comparing the sizes of Marbella and Urbino, 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 Urbino?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Marbella or Urbino in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Marbella and Urbino. The beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Marbella this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Urbino for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Marbella is around the same temperature as Urbino. Typically, the summer temperatures in Marbella in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Urbino averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In July, Marbella usually receives less rain than Urbino. Marbella gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Marbella or Urbino in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Marbella as well as Urbino. Many travelers come to Marbella for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Urbino in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Marbella is generally a little warmer than Urbino. Daily temperatures in Marbella average around 19°C (67°F), and Urbino fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

Marbella usually gets less rain in October than Urbino. Marbella gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marbella or Urbino in the Winter?

Both Urbino and Marbella are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Marbella in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Urbino for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Urbino can be very cold during winter. Marbella is much warmer than Urbino in the winter. The daily temperature in Marbella averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Urbino fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In January, Marbella usually receives more rain than Urbino. Marbella gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Marbella or Urbino in the Spring?

Both Urbino and Marbella during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Marbella for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Urbino because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Marbella is a little warmer than Urbino. Typically, the spring temperatures in Marbella in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Urbino averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Marbella usually gets less rain in April than Urbino. Marbella gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Urbino and Marbella