A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Marrakech vs. Urbino for Old Town, Couples, Backpackers, and Attractions

Should you visit Marrakech or Urbino?

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

Should I visit Marrakech or Urbino? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Marrakech

Marrakech is a fascinating, ancient, and cultural city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Urbino

Urbino is a authentic, laid back, and historic town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Marrakech and Urbino: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marrakech or Urbino?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Marrakech. Although Marrakech and Urbino are popular destinations, Marrakech has more sights and attractions for tourists. Marrakech is more touristy than Urbino and is known for its colorful medina, festive night market, and beautiful palaces. It is also well known for Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. Urbino is famous for its Renaissance walls, historic center, and authentic atmosphere.

How is Marrakech different from Urbino?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Marrakech or Urbino?

Marrakech is great for its historical sights. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Marrakech. While wandering the medina is an attraction in and of itself, there are also several sights that you should specifically check out. The iconic Djemaa el-Fnaa, or the city's main square, is best visited as the sun goes down. Other notable landmarks include Koutoubia Mosque, Majorelle Gardens, and Medersa Ben Youssef.

Urbino is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Marrakech and Urbino can be an enjoyable experience.

Marrakech has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Moroccan food is amazing and you'll enjoy grilled meats, tagines, couscous, and more. The city is more touristy than some parts of Morocco so you'll find the quality of the food can vary a bit, but it's still a culinary delight. Marrakesh is also a great city for taking a cooking class.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Urbino makes for a great culinary experience. 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.

Is Marrakech or Urbino Better for Nightlife?

Both Marrakech and Urbino have nice vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Marrakech. Although alcohol is hard to come by, you'll find it in most western style restaurants and high end hotel chains. The city has more bars and nightclubs than you'd expect. There's also a great nighttime energy with many locals heading outside in the evening. Jemaa el-Fnaa, the main square, comes to life with street vendors, performers, and people during the nighttime hours.

Urbino has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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 Marrakech or Urbino Better for its Old Town?

Marrakech is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its historic old town.

Marrakech offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The historic medina is filled with spices, antiques, art, and pottery. The culture and experience of wandering the medina will have you feeling like you stepped back in time.

Many visitors go to Urbino to see the historical old town. 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 Marrakech or Urbino?

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

Many people travel to Marrakech specifically to go shopping. Shop your way through the street stalls and sample perfumes, spices, produce, and more. You'll find everything from souvenir trinkets to local items and authentic antiques.

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 Marrakech or Urbino Better for Families?

Marrakech 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 Marrakech. Kids will enjoy exploring a new culture and wandering through the medina. The food is very kid-friendly and during the evening the main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa, comes to life with street performers, vendors, and entertainment. Families can also take cooking classes or head into the desert for a camel trek.

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 Marrakech or Urbino Better for Couples?

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

Marrakech is a great city for couples, as it has plenty to offer. There are many wonderful restaurants and fascinating places for couples to explores. Wandering the medina or visiting the gardens make for a romantic and adventurous getaway.

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 Marrakech or Urbino Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Marrakech is an amazing city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Urbino is not a good destination for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Marrakech, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. The city is very affordable and there are countless riads that are budget-friendly. There are enough backpackers around town that it's not hard to meet fellow travelers.

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 Marrakech or Urbino Better for Students?

Urbino is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Marrakech is not popular with students.

Urbino is a very popular town for students and younger travelers. 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.

Marrakech is not popular with students.

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

Urbino is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Marrakech is lacking in options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Marrakech. While there are local buses, most people take taxis around town when they can't walk. Taxis are affordable and convenient.

Is Marrakech or Urbino a more walkable city?

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

Marrakech is a very walkable destination. The medina is the best area to walk around but it's very easy to get lost. Outside of the medina you'll want to keep your eyes open for motorbikes and the occasional donkey.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Urbino or Marrakech?

How long in Marrakech or Urbino?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Marrakech or Urbino to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Marrakech than Urbino because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Marrakech, and 1-2 days is enough time in Urbino.

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

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

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

One day in Marrakech or Urbino?

Marrakech is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Urbino. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Urbino has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Marrakech or Urbino?

Marrakech is a great place to explore. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Urbino. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Marrakech or Urbino?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Marrakech. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic town of Urbino. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Marrakech or Urbino?

Marrakech is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Urbino is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Marrakech or Urbino?

Marrakech has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Urbino. When comparing the sizes of Marrakech 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.