A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Marseille vs. Houston for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Marseille or Houston?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marseille or Houston, 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.

Marseille

Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Houston

Houston is a southern, one-of-a-kind, and diverse city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Marseille and Houston: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marseille or Houston?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Houston than Marseille, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Houston is more popular for its museums, music, and big city activities, while Marseille is known for its food, nightlife, beaches, historical sights, shopping, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Marseille is more touristy than Houston and is popular for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity. Houston is popular for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. It is also home to The Space Center Houston.

How is Marseille different from Houston?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Marseille or Houston?

Houston is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Houston can be an interesting and educational experience. Head to Houston's Museum District to explore 19 different museums in a walkable area. A highlight of a trip to the city is a visit to the Space Center, but other popular museums include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Children's Museum.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Marseille or Houston? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Marseille is a world-class destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eat your way through Marseille, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

Houston is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city is famous for its Texas barbecue, Mexican food, and a wide diversity of other different ethnic foods. It's a surprisingly diverse city and this is reflected in the restaurant selection around town.

Is Marseille or Houston Better for Nightlife?

Marseille is a world-class destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

People head to Marseille just to party. Much of the city's nightlife is centered around being outdoors. Whether you're on the beach or hanging out at a rooftop bar, Marseille is a magical place.

Many people head to Houston for the nightlife scene. The nightlife is at its best on weekends when bars, dance clubs, and concert halls come to life. There are a diversity of venues around town including dance clubs, Honky Tonks, and cocktail bars. Some of the most active nightlife areas are Downtown, Midtown, Montrose, Washington Avenue, and Rice Village.

Is Marseille or Houston Better for Music?

Houston is a nice place to visit for its music scene. However, Marseille is not a live music destination.

The music scene helps keep Houston active and fun. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.

Marseille is not a live music destination.

Is Marseille or Houston Better for Beaches?

Marseille is a good destination for the beache. However, Houston is not a beach destination.

Marseille offers a nice beach destination. The city has nice beaches that offer both culture and diversity, which may be lacking some other coastal parts of the French Riviera.

Houston is not a beach destination.

Is Marseille or Houston Better for its Old Town?

Marseille is a world-class destination for its old town. However, Houston does not have a historic old town.

The historic old town of Marseille is revered around the world. The Old Port is filled with shops and boutiques, and is the most scenic part of the city. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is filled with history and character.

Houston does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Marseille or Houston?

Marseille is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Marseille is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Houston has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of upscale malls and shopping centers that have brand names, chain stores, and the occasional local shop where you can pick up items.

Is Marseille or Houston Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is a good destination for its Christmas markets. However, Houston does not offer Christmas markets.

Visiting the Christmas markets is popular in Marseille. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

Houston does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Marseille or Houston Better for Families?

Houston is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Marseille is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Houston. It is a large city with plenty of things that kids can enjoy including museums, theaters, a zoo, and even the Space Center. The Children's Museum of Houston is perfect for a rainy day. For science loving kids there's the Health Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. Houston also has a Six Flags nearby which the whole family can enjoy.

Marseille doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Nearby beaches and an outdoor climbing area make it a diverse city to visit with kids.

Is Marseille or Houston Better for Couples?

Marseille is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Marseille frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

Houston is a good city for couples to visit. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.

Is Marseille or Houston Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Marseille is a good destination for backpackers. However, Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Plenty of backpackers visit Marseille. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Marseille or Houston Better for Students?

Marseille is well known for students. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Many students visit Marseille. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

It's common for students to visit Houston. It's a large city with a number of universities and a large student population.

Is Marseille or Houston Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Marseille is a good destination for its public transit. However, Houston is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Marseille, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The city has trams, a metro, and buses that you can use to explore.

Public transit is mostly limited in Houston. The system includes buses and a limited light rail. Houston is known as a car-centric city and you really need a car to fully experience it.

Is Marseille or Houston a more walkable city?

Marseille is well known for its high level of walkability. However, Houston is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

Marseille is a very walkable city. The Old Port (Vieux Port) is particularly walkable and is one of the best areas to explore on foot.

Houston is generally not a very walkable city. The most walkable neighborhood is the historic Houston Heights, but most parts of the city aren't very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Marseille Worth Visiting? and Is Houston Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Houston or Marseille?

How long in Marseille or Houston?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Marseille and Houston. In our opinion, Marseille has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Marseille than Houston. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Marseille than Houston 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 Marseille.

One day in Marseille or Houston?

In Marseille, you'll find shopping and nightlife. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

People visit Houston because there is so much to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Marseille or Houston?

In Marseille, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Marseille has to offer.

People visit Houston because there is so much to do. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Marseille or Houston?

Marseille is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the diverse city of Houston. 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 Marseille or Houston?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Marseille. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Marseille. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Houston 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 Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Marseille or Houston?

Houston has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Marseille. When comparing the sizes of Marseille and Houston, 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 Marseille or Houston?

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 Marseille or Houston in the Summer?

Both Houston and Marseille during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Marseille for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Houston in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Marseille is generally cooler than Houston. Daily temperatures in Marseille average around 24°C (75°F), and Houston fluctuates around 84°F (29°C).

Houston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Marseille usually gets less rain in July than Houston. Marseille gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marseille or Houston in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Marseille and Houston. Many visitors come to Marseille in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Houston for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.

Marseille is cooler than Houston in the autumn. The daily temperature in Marseille averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Houston fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

Houston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Marseille usually receives less rain than Houston. Marseille gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Marseille or Houston in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Marseille as well as Houston. Most visitors come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Houston because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Marseille is much colder than Houston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Marseille in January average around 7°C (44°F), and Houston averages at about 52°F (11°C).

Marseille usually gets less rain in January than Houston. Marseille gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marseille or Houston in the Spring?

Both Houston and Marseille are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Marseille because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Houston this time of year.

In April, Marseille is generally much colder than Houston. Daily temperatures in Marseille average around 13°C (56°F), and Houston fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).

In April, Marseille usually receives less rain than Houston. Marseille gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Houston and Marseille