A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Marseille vs. San Francisco for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Beaches

Should you visit Marseille or San Francisco?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marseille or San Francisco, 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. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food.

San Francisco

San Francisco is a outdoorsy, quirky, and eccentric coastal city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and theater.

Marseille and San Francisco: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marseille or San Francisco?

Travelers will usually find more to do in San Francisco. Although Marseille and San Francisco are popular destinations, San Francisco has more sights and attractions for tourists. San Francisco is very popular for its museums, theatre productions, music, beaches, hiking, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Marseille attracts visitors for its nightlife, historical sights, christmas markets, and quaint atmosphere. San Francisco is more touristy than Marseille and is known for its striking bayfront setting, stunning urban hikes, quirky personality, and reputation within the tech industry. It is also well known for The Golden Gate Bridge. Marseille is famous for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity.

How is Marseille different from San Francisco?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

San Francisco is a world-class destination for its museums and history. However, Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, San Francisco has many famous sights for visitors. The city's landmarks are as diverse as the people who live there. The most recognizable landmark is the famous Golden Gate Bridge, but visitors also enjoy seeing Alcatraz Island, the Legion of Honor, the Palace of Fine Arts, as well as the small but fascinating Cable Car Museum.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

Is Marseille or San Francisco Better for Theater?

San Francisco is a nice place to visit for its shows and theatre. However, Marseille is not a theatre destination.

You'll find a nice selection of shows in San Francisco. The city has around a dozen theaters where you can enjoy musicals or plays.

Marseille is not a theatre destination.

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

Foodies will find both Marseille and San Francisco both to be amazing destinations.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Marseille is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

Many restaurants in San Francisco have been singled out for their culinary prowess. There are local dives as well as five star restaurants, with everything in between. Popular local dining experiences include sourdough bread bowls and Dungeness crab at Fisherman's Wharf, and dim sum in Chinatown. Head away from the touristy neighborhoods if you want to sample some of the more local restaurants around town.

Is Marseille or San Francisco Better for Nightlife?

Marseille is an amazing city to visit for its evening party scene. Also, San Francisco is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for nightlife.

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

There's a variety of activities in the evening in San Francisco. It has a great nightlife with many local bars and trendy clubs. For the best nightlife away from the tourists, head to Valencia Street or Polk Street. If you want to be in a more touristy area, check out Union Square. Popular clubs in the city include Temple San Francisco, Monarch, and Audio Nightclub.

Is Marseille or San Francisco Better for Music?

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

The music scene helps keep San Francisco active and fun. Well known music venues include the Great American Music Hall, Slim's, and The Chapel.

Marseille is not a live music destination.

Is Marseille or San Francisco Better for Beaches?

San Francisco is an excellent place to visit for the beach. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its beaches.

You'll have a great beach vacation in San Francisco. Whether you're interested in surfing or simply taking in the dramatic views, the beaches of San Francisco will take your breath away. Some of the best beaches include Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, and Muir Beach.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Marseille. The city has nice beaches that offer both culture and diversity, which may be lacking some other coastal parts of the French Riviera.

Is Marseille or San Francisco Better for its Old Town?

Marseille is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town charm. However, San Francisco does not have a historic old town.

Marseille offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. 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.

San Francisco does not have a historic old town.

Is Marseille or San Francisco Better for Hiking?

San Francisco is a world-class destination for its hiking trails. However, Marseille is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, San Francisco draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The city's hikes take in the dramatic views of the bay and city. Just outside of town there are also countless hikes through the Redwoods and along the coastline. Popular hikes in the area include Lands End, Tomales Point Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore, and Muir Woods.

Marseille is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Marseille or San Francisco?

San Francisco is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to San Francisco specifically to go shopping. The city has excellent shopping from local vendors to recognizable brands. Union Square, Embarcadero, Fillmore Street and Haight Street are some of the best neighborhoods for shopping.

Marseille is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Is Marseille or San Francisco Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is a nice place to visit for visiting Christmas markets. However, San Francisco does not offer Christmas markets.

Marseille has Christmas markets worth visiting. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

San Francisco does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Marseille or San Francisco Better for Families?

San Francisco is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. However, Marseille is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

San Francisco is an amazing family-friendly coastal city to visit. With its many outdoor parks, hiking trails, beaches, and kid-friendly museums, this city makes a great family-friendly destination. There are also many amazing playgrounds with stunning views of the bay and city. Head to Chinatown for some unique and kid-friendly food, or down to Pier 39 for fun activities that 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 San Francisco Better for Couples?

Marseille and San Francisco are both superb to visit as a couple.

Marseille makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

Couples visit San Francisco frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples enjoy the romantic backdrop of this beautiful city. There are world-class restaurants and plenty of spas that couples can enjoy during a honeymoon or romantic getaway. There are also many scenic walks and breathtaking views that couples can appreciate.

Is Marseille or San Francisco Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Francisco is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit San Francisco. The city is one of the more backpacker friendly cities in the United States. There are a handful of hostels throughout, many concentrated in the popular Union Square and Downtown neighborhoods of the city.

Marseille is a good city to visit for backpackers. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

Is Marseille or San Francisco Better for Students?

Both Marseille and San Francisco are superb destinations for students.

Marseille is a great city to visit as a student. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

Students come from all over to stay in San Francisco. As a large and dynamic city, the area is popular with international students who want to experience this unique side of the United States. Major universities in the area include University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, and nearby, the University of California, Berkeley.

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

San Francisco is a world-class destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

With a huge network, the transit system in San Francisco can get you around easily. The transit network includes a subway (the BART), trams, cable cars, ferries, and buses.

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.

Is Marseille or San Francisco a more walkable city?

Marseille and San Francisco are superb when it comes to walkability.

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

San Francisco is very walkable. It is compact enough to explore on foot, but given the large hills, it's a bit of a challenge, even for the most fit among us.

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

Should I spend more time in San Francisco or Marseille?

How long in Marseille or San Francisco?

Both Marseille and San Francisco have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in San Francisco than in Marseille. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Marseille, and 3-7 days is enough time in San Francisco.

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

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

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

One day in Marseille or San Francisco?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the energetic destination of Marseille. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

People visit San Francisco because there is so much to do. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 San Francisco?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Marseille. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

People visit San Francisco because there is so much to do. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Marseille or San Francisco?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the vibrant destination of Marseille. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

People visit San Francisco because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this coastal city makes for a great vacation. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal city has to offer.

A week in Marseille or San Francisco?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the beautiful city of Marseille. 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. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

San Francisco is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in San Francisco, one week is sufficent for most. 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 Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

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

Which is Bigger, Marseille or San Francisco?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of San Francisco. When comparing the sizes of Marseille and San Francisco, 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 San Francisco?

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 Marseille or San Francisco in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Marseille and San Francisco. The summer months attract visitors to Marseille because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.

Marseille is a little warmer than San Francisco in the summer. The daily temperature in Marseille averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

In July, Marseille usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Marseille gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Marseille or San Francisco in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Marseille as well as San Francisco. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Marseille this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Marseille is around the same temperature as San Francisco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Marseille in October average around 16°C (61°F), and San Francisco averages at about 63°F (17°C).

Marseille usually gets more rain in October than San Francisco. Marseille gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marseille or San Francisco in the Winter?

Both San Francisco and Marseille are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to San Francisco in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

In January, Marseille is generally much colder than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Marseille average around 7°C (44°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).

In January, Marseille usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Marseille gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Marseille or San Francisco in the Spring?

Both San Francisco and Marseille during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Marseille in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Francisco for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.

Marseille is around the same temperature as San Francisco in the spring. The daily temperature in Marseille averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

Marseille usually gets more rain in April than San Francisco. Marseille gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for San Francisco and Marseille