A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mazatlan vs. Greenville for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Mazatlan or Greenville?

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

Should I visit Mazatlan or Greenville? 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.

Mazatlan

Mazatlan is a authentic, historical, and cultural city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Greenville

Greenville is a welcoming, hospitable, and southern city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Mazatlan and Greenville: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mazatlan or Greenville?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Mazatlan than Greenville, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Mazatlan is more touristy than Greenville and is popular for its historic center, authenticity, and surfing areas. It is also home to the Malecon. Greenville is popular for its outdoor spaces and its growing arts scene.

How is Mazatlan different from Greenville?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Mazatlan or Greenville?

Mazatlan is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Greenville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Mazatlan specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are colonial buildings around the Centro Historico. You should also check out the Historic Cathedral and the Angela Peralta Theater.

Greenville is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Museums focus on art, history, and science. Notable museums in town include the Greenville County Museum of Art, the Upcountry History Museum, and the Sigal Music Museum.

Is the Food Better in Mazatlan or Greenville? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Mazatlan is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Greenville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Mazatlan has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Stewed meats and shrimp are a big part of the cuisine here. Many recipes have a little bit of spice. The restaurants around town are authentic and local, making for a great dining experience.

Greenville offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The food scene is growing and the farm-to-table movement is apparent here, but the city is still often overlooked by foodies in the area.

Is Mazatlan or Greenville Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Mazatlan and Greenville.

Mazatlan has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are plenty of bars and clubs around town, particularly along the beach. Like anywhere else, remember to stay cautious late at night around town. This is considered to be one of the less safe parts of Mexico.

If you're looking for night time activities Greenville has a few options to choose from. Bars, breweries, and low key clubs are what drive the city's nightlife scene. There are both piano bars and live music venues that often lean towards the local country classics.

Is Mazatlan or Greenville Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Mazatlan is very good for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Greenville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving in Mazatlan. Most of the diving takes place around the Pajaros, Venados and Lobos islands. This is where you'll see the most tropical fish.

Greenville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Mazatlan or Greenville Better for Beaches?

Mazatlan is a great city for the beach. However, Greenville is not a beach destination.

Mazatlan is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. There are many stretches of beach around town. Most notable is the 13 miles that run along Malecon where there's a boardwalk. Surfing is also popular in the area.

Greenville is not a beach destination.

Is Mazatlan or Greenville Better for its Old Town?

Mazatlan is a great city for its historic old town charm. However, Greenville does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Mazatlan. It's a historic port city with a charming colonial old town.

Greenville does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Mazatlan or Greenville?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Greenville and Mazatlan.

Mazatlan offers some nice shopping areas. There are local shops, big box stores, and souvenir vendors where you can pick up anything you may need or items to commemorate your trip.

Greenville has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find upscale shopping in the city's downtown and sprawling shopping malls in other neighborhoods. There are plenty of name brand stores where you can pick up the latest style.

Is Mazatlan or Greenville Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Mazatlan or Greenville.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Mazatlan. Kids will enjoy the all-inclusive resorts and the waterfront setting. There are also many cultural opportunities such as markets, history, and shows. The food is very kid-friendly as well.

Greenville offers lots of family activities. There are many local families in town, so you'll find all kinds of kid-friendly activities to enjoy. Paris Mountain State Park is a popular place where everyone can run around. Falls Park on the Reedy River also has walking trails and is in the city's historic district. There's also a children's theater and plenty of playgrounds around town.

Is Mazatlan or Greenville Better for Couples?

Mazatlan is very good for couples. However, Greenville is not known for romance.

Mazatlan is a good city for couples to visit. The resorts are romantic and the beaches are stunning. If you're looking for an idyllic escape that also has culture, authenticity, and great food, then this is your spot.

Greenville is not the best destination for a couple to visit. You can take the free trolley down Main Street and then enjoy a meal at one of the local restaurants.

Is Mazatlan or Greenville Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Mazatlan is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Greenville is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Mazatlan. The laid back atmosphere makes this a great stopover for backpackers who want to experience the Mexican culture. Stick to the touristy areas if possible.

Greenville is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. While there are students in the area, there is little else to bring backpackers to town.

Is Mazatlan or Greenville Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Mazatlan is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Greenville is not known for its public transit.

While Mazatlan offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are city buses around town.

Public transit is generally limited in Greenville. There are free trolleys that make their way around the downtown neighborhoods.

Is Mazatlan or Greenville a more walkable city?

Mazatlan is a great city for its ease of walking around. However, Greenville is not known for its walkability.

Mazatlan is a very walkable destination. The city is relatively walkable.

Greenville is generally not very walkable. The downtown area is surprisingly walkable, but like most cities in the area, you need a car to make the most of your visit.

For even more information, also check out Is Mazatlan Worth Visiting? and Is Greenville Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Greenville or Mazatlan?

How long in Mazatlan or Greenville?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Mazatlan or Greenville to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Mazatlan than Greenville because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Mazatlan, and 1-2 days is enough time in Greenville.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Mazatlan than Greenville 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 Mazatlan.

One day in Mazatlan or Greenville?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the authentic city of Mazatlan, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The city of Greenville offers nightlife 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 Mazatlan or Greenville?

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Mazatlan, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Greenville 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. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Greenville, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Mazatlan or Greenville?

Mazatlan, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Visiting the old town is also a must. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Greenville 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 Mazatlan or Greenville?

Mazatlan is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Greenville 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 city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Mazatlan or Greenville?

Mazatlan has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Greenville. When comparing the sizes of Mazatlan and Greenville, 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.