A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Messina vs. Arles for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Messina or Arles?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Messina and Arles can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Messina

Messina is a local, historic, and bustling port city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Arles

Arles is a compact, quaint, and historic town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Messina and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Messina or Arles?

You'll generally find more things to do in Messina than Arles. Messina is bigger than Arles, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Messina is better known for its nightlife, beaches, and big city activities, while Arles is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Messina is well known for being the entry and departure point to Sicily for those traveling by ferry. Also, Messina is famous for Piazza del Duomo. Arles is well known for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

How is Messina different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Messina or Arles?

Arles is renowned for its museums and landmarks. Also, Messina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Arles that are not to be missed. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

Messina offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a number of historic sights around town including the Cathedral and the Piazza del Duomo, the Bell Tower and Astronomical Clock, Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani, and the Regional Museum. There are also many ornate fountains around town.

Is the Food Better in Messina or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arles is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Messina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Arles makes for a great culinary experience. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Messina has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city's cuisine is a mix of the cultures that have influenced Sicily over the centuries. The city has a longstanding fishing industry and one of the most popular dishes are swordfish rolls. Also try the pidone (similar to calzones with different fillings), and the focaccia (a local bread).

Is Messina or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Messina is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Messina is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The nightlife scene is mostly centered around the old town and you'll find a mix of locals and tourists hanging out in pubs and bars. During the summer months there are often free outdoor concerts to enjoy.

If you're looking for night time activities Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Messina or Arles Better for Beaches?

Messina is a port city with a few options for the beach. However, Arles is not a beach destination.

The beach in Messina is worth checking out. There are pebbly beaches in the area that are becoming more popular with tourists.

Arles is not a beach destination.

Is Messina or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is renowned for its historic old town. However, Messina does not have a historic old town.

The old town of Arles is one of the most recognized in the world. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Messina does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Messina or Arles?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Arles and Messina.

Messina is a great destination for shopping. The best shopping is around Piazza Cairoli with the main shopping streets being Viale Europa and Viale San Martino. There are many small boutiques that have cheaper prices than some of the more upscale Sicilian towns.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Messina or Arles Better for Families?

Messina is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Messina is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are a number outdoor activities that kids will enjoy including Parco Avventura Dei Peloritani, which has ropes and obstacle courses. There's also the Karting Center, which is fun for the whole family, or a small aquarium in town. If you're looking for an excursion outside of town, head to Cascata Cataolo waterfall, which is very kid-friendly.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Messina or Arles Better for Couples?

Arles is well known for romance. Also, Messina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Arles frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Messina makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Most visitors see the city as an arrival or departure point for Sicily, but those couples who linger will appreciate a number of historical sights and a nice atmosphere.

Is Messina or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Messina is very good for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Messina is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. If you're traveling by train or ferry, you'll likely arrive or depart from this city. There are a number of hostels and cheap guesthouses around town that offer affordable accommodation.

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

Is Messina or Arles Better for Students?

Messina is very good for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Messina is popular with students. There are a few study abroad opportunities that bring international students to town. The city also have good transportation connections and a friendly atmosphere that is welcoming to students.

Arles is not popular with students.

Is Messina or Arles Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Messina and Arles.

You'll find some public transit in Messina, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. If your legs are tired then there's an efficient bus system that you can use.

While Arles offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Messina or Arles a more walkable city?

Messina and Arles both are superb when exploring on foot.

Messina is very walkable. Most of the city's attractions can be reached on foot and the port is a ten to fifteen minute walk from Piazza del Duomo.

Arles is a very walkable port city. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Messina Worth Visiting? and Is Arles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arles or Messina?

How long in Messina or Arles?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Messina than Arles 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 Messina.

One day in Messina or Arles?

In Messina, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this local destination offers. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

In Arles, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Messina or Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Messina. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

In Arles, you'll find food and shopping. 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. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Arles has to offer.

Five days in Messina or Arles?

Messina is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Messina. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Arles 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.

A week in Messina or Arles?

You'll find food and shopping around the local destination of Messina. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arles. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Arles. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Messina or Arles?

Messina has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Messina and Arles, 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 Messina or Arles?

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 Messina or Arles in the Summer?

Both Arles and Messina are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Messina in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Messina is generally a little warmer than Arles. Daily temperatures in Messina average around 27°C (80°F), and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Arles. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Messina. Messina usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Arles during summer. Messina gets 332 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Messina usually receives less rain than Arles. Messina gets 19 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Messina or Arles in the Autumn?

Both Arles and Messina during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Messina for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Arles because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Messina is a little warmer than Arles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Messina averages around 21°C (69°F) in October, and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Messina often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Arles. Messina gets 189 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun.

Arles gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Messina. Messina usually gets less rain in October than Arles. Messina gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Messina or Arles in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Messina and Arles. The winter months attract visitors to Messina because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

In the winter, Messina is much warmer than Arles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Messina in January average around 13°C (55°F), and Arles averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Messina usually receives less sunshine than Arles during winter. Messina gets 115 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun in the winter.

Messina gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Messina usually receives more rain than Arles. Messina gets 113 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Messina or Arles in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Messina as well as Arles. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Messina this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Arles for the natural beauty.

In April, Messina is generally a little warmer than Arles. Daily temperatures in Messina average around 16°C (60°F), and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Messina this time of the year. In the spring, Messina often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Arles. Messina gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun.

Messina usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Arles. Messina gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Arles and Messina