A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Messina vs. Bressanone for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Messina or Bressanone?

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 Bressanone 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.

Bressanone

Bressanone is a picturesque, idyllic, and charming town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for shopping, museums, and food.

Messina and Bressanone: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Messina or Bressanone?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Messina than Bressanone, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Messina is better known for its nightlife, beaches, and big city activities, while Bressanone is more popular for its food, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, 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. Bressanone is well known for its charming old town and its idyllic setting.

How is Messina different from Bressanone?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Messina and Bressanone have notable landmarks and museums for visitors.

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

Bressanone offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Most visitors simply enjoy soaking up the town's atmosphere, but sights around town include The Royal Palace, the cathedral, and Franzenfeste Fortress.

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

Bressanone 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, Bressanone makes for a great culinary experience. Despite its small size, there are many family run restaurants that make use of ingredients from local farms. The town also hosts a few culinary festivals throughout the year.

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 Bressanone Better for Nightlife?

Messina is a great destination for its evening party scene. However, Bressanone is a town with minimal options for nightlife.

The people in Messina know how to have a good time. 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.

Bressanone doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a small town with some quaint bars and pubs where you can enjoy a beer and chat with other visitors.

Is Messina or Bressanone Better for Beaches?

Messina is a port city with a few options for the beach. However, Bressanone 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.

Bressanone is not a beach destination.

Is Messina or Bressanone Better for its Old Town?

Bressanone is well known for its historic old town. However, Messina does not have a historic old town.

Bressanone is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The cathedral and beautiful old buildings make this a charming place to explore.

Messina does not have a historic old town.

Is Messina or Bressanone Better for Hiking?

Bressanone is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Messina is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Bressanone. There's a huge variety of hikes in the surrounding countryside. You can walk alongside the river, head into the foothills, or explore the nearby vineyards.

Messina is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Messina or Bressanone?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Bressanone 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 Bressanone. The medieval streets are lined with family-owned shops, boutique clothing stores, and other unique local shopping opportunities.

Is Messina or Bressanone Better for Families?

Messina is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Bressanone is a town with minimal options 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, Bressanone is not always the best place to visit. It's a great town to take a lunch break. The kids will enjoy wandering the alley-like streets. There's a river through town and great views of the Alps.

Is Messina or Bressanone Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Bressanone frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. This charming town is seeped in romance. The quaint streets and surrounding mountain setting make this an idyllic place to take a romantic trip.

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 Bressanone Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Messina and Bressanone are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Messina is a good port city to visit for backpackers. 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Bressanone. There's a couple of hostels and cheaper guesthouses in town, so backpackers can enjoy a few days in this picturesque alpine town.

Is Messina or Bressanone Better for Students?

Messina is a port city with good options for students. However, Bressanone 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.

Bressanone is not popular with students.

Is Messina or Bressanone 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 Bressanone.

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 Bressanone offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are trains and buses throughout the region.

Is Messina or Bressanone a more walkable city?

Messina and Bressanone both are great 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.

Bressanone is a very walkable port city. The town is compact and small enough to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Bressanone or Messina?

How long in Messina or Bressanone?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Messina or Bressanone to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Messina than Bressanone 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 Bressanone.

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

One day in Messina or Bressanone?

With museums and nightlife around the local port city of Messina, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Bressanone is a small town with plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Bressanone?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Messina, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this port city.

Bressanone might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bressanone has to offer.

Five days in Messina or Bressanone?

Messina, a popular port city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bressanone 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 Bressanone?

Messina 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bressanone. Since Bressanone is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. 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 Walking Tours in Italy, and The Best Luxury Tours to Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Messina and Bressanone, we can see that Bressanone is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Messina or Bressanone?

Messina has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Bressanone. When comparing the sizes of Messina and Bressanone, 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.