A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nantes vs. Zaragoza for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Old Town

Should you visit Nantes or Zaragoza?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nantes or Zaragoza, 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.

Nantes

Nantes is a friendly, historical, and beautiful city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Zaragoza

Zaragoza is a historical, compact, and authentic city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Nantes and Zaragoza: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nantes or Zaragoza?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Nantes than Zaragoza. While Zaragoza is larger than Nantes, Nantes has more sights and attractions for tourists. Nantes is very popular for its food and nightlife, while Zaragoza attracts visitors for its historical sights. Nantes is famous for its castles and historical landmarks, local wine, and beautiful parks and gardens. It is also well known for The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. Zaragoza is famous for its grand landmarks, local cuisine, and rich cultural scene.

How is Nantes different from Zaragoza?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Nantes or Zaragoza?

You'll find a number of superb museums and attractions in both Zaragoza and Nantes.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Nantes can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with historical monuments, particularly in the Bouffay District. Highlights include Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, Château des Ducs de Bretagne, and the Musée d'Arts de Nantes.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Zaragoza. For such a small city, it really has a large number of cultural and historical attractions. The Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar is the most recognizable sight, but there's also the Museum of the Roman Forum of Caesaraugusta, the cathedral of Zaragoza, and the Aljafería Palace, among others.

Is the Food Better in Nantes or Zaragoza? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Nantes is an amazing city to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Zaragoza is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Nantes is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The region lends itself to unique flavors with a great mix of seafood from the Atlantic, freshwater fish from the Loire, and dairy from the surrounding countryside. The region is also famous for its wine. Local dishes that you should try include Filet de Sandre au Beurre Blanc (fresh fish in butter sauce), Crepes Bretonnes (breakfast crepes), and Le Canard Nantais (duck with Muscadet wine).

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Zaragoza. There are authentic restaurants that cater to locals and tourists alike. You'll also find some interesting food tours around town. Tapas are popular, as is chocolate and fresh, traditional recipes.

Is Nantes or Zaragoza Better for Nightlife?

Nantes is notable for its evening party scene. Also, Zaragoza is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Nantes has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The large student population heavily influences the nightlife scene. You'll find a young vibe with a lot of bars and clubs to choose from, particularly around Île de Nantes.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Zaragoza. The nightlife is at its best on weekends, when students and young locals head out on the town. Many evenings start with tapas and wine, but there are nightclubs and dancing as well.

Is Nantes or Zaragoza Better for its Old Town?

Zaragoza is a very popular place for its historic old town charm. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town.

Many visitors go to Zaragoza to see the historical old town. The old town is small but filled with monumental buildings and an authentic atmosphere.

Many visitors go to Nantes to see the historical old town. The city's old town is in the Bouffay District and it is filled with half-timbered houses and a maze of streets and shops.

Is the Shopping Better in Nantes or Zaragoza?

Shoppers can find a variety of superb stores in both Nantes and Zaragoza.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Nantes. There are impressive shopping streets, boutique stores, and grand shopping malls. Make sure you check out Rue Crébillon, Passage Pommeraye, and the shops around the Bouffay District. Talensac Market is also a historical covered market that you can explore.

Zaragoza is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city has many local shops selling locally produced items and interesting souvenirs. There are also boutiques, markets, and vintage shops that are fun to browse though.

Is Nantes or Zaragoza Better for Families?

Nantes is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Zaragoza is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Nantes is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. It's filled with gardens, museums, and theme parks, making it a great combination of fascinating activities for adults and kids alike. Some of the top kid-friendly activities include a visit to Machine of the Isle of Nantes (both a theme park and a museum), seeing a show at Le Lieu Unique, or experiencing Naudières Park (a smaller theme park). Kids will also enjoy seeing Goulaine Castle or wandering around Jardin Extraordinaire or the Botanical Gardens.

Zaragoza is a family-friendly city. When your kids get their fill of architecture and history, you can head to the Zaragoza Aquarium. Also worth a visit is the Emoz Museum, which is an origami museum. And if you need a break from sightseeing, take a kayak out on the Ebro River.

Is Nantes or Zaragoza Better for Couples?

Nantes and Zaragoza are both superb to visit as a couple.

Nantes makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There is a mix of both natural and historical beauty. Couples can enjoy a nice meal, stroll through one of the many parks and gardens, or even spend the day at the spa.

Couples visit Zaragoza frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Filled with culture, beauty, and monumental buildings, this is a small and romantic city. It's particularly romantic at night when the streets are quiet and many of the buildings are lit up.

Is Nantes or Zaragoza Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Zaragoza is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Nantes is lacking in good options for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Zaragoza. There are enough hostels around town to choose from, and while it's not the backpacker haven that some Spanish cities are, it still sees a good number of young travelers.

Nantes is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't as many hostels as you would expect in the area, so finding an affordable and social place to stay may be a bit challenging.

Is Nantes or Zaragoza Better for Students?

Both Nantes and Zaragoza are nice destinations for students.

Plenty of students visit Nantes. There's a decent sized student population and the city has a welcoming atmosphere. It's also easy to get around with public transportation.

Zaragoza is popular with students. International students enjoy this small city because it has a local vibe where they can practice their Spanish and enjoy an authentic experience.

Is Nantes or Zaragoza Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find superb public transit in both Nantes and Zaragoza.

The public transit in Nantes can get you to most places easily. There are both trams and buses throughout the city that are operated by TAN (Transport de l'Agglomeration Nantaise).

Visitors to Zaragoza can move around easily with public transportation. There are buses and trams around the city.

Is Nantes or Zaragoza a more walkable city?

Nantes and Zaragoza are superb when it comes to walkability.

Nantes is a very walkable destination. The city is very walkable. Both locals and tourists alike choose to walk in Nantes.

Zaragoza is very walkable. The city center is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Nantes Worth Visiting? and Is Zaragoza Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Zaragoza or Nantes?

How long in Nantes or Zaragoza?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Nantes and Zaragoza. In our opinion, Nantes has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Nantes than Zaragoza. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Nantes, and 1-3 days is enough time in Zaragoza.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Zaragoza than Nantes 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 Zaragoza.

One day in Nantes or Zaragoza?

The beautiful city of Nantes offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Zaragoza. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Nantes or Zaragoza?

Nantes 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 Nantes, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Zaragoza is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Nantes or Zaragoza?

Nantes is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that food is why people visit. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Zaragoza. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Nantes or Zaragoza?

Nantes is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that food is why people visit. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historical destination of Zaragoza. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best 2-Week Tours from Barcelona, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Spain.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Nantes or Zaragoza?

Zaragoza has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Nantes. When comparing the sizes of Nantes and Zaragoza, 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 Nantes or Zaragoza?

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 Nantes or Zaragoza in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Nantes as well as Zaragoza. The summer months attract visitors to Nantes because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Zaragoza this time of year.

Nantes is cooler than Zaragoza in the summer. The daily temperature in Nantes averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Zaragoza fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zaragoza. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nantes this time of the year. In the summer, Nantes often gets less sunshine than Zaragoza. Nantes gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zaragoza receives 344 hours of full sun.

Nantes usually gets more rain in July than Zaragoza. Nantes gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nantes or Zaragoza in the Autumn?

Both Zaragoza and Nantes are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Nantes this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Zaragoza for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Nantes is cooler than Zaragoza. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nantes in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Zaragoza averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Nantes usually receives less sunshine than Zaragoza during autumn. Nantes gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Zaragoza receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Nantes usually receives more rain than Zaragoza. Nantes gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Nantes or Zaragoza in the Winter?

Both Zaragoza and Nantes during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nantes for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Zaragoza in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Nantes is generally cooler than Zaragoza. Daily temperatures in Nantes average around 6°C (42°F), and Zaragoza fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the winter, Nantes often gets less sunshine than Zaragoza. Nantes gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zaragoza receives 131 hours of full sun.

Nantes usually gets more rain in January than Zaragoza. Nantes gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nantes or Zaragoza in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nantes and Zaragoza. Many visitors come to Nantes in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Zaragoza for the natural beauty during these months.

Nantes is cooler than Zaragoza in the spring. The daily temperature in Nantes averages around 11°C (51°F) in April, and Zaragoza fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zaragoza this time of the year. Nantes usually receives less sunshine than Zaragoza during spring. Nantes gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Zaragoza receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Nantes usually receives more rain than Zaragoza. Nantes gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Zaragoza receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Zaragoza and Nantes