A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Nashville vs. Santa Fe for Music, Food, Nightlife, and Attractions

Should you visit Nashville or Santa Fe?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nashville and Santa Fe 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.

Nashville

Nashville is a country music lovers, eclectic, and southern city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a cultural, historic, and charming historic town. It's a gorgeous place to visit. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Nashville and Santa Fe: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nashville or Santa Fe?

Both Santa Fe and Nashville have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Nashville is better known for its nightlife, music, resorts, and big city activities, while Santa Fe is more popular for its skiing, food, historical sights, hiking, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Nashville is well known for its influence in country music and its many live music venues. Santa Fe is well known for its strong arts scene, its Pueblo-style architecture, and its unique local cuisine.

How is Nashville different from Santa Fe?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Skiing?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for skiing and snowboarding. However, Nashville is not a skiing destination.

Santa Fe is a great destination for skiing with plenty areas to explore. There are a few good ski resorts not far from Santa Fe. Popular options include Taos Ski Valley, Ski Santa Fe, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, and Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort.

Nashville is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Nashville or Santa Fe?

Spend time exploring the notable sights and museums in either Nashville or Santa Fe.

Nashville is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It is famous as the home of the Grand Ole Opry. It's also where you'll find the Country Music Hall of Fame and the unique Johnny Cash Museum.

Santa Fe offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Head to the Museum of New Mexico Complex, which has four museums that give a great overview of the history of the area. Also make sure you visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.

Is the Food Better in Nashville or Santa Fe? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Fe is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Nashville is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Santa Fe. There are many local restaurants that use regional ingredients and offer great flavors. There are also cafes and bistros where you can enjoy breakfast or brunch. Local dishes include sopaipillas made with Native American fry bread, slow-cooked beans, and anything made with red and green chili peppers.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Nashville. The city is known for some southern favorites including southern barbecue, mac and cheese, and biscuits and gravy.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Nightlife?

Nashville is a great city for its evening party scene. However, Santa Fe is not known for nightlife.

The nightlife in Nashville has something for everybody. The city is popular for it's music scene, particularly the country music scene. You can take in one of the free Honky Tonks or head to a rooftop bar. It's also a popular destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties.

Most people don't head to Santa Fe specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. While most of the town quiets down at night, the city has a few areas that stay active late into the night. Live music is popular and diverse. It often includes different genres such as the blues, country, salsa or bluegrass.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Music?

Nashville is an unbeatable place for its music scene. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for live music.

Nashville has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The city is famous for country music, blues, and rock and roll. Popular venues include The Basement, The 5 Spot, and The Cannery Complex.

The music scene helps keep Santa Fe active and fun. The town has an eclectic music scene that includes a mix of the blues, country, Latin American music, and bluegrass.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Resorts?

Nashville is very good for its luxury resorts. However, Santa Fe is not a resort destination.

Nashville has a few great resort options. There are a couple of famous resorts in the area including the Gaylord Opryland Resort, the Hermitage Hotel, and the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Santa Fe is not a resort destination.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for its Old Town?

Santa Fe is a very popular place for its historic old town. However, Nashville does not have a historic old town.

Santa Fe is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. As the 2nd oldest city in the United States, the old town historic district is filled with charm. The Pueblo-style buildings are brightly colored and there are churches throughout.

Nashville does not have a historic old town.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Hiking?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for its hiking trails. However, Nashville is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Santa Fe. Because it's located right by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there are many beautiful hikes right outside of town. Popular trails include the Picacho Peak Trail and the Nambe Lake Trail. Bandelier National also has many places to hike.

Nashville is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Nashville or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe is a very popular place for shopping. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Santa Fe. There are many unique shops and art galleries that feature local artists and craftsmen.

If you're looking to go shopping, Nashville has some nice offerings. The town has a number of boutique shops as well as major department stores. You'll find all of the major American chains around town.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Christmas?

Nashville is very good for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Santa Fe does not offer Christmas activities.

Nashville worth visiting during the Christmas season. Several different venues decorate beautifully for the Christmas season including the Gaylord Opryland.

Santa Fe does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Families?

Both Nashville and Santa Fe are notable to visit with kids.

Nashville is a family-friendly city. The city has a handful of kid-friendly activities like a science center and kid-friendly music venues.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Santa Fe. There are a few kids' museums in Santa Fe including the Santa Fe Children's Museum and the Meow Wolf Art Complex. Kids also enjoy the botanical gardens at Museum Hill and Bandelier National Monument just outside of the city.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Couples?

Both Nashville and Santa Fe are notable destinations for a couple's getaway.

Nashville is a nice destination for couples. For music lovers, this is the ultimate couple's destination. There are also a number of romantic activities around town including horse drawn carriage rides through the downtown. To enjoy the beautiful weather, head to Centennial Park or take a hike in Forest Hills.

Santa Fe makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are many romantic inns around town, each with a lot of character. The town also has a lot of atmosphere that makes for a romantic getaway.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Nashville is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Santa Fe is not known for backpackers.

Nashville is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are one or two hostels around town and there's a great live music scene that attracts a young crowd.

Santa Fe is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's a hostel in town as well as several campgrounds.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Students?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for students.

Plenty of students visit Santa Fe. There are a few colleges and universities in town and students will appreciate the reasonable cost of living and outdoor activities nearby.

Nashville is a decent spot for students. Several universities bring in international students, but the city is smaller and it isn't the most popular student destination in America.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Fe is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Santa Fe. There is a bus system - the Santa Fe Trails Bus Service.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Nashville. Public transportation is very limited and you really need a car to explore the city in depth.

Is Nashville or Santa Fe a more walkable city?

Santa Fe is a very popular place for its walkability. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

Santa Fe is very walkable. The historic district is walkable and it's easy to visit most of the tourist sights in this area on foot.

Nashville is not a walkable city. There aren't many parts of the city that are pedestrian-friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Nashville Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Fe Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Fe or Nashville?

How long in Nashville or Santa Fe?

In either Nashville or Santa Fe, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Santa Fe than Nashville because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Nashville, and 2-5 days is enough time in Santa Fe.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Fe than Nashville 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 Santa Fe.

One day in Nashville or Santa Fe?

The city of Nashville offers live music and food. 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.

You'll find skiing and live music around the historic town of Santa Fe. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Nashville or Santa Fe?

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

You'll find live music and food around the charming destination of Santa Fe. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this historic town has to offer. This historic town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Nashville or Santa Fe?

Nashville is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that live music 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.

You'll find food and shopping around the cultural historic town of Santa Fe. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this historic town makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this historic town has to offer.

A week in Nashville or Santa Fe?

Nashville is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that live music 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.

Santa Fe is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Nashville and Santa Fe, we can see that Nashville 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 North America, 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 Nashville Expensive? and Is Santa Fe Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Nashville or Santa Fe?

Nashville has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Santa Fe. When comparing the sizes of Nashville and Santa Fe, 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.