A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Nashville vs. Santa Monica for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Nashville or Santa Monica?

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 Monica 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 southern, country music lovers, and eclectic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a lively, funfilled, and energetic town. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and beaches.

Nashville and Santa Monica: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nashville or Santa Monica?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Monica than Nashville. While Nashville is larger than Santa Monica, Santa Monica has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Monica is very popular for its food, beaches, and shopping, while Nashville attracts visitors for its music, resorts, and big city activities. Santa Monica is more touristy than Nashville and is popular for its active lifestyle and fun-filled activities. It is also well known for the Santa Monica Pier. Nashville is famous for its influence in country music and its many live music venues.

How is Nashville different from Santa Monica?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the nice sights and museums in either Nashville or Santa Monica.

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 Monica offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There's a thriving arts scene and a number of museums around town. Check out the Museum of Flying, the California Heritage Museum, or the Santa Monica History Museum.

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

Santa Monica 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 Monica. You'll find a diversity of restaurants in the area, many of which make use of the town's many farmer's markets. The restaurant scene has a beachy vibe with a lot of outdoor dining opportunities. There are also a range of cuisines to choose from such as Mexican, Italian, casual, and upscale.

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 Monica Better for Nightlife?

The excellent nightlife scene is relatively similar in Nashville and Santa Monica.

Nashville has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Santa Monica is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. There's a relaxed and laid back vibe to the nightlife scene. Many venues offer outdoor seating and live music in a casual setting. You can hang out on a patio and enjoy the California climate while you sip cold drinks and the beach town atmosphere.

Is Nashville or Santa Monica Better for Music?

Nashville is an amazing city to visit for its live music scene. However, Santa Monica is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Nashville The city is famous for country music, blues, and rock and roll. Popular venues include The Basement, The 5 Spot, and The Cannery Complex.

Santa Monica is not a live music destination.

Is Nashville or Santa Monica Better for Resorts?

Nashville is a popular place for its resorts. However, Santa Monica is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Nashville makes a nice vacation spot. There are a couple of famous resorts in the area including the Gaylord Opryland Resort, the Hermitage Hotel, and the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Santa Monica is not a resort destination.

Is Nashville or Santa Monica Better for Beaches?

Santa Monica is a world-class destination for its beaches. However, Nashville is not a beach destination.

Santa Monica is considered to be a world-class beach destination. Santa Monica Beach is large and lined with bike trails. It's also filled with activity and you'll find many water sports, beach volleyball, and surfing in the area. There's also the famous Santa Monica Pier, which has an amusement park aquarium, Ferris wheal, dining, and shopping.

Nashville is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Nashville or Santa Monica?

Santa Monica 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 Monica. It's easy to pass the time shopping in Santa Monica. There are independent vendors, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. Head to Montana Avenue or Main Street for some of the best shopping.

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 Monica Better for Christmas?

Nashville is a popular place for its Christmas activities. However, Santa Monica does not offer Christmas activities.

Nashville offers some nice Christmas activities. Several different venues decorate beautifully for the Christmas season including the Gaylord Opryland.

Santa Monica does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Nashville or Santa Monica Better for Families?

Santa Monica is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Nashville is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Santa Monica is an extremely popular town to visit for families. Many families spend their days hanging out on the beaches, soaking up the sun, and even trying to surf. There's a boardwalk as well as bike paths that are perfect for people watching. You should also check out the Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, which is a thrilling amusement park.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Nashville. The city has a handful of kid-friendly activities like a science center and kid-friendly music venues.

Is Nashville or Santa Monica Better for Couples?

Santa Monica is a very popular place for romance. Also, Nashville is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Santa Monica makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Fun days on the beach, peaceful walks at sunset, and a wild nightlife scene make this the perfect couples destination for couples who enjoy activity and excitement.

Nashville makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

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

Nashville and Santa Monica are both nice destinations for backpackers.

Nashville is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are one or two hostels around town and there's a great live music scene that attracts a young crowd.

Plenty of backpackers visit Santa Monica. There's no shortage of activities in the area, whether you're into surfing, partying, or sunbathing. There's also at least one hostel that's great for budget travelers and backpackers.

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

Nashville is not a good place to visit for its public transit. However, Santa Monica does not have public transit.

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.

Santa Monica does not have public transit. The Metro E Line connects the city to downtown Los Angeles. There's also the Big Blue Bus as well the Santa Monica Circuit, which are small electric carts that offer free rides between Wilshire Boulevard and Marine Street, and from the ocean to Fifth Street.

Is Nashville or Santa Monica a more walkable city?

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

Santa Monica is very walkable. The city is very walkable, particularly in the more touristy areas.

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 Monica Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Monica or Nashville?

How long in Nashville or Santa Monica?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Monica 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 Monica.

One day in Nashville or Santa Monica?

In Nashville, many people enjoy the live music and food that this eclectic city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Santa Monica. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Monica has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Nashville or Santa Monica?

Nashville is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Lots of people come for the live music. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the lively destination of Santa Monica. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Nashville or Santa Monica?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the eclectic destination of Nashville. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the live music. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the lively town of Santa Monica. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Most people head to the area for the beaches. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Nashville or Santa Monica?

Nashville is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Santa Monica is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nashville and Santa Monica, we can see that Santa Monica is more expensive. And not only is Nashville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nashville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nashville 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 Santa Monica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Monica than you might in Nashville.

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 Monica Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Nashville or Santa Monica?

Nashville has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Santa Monica. When comparing the sizes of Nashville and Santa Monica, 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 Nashville or Santa Monica?

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 Nashville or Santa Monica in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Nashville as well as Santa Monica. Many travelers come to Nashville for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Santa Monica in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Nashville is a little warmer than Santa Monica. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nashville in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Santa Monica averages at about 70°F (21°C).

Nashville usually gets more rain in July than Santa Monica. Nashville gets 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nashville or Santa Monica in the Autumn?

Both Santa Monica and Nashville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Nashville in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, most visitors come to Santa Monica for the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Nashville is generally cooler than Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Nashville average around 62°F (17°C), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 67°F (20°C).

In October, Nashville usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Nashville gets 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Nashville or Santa Monica in the Winter?

Both Santa Monica and Nashville during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Nashville for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Santa Monica because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Nashville can be very cold during winter. Nashville is much colder than Santa Monica in the winter. The daily temperature in Nashville averages around 38°F (4°C) in January, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

Nashville usually gets more rain in January than Santa Monica. Nashville gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nashville or Santa Monica in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nashville and Santa Monica. The spring months attract visitors to Nashville because of the activities around the city. Furthermore, the beaches are the main draw to Santa Monica this time of year.

In the spring, Nashville is around the same temperature as Santa Monica. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nashville in April average around 62°F (16°C), and Santa Monica averages at about 61°F (16°C).

Nashville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Nashville usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Nashville gets 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santa Monica and Nashville