A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Piedmont vs. La Rioja for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Piedmont or La Rioja?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Piedmont and La Rioja. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Piedmont or La Rioja?

Piedmont

The Alps sunken and faded in blue shadows swim amongst waves of roaming hills of fertile Italian countryside. Lush, quaint, breathtaking - Piedmont, whose name means "land of mountains," is the second-largest region of the twenty regions of Italy. Known for its delicacy in Slow Food and fine wine, Piedmont is a tourist attraction for those who want a true taste of Italian culture. After the Austrian wars, Piedmont emerged out of the unification movement that ran rampant throughout the 1850s, when the nation was given its first prime minister and its dynastic royal family. Prior to this era, many of the smaller towns found within Piedmont were once warring fiefdoms that often battled over religion and trade. Despite the chaos from whence it originated, Piedmont is now a serene escape from the noisy, overcrowded streets of Rome and Milan. Though far more peaceful than that of Rome or Milan, Piedmont also attains its fair share of excitement with its world-renowned museums, five-star restaurants, and expansive wine vineyards.

La Rioja

La Rioja is an area in northern Spain located in the Iberia peninsula. It is not as commonly known as some of the bigger cities, but it is a great place to visit. The area has more than 500 wineries, and though the area may not be well known as a tourist location, the name is often recognizable for its quality wine. La Rioja is full of natural beauty and Spanish culture. Because it is not as touristy as some of the larger areas of Spain, you are more likely to get a more genuine idea of real Spanish life and culture by visiting this region. The La Rioja area is nestled between cities like Burgos, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Pamplona and Zaragoza, so you are never far from the more popular northern cities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Madrid.

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

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

Which has a larger population, Piedmont or La Rioja?

Piedmont has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of La Rioja. When comparing the sizes of Piedmont and La Rioja, 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.