A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rotterdam vs. Arles for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Rotterdam or Arles?

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 Rotterdam and Arles. 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.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a high energy, modern, and trendy port city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Arles

Arles is a quaint, historic, and charming town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Rotterdam and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rotterdam or Arles?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rotterdam than Arles. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Rotterdam is very popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Arles attracts visitors for its museums, food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Arles is more touristy than Rotterdam and is popular for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh. Rotterdam is famous for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall. It is also well known for The Cube Houses.

The Cube Houses

How is Rotterdam different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Rotterdam or Arles?

Arles is an amazing town to visit for its historical sights. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Arles has many famous sights for visitors. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

Rotterdam is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Although many of the historic buildings around town were destroyed during World War II, there are still a number of sights worth checking out. Head to the Old Harbor and Marine Museums, the Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, or the Wereldmuseum to see some interesting places.

Is the Food Better in Rotterdam or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arles is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Arles has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Rotterdam offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Is Rotterdam or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Rotterdam is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Rotterdam is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It is a trendy city with an active nightlife. You can relax with a beer or hit up one of the clubs around town. Popular options are Club Vibes, Toffler, and Club Vie.

If you're looking for night time activities Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Rotterdam or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is an amazing town to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Rotterdam does not have a historic old town.

Arles offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Rotterdam does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Rotterdam or Arles?

Rotterdam is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Rotterdam. You'll find fashion and clothing shops in the area around Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse. This is also where you'll find the shopping mall of Bijenkorf.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Rotterdam or Arles Better for Families?

Rotterdam is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Rotterdam is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Rotterdam or Arles Better for Couples?

Arles is great for couples. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for romance.

Arles is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Rotterdam is a nice destination for couples. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Is Rotterdam or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rotterdam is very good for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Rotterdam is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

Is Rotterdam or Arles Better for Students?

Rotterdam is well known for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Rotterdam is very popular with students. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

Arles is not popular with students.

Is Rotterdam or Arles Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Rotterdam is well known for its public transit. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Rotterdam. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

While Arles offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Rotterdam or Arles a more walkable city?

Rotterdam and Arles are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Rotterdam is a very walkable destination. There are broad streets with wide sidewalks that are pedestrian friendly.

Arles is very walkable. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Rotterdam Worth Visiting? and Is Arles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arles or Rotterdam?

How long in Rotterdam or Arles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Rotterdam or Arles to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Rotterdam than Arles because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Rotterdam, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arles.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rotterdam than Arles 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 Rotterdam.

One day in Rotterdam or Arles?

Each neighborhood in Rotterdam has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Arles. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Arles has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Rotterdam or Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rotterdam. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Arles. 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 town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Rotterdam or Arles?

Rotterdam is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the big city destination of Rotterdam. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the compact town of Arles. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the museums. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Rotterdam or Arles?

You'll find food and shopping around the trendy big city of Rotterdam. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Arles 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 River Cruises from Amsterdam, The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

When comparing the travel costs between Rotterdam and Arles, we can see that Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam Expensive? and Is Arles Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Arles?

Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam and Arles, 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 Rotterdam or Arles?

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 Rotterdam or Arles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Rotterdam as well as Arles. Many travelers come to Rotterdam for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Arles in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Rotterdam is cooler than Arles in the summer. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rotterdam this time of the year. In the summer, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Arles. Rotterdam gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Rotterdam usually gets more rain in July than Arles. Rotterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Arles in the Autumn?

Both Arles and Rotterdam are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Rotterdam in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Rotterdam is much colder than Arles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rotterdam in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Arles averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Arles during autumn. Rotterdam gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Arles. In October, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Arles. Rotterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Arles in the Winter?

Both Arles and Rotterdam during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rotterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Arles because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Rotterdam can be very cold during winter. In January, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Arles. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 2°C (36°F), and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Arles. Rotterdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Rotterdam usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Arles. Rotterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Arles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotterdam and Arles. The spring months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the activities around the city. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

Rotterdam is much colder than Arles in the spring. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arles this time of the year. Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Arles during spring. Rotterdam gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Arles. Rotterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Rotterdam