A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rotterdam vs. Pompeii for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Rotterdam or Pompeii?

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 Pompeii. 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. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Pompeii

Pompeii is a one-of-a-kind, ancient, and famous archeological site. It's also popular because of the museums.

Rotterdam and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rotterdam or Pompeii?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Rotterdam. Although Rotterdam and Pompeii are popular destinations, Rotterdam has more sights and attractions for tourists. Rotterdam is very popular for its food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Pompeii attracts visitors for its museums. Pompeii is more touristy than Rotterdam and is known for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. 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 Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Pompeii 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 Pompeii?

Pompeii is an amazing archeological site 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, Pompeii has many famous sights for visitors. Pompeii is a city frozen in time and it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The streets remain as they once stood, lined with shops and homes. Highlights of a visit include the Forum, the Antiquarium, the Temple of Isis, and the Teatro Grande.

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 Pompeii? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Rotterdam is very good for its restaurants. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Rotterdam is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

While Pompeii is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. While there is a café near the Forum, the quality of the food isn't great and it can get crowded. You'd do best to bring your own food as the site is large and you'll want to eat on your own schedule.

Is Rotterdam or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Rotterdam is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for nightlife.

Rotterdam has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Pompeii. As a popular tourist destination, you'll find some bars nearby, but most people visit as a day trip and head out of town before the evening hours.

Is the Shopping Better in Rotterdam or Pompeii?

Rotterdam is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas 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.

Pompeii has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There are some souvenir stands outside of the site where you can buy trinkets to remember your visit.

Is Rotterdam or Pompeii Better for Families?

Both Rotterdam and Pompeii are high quality family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Rotterdam. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

Pompeii is a very family-friendly place to visit. Its a city frozen in time, and even kids will get lost in the history and story behind Pompeii. The trick is to find a kid-friendly tour and understand the layout before you arrive. Because it's so big, you want to know which places to visit and which you might want to skip with kids who have short attention spans.

Is Rotterdam or Pompeii Better for Couples?

Rotterdam and Pompeii both nice destinations for a couple.

Rotterdam is a good port city for couples to visit. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Pompeii is a nice destination for couples. It's an iconic destination in Italy, and should be added to any Italian trip itinerary. It's not exactly a romantic destination, but it's something that every visitor should see.

Is Rotterdam or Pompeii Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Rotterdam and Pompeii are nice places to visit.

Plenty of backpackers visit Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Pompeii. It's touristy and crowded, but also world renowned and not-to-be-missed. Whether you're a backpacker or a luxury traveler, Pompeii is on most itineraries.

Is Rotterdam or Pompeii Better for Students?

Rotterdam is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

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

Pompeii is popular with students. It's history and educational significance make it a great study abroad destination, whether you visit alone, with friends, or as part of a tour group.

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

Rotterdam is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Rotterdam offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

You'll find some public transit in Pompeii, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

Is Rotterdam or Pompeii a more walkable city?

Pompeii is an amazing archeological site to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its walkability.

Pompeii is a very easy archeological site to get around on foot. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Pompeii or Rotterdam?

How long in Rotterdam or Pompeii?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Rotterdam or Pompeii to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Rotterdam than Pompeii 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 Pompeii.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rotterdam than Pompeii 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 Pompeii?

Because Rotterdam is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This port city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

You'll find museums around the archeological site of Pompeii. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Pompeii has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Rotterdam or Pompeii?

Because Rotterdam is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Rotterdam has to offer.

You'll find museums around the one-of-a-kind destination of Pompeii. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this archeological site has to offer. This archeological site offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Rotterdam or Pompeii?

Rotterdam is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the one-of-a-kind archeological site of Pompeii. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. 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 Pompeii?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rotterdam. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Rotterdam. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Pompeii is a popular choice for travelers. 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Rotterdam and Pompeii, 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 Pompeii Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Rotterdam or Pompeii?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Pompeii in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotterdam and Pompeii. Many travelers come to Rotterdam for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Pompeii in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Rotterdam is cooler than Pompeii in the summer. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Pompeii fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pompeii this time of the year. In Rotterdam, it's very sunny this time of the year. Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during summer. Rotterdam gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Rotterdam usually receives more rain than Pompeii. Rotterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Pompeii in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Rotterdam as well as Pompeii. Many visitors come to Rotterdam in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Rotterdam is much colder than Pompeii. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rotterdam in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Pompeii averages at about 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Rotterdam gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pompeii. Rotterdam usually gets less rain in October than Pompeii. Rotterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Pompeii in the Winter?

Both Pompeii and Rotterdam are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Rotterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Pompeii because of the museums.

Rotterdam can be very cold during winter. In January, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 2°C (36°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during winter. Rotterdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. In January, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Rotterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Pompeii in the Spring?

Both Pompeii and Rotterdam during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the activities around the city.

Rotterdam is much colder than Pompeii in the spring. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Pompeii fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Rotterdam gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun.

Rotterdam usually gets less rain in April than Pompeii. Rotterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Rotterdam