A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salzburg vs. Pisa for Old Town, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Salzburg or Pisa?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salzburg or Pisa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Salzburg

Salzburg is a musical, cultural, and recognizable city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Pisa

Pisa is a classic, charming, and iconic city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food.

Salzburg and Pisa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Salzburg or Pisa?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Salzburg than Pisa, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Salzburg is more popular for its music, historical sights, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Pisa is known for its nightlife and beaches. Salzburg is more touristy than Pisa and is popular for its elegant breakfasts, its classical music scene, and its role in the Sound of Music. It is also home to The Salzburg Old Town. Pisa is popular for its iconic Leaning Tower, its beautiful squares, and its lively atmosphere.

The Salzburg Old Town

How is Salzburg different from Pisa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Salzburg or Pisa?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Salzburg or Pisa.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Salzburg can be an interesting and educational experience. There are many historic sights to explore including Mozart's birthplace, the Mozart Residence, the Salzburg Museum, and the many stunning churches and concert halls.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Pisa. The city is more than a one hit wonder. In addition to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, you'll find many beautiful buildings and museums. Popular places to visit include the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Campo Santo (Sacred Field), and Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.

Is the Food Better in Salzburg or Pisa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Salzburg and Pisa.

Dining out in Salzburg is an experience not to be missed. The old town is filled with charming restaurants that serve local specialties including schnitzel, tafelspitz, and strudel. The city is also known for it's impressive breakfast spread that is often served on a three tiered cake stand and includes cheeses, salami, fresh fruit, pastries, olives, jams and more.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Pisa. The local cuisine is heavily influenced by the city's maritime roots. You'll find many seafood dishes as well as local classic recipes that have been passed down through the generations. A quintessential local dish is Bordatino alla Pisana, which is made with beans, cabbage, and cornflour. Also popular are Pasta e Ceci (chickpea pasta), Palette (a local polenta), and Trippa alla Pisana.

Is Salzburg or Pisa Better for Nightlife?

Pisa is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Salzburg is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Pisa offers plenty to do in the evening. Head out to an aperitivo bar for an early drink, then head to one of the area's best nightlife neighborhoods. For the biggest party scene, go about 10 kilometers out of town to the Versilian coast. This area has the most popular clubs. If you decide to stay in town, there are still plenty of places to catch live music and dance.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Salzburg. The city has a number of trendy bars, pubs, and clubs where you can enjoy music and a lively atmosphere.

Is Salzburg or Pisa Better for Music?

Salzburg is terrific for its live music scene. However, Pisa is not a live music destination.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in Salzburg. Although most people think of Mozart and the Sound of Music when they think of this city, there are also many music festivals, including the famous Salzburg Music Festival, as well as concert venues and an independent music scene that is excellent.

Pisa is not a live music destination.

Is Salzburg or Pisa Better for Beaches?

Pisa is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Salzburg is not a beach destination.

Pisa has a beach worth visiting. Many people forget that there are beaches near Pisa, but the city is close to the sea. Some of the closest beaches include Marina di Vecchiano and Marina di Pisa.

Salzburg is not a beach destination.

Is Salzburg or Pisa Better for its Old Town?

Salzburg is terrific for its old town. Also, Pisa is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its historic old town charm.

Salzburg has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. This beautiful old town is filled with cafes, restaurants, and churches. You can enjoy local music performed by street performers as you soak in the atmosphere and the regular chime of the church bells really gives the city personality. There are also frequent markets and shops to explore.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Pisa. The old town is where you'll find the city's classic charm and many of the best sights.

Is the Shopping Better in Salzburg or Pisa?

Salzburg is terrific for its shopping opportunities. Also, Pisa is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Salzburg draws large crowds to its stores. The city's historic heart is filled with boutique shops, chocolate markets, and charming local vendors. It's fun to peruse the many shops that line the streets while you shop for local souvenirs.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Pisa. There's a great mix of traditional markets, high end stores, and indoor shopping malls where you can find anything that you might need. Corso Italia is one of the most popular shopping areas, but also worth checking out are Centro Commerciale Pisanova, Borgo Stretto and Borgo Largo.

Is Salzburg or Pisa Better for Families?

Salzburg is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Pisa is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Salzburg is very family-friendly. Kids who know the Sound of Music will enjoy visiting the setting of a number of scenes from the movie. There are even popular Sound of Music tours that take you to the gardens where they sang "Do Re Mi" and out of town to the church where Maria married the Captain. The city also offers Marionette Puppet shows, cooking classes, castles and more around town that everyone can enjoy.

Pisa is a family-friendly place to visit. It's a lively city with beautiful squares and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Kids will enjoy hanging out in the city center, visiting Parco Don Bosco, Giardino Scotto Park, or Marina di Pisa. If you have a car and are willing to venture a bit further away, there's the Piccolo Mondo Amusement Park and Parco Preistorico Peccioli.

Is Salzburg or Pisa Better for Couples?

Salzburg is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Pisa is not as popular, but is still a nice city for couples.

Salzburg makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The town offers a romantic setting with elaborate breakfasts, beautiful architecture, live shows, and plenty that couples can enjoy. You can simply wander around old town or explore the many gardens around town. Couples will also enjoy the concerts and music that the city is so famous for.

Pisa is a good city for couples to visit. It's an iconic Italian destination that offers so much more than its most famous landmark. The city is filled with charming squares, beautiful architecture, and plenty of fun activities that couples can enjoy.

Is Salzburg or Pisa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Salzburg and Pisa are very good destinations for backpackers.

Salzburg is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. This is a popular city to visit, so there are plenty of amenities for backpackers. If you want to save a little money, you can stay and eat outside of old town where the prices are a little less.

Pisa is very popular with the backpacker crowd. Most backpackers pass through on their way to other towns, but for those that linger, there are plenty of hostels and a lively social scene.

Is Salzburg or Pisa Better for Students?

Salzburg and Pisa are both fantastic destinations for students and younger travelers.

Salzburg is a great destination for students. International students appreciate the high quality of life, excellent educational opportunities and unique European setting that makes this city special. There are also a number of beautiful places just outside of town that you can explore, as well as many travel connections to other popular cities in Europe.

Pisa is a very popular city for students. Many study abroad students flock to Italy for its beautiful culture, art, and architecture. Pisa makes a nice base for international students, and it offers easy access to other parts of Italy. It's also home to an internationally acclaimed university, Scuola Normale Superiore, which was founded in 1810.

Is Salzburg or Pisa Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Salzburg is a great city for times when you don't have a car. Also, Pisa is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

The public transit in Salzburg can get you around easily. Trolleys and buses make it easy to get around town.

Pisa has a few public transit options. There are public buses through town with the most popular lines being the Red and Green Lines.

Is Salzburg or Pisa a more walkable city?

Salzburg and Pisa both are very good when exploring on foot.

Salzburg is a very walkable destination. The old town is very walkable, but if you stay outside of the main tourist areas, you'll likely want to take a bus.

Pisa is very walkable. The city is a great place to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Salzburg Worth Visiting? and Is Pisa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pisa or Salzburg?

How long in Salzburg or Pisa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Salzburg and Pisa. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Salzburg than in Pisa. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Salzburg, and 1-3 days is enough time in Pisa.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Salzburg than Pisa 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 Salzburg.

One day in Salzburg or Pisa?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of Salzburg. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

The beautiful city of Pisa offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Salzburg or Pisa?

Salzburg is a fun place to experience. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Pisa 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. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Pisa, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Salzburg or Pisa?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the historic destination of Salzburg. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Pisa is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

A week in Salzburg or Pisa?

The cultural city of Salzburg offers shopping and museums. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Pisa is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Austria, The Best 10-Day Tours in Austria, The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Salzburg or Pisa?

Salzburg has a larger population, and is about 68% larger than the population of Pisa. When comparing the sizes of Salzburg and Pisa, 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 Salzburg or Pisa?

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 Salzburg or Pisa in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Salzburg as well as Pisa. Many visitors come to Salzburg in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Pisa for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Salzburg is generally cooler than Pisa. Daily temperatures in Salzburg average around 20°C (68°F), and Pisa fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pisa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Salzburg this time of the year. In the summer, Salzburg often gets less sunshine than Pisa. Salzburg gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pisa receives 316 hours of full sun.

Salzburg usually gets more rain in July than Pisa. Salzburg gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Pisa receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Salzburg or Pisa in the Autumn?

Both Pisa and Salzburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Salzburg for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Pisa because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Salzburg is much colder than Pisa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Salzburg averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Pisa fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Salzburg usually receives less sunshine than Pisa during autumn. Salzburg gets 108 hours of sunny skies, while Pisa receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pisa. In October, Salzburg usually receives less rain than Pisa. Salzburg gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Pisa receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Salzburg or Pisa in the Winter?

Both Pisa and Salzburg during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Salzburg because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Pisa this time of year.

The weather in Salzburg can be very cold. In the winter, Salzburg is much colder than Pisa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Salzburg in January average around -0°C (31°F), and Pisa averages at about 7°C (45°F).

In the winter, Salzburg often gets less sunshine than Pisa. Salzburg gets 44 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pisa receives 105 hours of full sun.

Salzburg usually gets less rain in January than Pisa. Salzburg gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Pisa receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Salzburg or Pisa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Salzburg and Pisa. The natural beauty are the main draw to Salzburg this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Pisa for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Salzburg is generally cooler than Pisa. Daily temperatures in Salzburg average around 11°C (51°F), and Pisa fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Salzburg usually receives less sunshine than Pisa during spring. Salzburg gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Pisa receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.

Pisa receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Salzburg usually receives less rain than Pisa. Salzburg gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Pisa receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pisa and Salzburg