A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America San Antonio vs. Virginia Beach for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

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 San Antonio and Virginia Beach. 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.

San Antonio

San Antonio is a fun, historic, and cultural city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a relaxing, bustling, and fun-filled coastal city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife and beaches.

San Antonio and Virginia Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

Tourists will generally find more to do in San Antonio than Virginia Beach. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. San Antonio is very popular for its museums, food, music, historical sights, and shopping, while Virginia Beach attracts visitors for its resorts and beaches. San Antonio is famous for being the home to the Alamo, the popular RiverWalk area, and several world-class amusement parks. It is also well known for The Alamo. Virginia Beach is famous for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe.

How is San Antonio different from Virginia Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

San Antonio is great for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to San Antonio can be an interesting and educational experience. It is known for its role in American history, and the city is famous as the location of the Alamo. It's also where you'll find the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park & Mission Trail, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Witte Museum, and the Guinness World Records Museum, among others.

Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in San Antonio or Virginia Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Antonio is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

San Antonio has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find a mix of amazing and authentic Mexican food, simpler Tex Mex, and a number of Hill Country specialties. The city is filled with comfort food and the restaurants reflect the diverse character of the population. Popular local dishes include tacos, sweet potato fries, and chicken fried steak.

Virginia Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether San Antonio or Virginia Beach has a better nightlife scene.

San Antonio has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city's nightlife scene is diverse, with dance halls, breweries, and clubs. It has seen a recent boom in dance clubs, so there are plenty of places to party hard, or to have a more relaxing night out. The RiverWalk is at the heart of the city's nightlife scene, particularly for tourists. Many conferences stay at hotels near the RiverWalk, so it's not uncommon to see professionals out and about after a day of networking.

If you're looking for night time activities Virginia Beach has a few options to choose from. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach Better for Music?

San Antonio is a nice place to visit for its live music scene. However, Virginia Beach is not a live music destination.

The music scene helps keep San Antonio active and fun. It's worth checking out The Aztec Theater, Sam's Burger Joint, and 502 Bar.

Virginia Beach is not a live music destination.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach Better for Resorts?

Virginia Beach is a good destination for its resorts. However, San Antonio is not a resort destination.

Virginia Beach has a handful of resorts to choose from. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

San Antonio is not a resort destination.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach Better for Beaches?

Virginia Beach is a good destination for its beaches. However, San Antonio is not a beach destination.

Virginia Beach offers a nice beach destination. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

San Antonio is not a beach destination.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach Better for its Old Town?

San Antonio is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, Virginia Beach does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in San Antonio. The city is famous for its River Walk, which may feel slightly cheesy, but is still a unique and mesmerizing place to wander.

Virginia Beach does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

San Antonio is a nice place to visit for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting San Antonio. From souvenir shops to local boutiques and chain stores, there are several shopping options around town. Check out the historic Market Square or the shops at Rivercenter for some of the city's most interesting shopping.

Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach Better for Christmas?

San Antonio is a nice place to visit for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Virginia Beach does not offer Christmas activities.

Christmas holiday activities are popular when visiting San Antonio. It's fun to see the lights along the River Walk at Christmas.

Virginia Beach does not offer Christmas activities.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach Better for Families?

San Antonio is terrific for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its family-friendly activities.

San Antonio is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. The RiverWalk is a fun family-friendly area. There's also Six Flags, SeaWorld and the San Antonio Zoo as well as a number of museums and other amusement parks in the area. It's easy to spend days having a great family vacation in this area and you can combine history, culture, and entertainment all in one setting.

Virginia Beach is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach Better for Couples?

San Antonio and Virginia Beach both nice destinations for a couple.

San Antonio is a nice destination for couples. Couples will enjoy taking a boat ride and exploring the many sites around town. The RiverWalk has many restaurants and a great atmosphere for a date night. There's also the botanical gardens and many outdoor spaces to explore.

Virginia Beach makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach Better for Students?

San Antonio and Virginia Beach are nice places to visit for students.

San Antonio is popular with students. There are a couple of colleges in the area. This is also a major conference destination so it's possible to network and meet other professionals.

It's common for students to visit Virginia Beach. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

San Antonio is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in San Antonio. Buses connect most of the city's tourist attractions, but you'll find life much easier if you have your own car.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is San Antonio or Virginia Beach a more walkable city?

San Antonio and Virginia Beach both are reasonable when exploring on foot.

San Antonio is generally not very walkable. If you stick to the downtown area you will be fine getting around on foot. Outside of that area, you'll need a car.

Virginia Beach is generally not a very walkable city. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

For even more information, also check out Is San Antonio Worth Visiting? and Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Virginia Beach or San Antonio?

How long in San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

Both San Antonio and Virginia Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Virginia Beach than in San Antonio. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for San Antonio, and 5-7 days is enough time in Virginia Beach.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Antonio than Virginia Beach 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 San Antonio.

One day in San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

In San Antonio, you'll find nightlife and live music. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the bustling coastal city of Virginia Beach. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

San Antonio is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the bustling destination of Virginia Beach. This coastal city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Antonio. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the bustling coastal city of Virginia Beach. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of San Antonio. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the destination of Virginia Beach. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this coastal city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between San Antonio and Virginia Beach, we can see that San Antonio 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 North America, 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 San Antonio Expensive? and Is Virginia Beach Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Virginia Beach. When comparing the sizes of San Antonio and Virginia Beach, 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 San Antonio or Virginia Beach?

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 San Antonio or Virginia Beach in the Summer?

Both Virginia Beach and San Antonio during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to San Antonio in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, San Antonio is a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Antonio in July average around 87°F (31°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 79°F (26°C).

In Virginia Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Antonio. In the summer, San Antonio often gets more sunshine than Virginia Beach. San Antonio gets 307 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 279 hours of full sun.

Virginia Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Antonio usually gets less rain in July than Virginia Beach. San Antonio gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Antonio or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Antonio and Virginia Beach. Most visitors come to San Antonio for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Virginia Beach because of the natural beauty of the area.

In October, San Antonio is generally a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in San Antonio average around 73°F (23°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Virginia Beach this time of the year. In San Antonio, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Antonio usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach during autumn. San Antonio gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, San Antonio usually receives around the same amount of rain as Virginia Beach. San Antonio gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit San Antonio or Virginia Beach in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to San Antonio as well as Virginia Beach. The winter months attract visitors to San Antonio because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the cuisine are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.

It's quite cold in Virginia Beach in the winter. San Antonio is much warmer than Virginia Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in San Antonio averages around 54°F (12°C) in January, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 39°F (4°C).

In the winter, San Antonio often gets less sunshine than Virginia Beach. San Antonio gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun.

San Antonio usually gets less rain in January than Virginia Beach. San Antonio gets 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Antonio or Virginia Beach in the Spring?

Both Virginia Beach and San Antonio are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to San Antonio this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, San Antonio is much warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Antonio in April average around 74°F (23°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 58°F (14°C).

It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Antonio. San Antonio usually receives less sunshine than Virginia Beach during spring. San Antonio gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, San Antonio usually receives less rain than Virginia Beach. San Antonio gets 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and San Antonio