A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Tampa vs. Boise for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Tampa or Boise?

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

Should I visit Tampa or Boise? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Tampa

Tampa is a easy-going, low-key, and laid-back city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food and beaches.

Boise

Boise is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Tampa and Boise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tampa or Boise?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Tampa than Boise. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Tampa is very popular for its food, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and big city activities, while Boise attracts visitors for its museums, nightlife, and shopping. Tampa is famous for its amusement parks, wildlife parks, and popularity as a cruise ship port. It is also well known for Busch Gardens. Boise is famous for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Tampa different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Tampa or Boise?

Boise is a popular place for its museums and history. However, Tampa does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Boise. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Tampa does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Tampa or Boise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Tampa is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Tampa is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are a surprising number of great local restaurants around town as well as a good food truck scene. Some favorite dishes include fresh caught seafood, Grouper sandwiches, and Cuban sandwiches.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Tampa or Boise Better for Nightlife?

Boise is a popular place for its evening party scene. However, Tampa is lacking in options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Boise. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Tampa is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. The city has some good nightclubs, sports bars, and other spots where locals enjoy spending the evening.

Is Tampa or Boise Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Tampa is a decent place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Boise is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's possible to go snorkeling in Tampa. While the water isn't always the clearest, there are some nice snorkeling and diving spots in the area. Options include Shell Key and Egmont Key, Crystal River, and Fort De Soto.

Boise is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Tampa or Boise Better for Beaches?

Tampa is an excellent place to visit for the beach. However, Boise is not a beach destination.

Tampa is considered a top beach destination. Popular beaches near Tampa include Ben T. Davis Beach, Fred Howard Park, and Indian Rocks Beach.

Boise is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Tampa or Boise?

Boise is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Boise has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Tampa or Boise Better for Families?

Tampa is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Tampa. The city has a number of kid-oriented attractions including Busch Gardens Amusement Park, several kid-friendly museums, and a number of animal centers, aquariums, and wildlife rescue facilities.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Tampa or Boise Better for Couples?

Neither Tampa or Boise is generally regarded as a top spot for a couple to visit.

Tampa is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The area does have great restaurants and some fun places to explore, but the downtown area has room for improvement and much of the city is suburban.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Tampa or Boise Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Boise is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Tampa is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Tampa. There is the street car that runs from downtown Tampa to Ybor City and stops at 11 stations.

Is Tampa or Boise a more walkable city?

Tampa and Boise are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Tampa is generally not a very walkable city. While there are some neighborhoods that are considered walkable, you really need a car if you hope to explore Tampa in depth.

Boise is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Tampa Worth Visiting? and Is Boise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Boise or Tampa?

How long in Tampa or Boise?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Boise than Tampa 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 Boise.

One day in Tampa or Boise?

In Tampa, many people enjoy the food that this low-key destination offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

In Boise, many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping that this welcoming destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Tampa or Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Tampa. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Boise. 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.

Five days in Tampa or Boise?

Tampa is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the food when visiting the destination of Tampa. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

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

A week in Tampa or Boise?

You'll find food around the easy-going destination of Tampa. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find nightlife and shopping around the authentic destination of Boise. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Tampa or Boise?

Tampa has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Boise. When comparing the sizes of Tampa and Boise, 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.