A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tampa vs. Edmonton for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Tampa or Edmonton?

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

Should I visit Tampa or Edmonton? 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 low-key, laid-back, and easy-going city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for food and beaches. See Tampa travel costs.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a friendly, cultural, and authentic city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Edmonton travel costs.

Tampa and Edmonton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tampa or Edmonton?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Tampa than Edmonton. While Edmonton is larger than Tampa, Tampa has more sights and attractions for tourists. Tampa is better known for its food, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and big city activities, while Edmonton is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, and shopping. Tampa is well known for its amusement parks, wildlife parks, and popularity as a cruise ship port. Also, Tampa is famous for Busch Gardens. Edmonton is well known for its many festivals and lively personality.

How is Tampa different from Edmonton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Edmonton is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Tampa does not have museums and landmarks.

Edmonton offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. You'll find a number of good museums around town such as the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

Tampa does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Tampa is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Edmonton is not a good city for its restaurants.

Tampa offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Edmonton. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is Tampa or Edmonton Better for Nightlife?

Edmonton 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 Edmonton. There's a mix of nightclubs, bars, and breweries around town. Head to Jasper Avenue for the high end clubs or check out a live show at one of the active theaters around town.

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 Edmonton Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Tampa is a moderate city for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Edmonton is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Snorkeling is an option 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.

Edmonton is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Tampa or Edmonton Better for Beaches?

Tampa is a well-known place for its beaches. However, Edmonton is not a beach destination.

Tampa is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. Popular beaches near Tampa include Ben T. Davis Beach, Fred Howard Park, and Indian Rocks Beach.

Edmonton is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Tampa or Edmonton?

Edmonton is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Edmonton. The city is home to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Canada, and among the largest in the world. The mall includes hundreds of shops, restaurants, a hotel, ice rink, movie theaters, an aquarium, and Galaxyland, which is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. The mall is divided into themed sections that represent iconic places from around the world such as Europa Boulevard and Bourbon Street.

Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Tampa or Edmonton Better for Families?

Tampa is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Edmonton is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Tampa is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Edmonton is a family-friendly city. Many families live in town so if you're visiting for a few days you'll find plenty to do with kids. Most of the activities are concentrated in the downtown areas and along the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. The whole family will enjoy a visit to Telus World of Science. There's also the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and Galaxyland, as well as many other activities.

Is Tampa or Edmonton Better for Couples?

Edmonton is a popular place for couples. However, Tampa is lacking in options for romance.

Edmonton is a good city for couples to visit. There's a good theater scene, so you can enjoy dinner and a show. There are also quaint cafes, mellow breweries, and plenty of cultural activities like art museums.

Tampa is not the best destination for a couple to visit. 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.

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

Edmonton is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Tampa is lacking in options for its public transit.

Edmonton has some public transit options. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

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 Edmonton a more walkable city?

Edmonton is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Tampa is lacking in options for its walkability.

Edmonton is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of the city that are very walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Edmonton or Tampa?

How long in Tampa or Edmonton?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Edmonton 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 Edmonton.

One day in Tampa or Edmonton?

The city of Tampa offers food. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Edmonton, many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping that this friendly 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 Edmonton?

Tampa 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. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Tampa, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

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

Tampa 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.

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

A week in Tampa or Edmonton?

Tampa is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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.

You'll find nightlife and shopping around the cultural destination of Edmonton. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.

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

Which is Bigger, Tampa or Edmonton?

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