A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Toledo vs. Saint-Etienne for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Toledo or Saint-Etienne?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Toledo or Saint-Etienne, 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.

Toledo

Toledo is a beautiful, ancient, and medieval city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne is a industrial, undiscovered, and authentic city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, hiking, and museums.

Toledo and Saint-Etienne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Toledo or Saint-Etienne?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Toledo than Saint-Etienne. While Saint-Etienne is larger than Toledo, Toledo has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Toledo is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and shopping, while Saint-Etienne attracts visitors for its hiking. Toledo is more touristy than Saint-Etienne and is known for its medieval buildings, ancient landmarks, and fascinating history. It is also well known for the Catedral de Toledo. Saint-Etienne is famous for its industrial and manufacturing past.

How is Toledo different from Saint-Etienne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Toledo or Saint-Etienne?

Toledo is great for its historical sights. Also, Saint-Etienne is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Toledo. This medieval city is filled with ancient landmarks including the iconic Catedral de Toledo. In the old town you'll find many many historic buildings and a fascinating Jewish Quarter. Other notable sights include the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, the Alcázar de Toledo, and the Museo de Santa Cruz.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Saint-Etienne. There are several great museums in town including the Musée d'Art et d'Industrie, Musée de la Mine, Musée des Verts, and the planetarium.

Is the Food Better in Toledo or Saint-Etienne? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Toledo is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Toledo has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city offers a great cuisine at a reasonable price. The dishes are influenced by the city's diverse past. You'll find many meat dishes due to the area's long running tradition of hunting. There are also classic dishes like carcamusas, which is pork covered in a tomato sauce. Dishes in general tend to be heavy and saucy with filling and delicious flavors.

Saint-Etienne may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Try the many local cheeses which are a defining part of the cuisine in the area. You'll find some local restaurants around town where you can sample local flavors.

Is Toledo or Saint-Etienne Better for Nightlife?

The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in Toledo and Saint-Etienne.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Toledo. Most tourists visit the town as a day trip, so things can quiet down somewhat at night. There is a large student population that frequents the bars around town and help keep things lively.

Saint-Etienne has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife is centered around sipping wine or visiting one of the clubs in town.

Is Toledo or Saint-Etienne Better for its Old Town?

Toledo is an amazing city to visit for its old town. However, Saint-Etienne does not have a historic old town.

Toledo offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. Perched on a hill and spilling out around the cathedral, this Spanish old town is filled with historic landmarks.

Saint-Etienne does not have a historic old town.

Is Toledo or Saint-Etienne Better for Hiking?

Saint-Etienne is a nice place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Toledo is not a hiking destination.

Saint-Etienne has hiking trails worth exploring. You'll find several great hikes just outside of town. It's a great way to experience the surrounding countryside.

Toledo is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Toledo or Saint-Etienne?

Toledo is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for its shopping areas.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Toledo. Calle Comercio is the main shopping street in town and there are two major shopping malls in the new part of town.

Saint-Etienne has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. Shopping malls and several boutique shopping areas make up the city's shopping scene.

Is Toledo or Saint-Etienne Better for Families?

Toledo and Saint-Etienne are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Toledo is a family-friendly city. The ancient streets are fun to explore. There are city gates, ancient Arab walls, and older kids will be fascinated by a visit to the Toledo Torture Museum. The city is known for its swords, and there are shops that you can visit to learn about this craft.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Saint-Etienne. There are several kid-friendly museums as well as plenty of natural settings just outside of town. Your kids can run around and stretch their legs nearby at Crest of the Partridge or on a rainy day, the planetarium is a fun place to visit.

Is Toledo or Saint-Etienne Better for Couples?

Toledo is a good destination for its romantic activities. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for couples.

Toledo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's an ancient city that is filled with fascinating history and impressive historic sights. Couples will enjoy wandering the medieval streets and visiting the ancient gates.

Saint-Etienne is not always the best place to visit for a couple. There are museums, parks, gardens, and beautiful architecture that make this a wonderful place for couples.

Is Toledo or Saint-Etienne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Toledo is a good destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Toledo. Many travelers visit Toledo as a day trip from Madrid, but for backpackers who want to spend more time, there are a handful of hostels in town.

Saint-Etienne is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not high on the backpacker trail, but there are hostels and plenty of activities to enjoy.

Is Toledo or Saint-Etienne Better for Students?

Toledo is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Saint-Etienne is not popular with students.

Many students visit Toledo. The city is popular with students, and you'll find many activities and a lively atmosphere both during the day and at night.

Saint-Etienne is not popular with students.

Is Toledo or Saint-Etienne Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Toledo and Saint-Etienne.

Toledo has some public transit options. There is a good bus system through town.

You'll find some public transit in Saint-Etienne, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are tram and bus options available in town.

Is Toledo or Saint-Etienne a more walkable city?

Toledo is great for its high level of walkability. Also, Saint-Etienne is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its ease of walking around.

Toledo is a very walkable city. It's a compact and easily walkable city, particularly within the old town. The bus and train stations are also about a 15 or 20 minute walk from the city center.

Saint-Etienne is a somewhat walkable city. There are several walkable areas in the city.

For even more information, also check out Is Toledo Worth Visiting? and Is Saint-Etienne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Saint-Etienne or Toledo?

How long in Toledo or Saint-Etienne?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Toledo or Saint-Etienne to fill your time. In our opinion, Toledo has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Toledo than Saint-Etienne. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Toledo than Saint-Etienne 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 Toledo.

One day in Toledo or Saint-Etienne?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the ancient destination of Toledo. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Saint-Etienne. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Toledo or Saint-Etienne?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Toledo. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Saint-Etienne is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Toledo or Saint-Etienne?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the fascinating destination of Toledo. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint-Etienne. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Toledo or Saint-Etienne?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Toledo. 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. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and museums when visiting the park-filled destination of Saint-Etienne. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Spain, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.

When comparing the travel costs between Toledo and Saint-Etienne, we can see that Toledo 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 Toledo Expensive? and Is Saint-Etienne Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Toledo or Saint-Etienne?

Saint-Etienne has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Toledo. When comparing the sizes of Toledo and Saint-Etienne, 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.