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

Should you visit Toledo or Volterra?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Toledo or Volterra, 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 fascinating, beautiful, and ancient city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Volterra

Volterra is a charming, medieval, and cultural town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Toledo and Volterra: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Toledo or Volterra?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Toledo. Although Toledo and Volterra are both popular with visitors, Toledo has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Toledo is more popular for its nightlife, while Volterra is known for its food, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Toledo is more touristy than Volterra and is popular for its medieval buildings, ancient landmarks, and fascinating history. It is also home to the Catedral de Toledo. Volterra is popular for its medieval history, its hilltop setting and its alabaster.

How is Toledo different from Volterra?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Spend time exploring the very good sights and museums in either Toledo or Volterra.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Toledo can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Volterra. For such a large town there are a huge number of historic sights packed into a small area. Check out the Roman Theater, the Etruscan Museum, and the Duomo.

Is the Food Better in Toledo or Volterra? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Volterra is an amazing town to visit for its restaurants. Also, Toledo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Volterra is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The town is surrounded by the region of truffles, so you'll find this item included in all kinds of recipes. Pumpkin sauce is also a specialty of the area and there are also many local cheeses. Many restaurants also have bruschetta as an appetizer.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Toledo. 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.

Is Toledo or Volterra Better for Nightlife?

Toledo is a popular place for nightlife. However, Volterra is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Toledo has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

Volterra doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are cozy bars and cafes where you can sip wine and soak up the atmosphere, but the town isn't known as a nightlife destination.

Is Toledo or Volterra Better for its Old Town?

Toledo and Volterra both have fantastic historical old towns that attract visitors.

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.

Volterra has a world-famous historical area. The walled town is perched on a hilltop and dates back to the 8th century BC. Visitors come specifically to explore its winding streets and stunning setting.

Is the Shopping Better in Toledo or Volterra?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Toledo and Volterra.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Toledo. Calle Comercio is the main shopping street in town and there are two major shopping malls in the new part of town.

Volterra offers some nice shopping areas. Some of the streets are lined with boutique shops and one of the most popular things to buy in town is Alabaster. You'll also find plenty of Italian wine from the nearby vineyards.

Is Toledo or Volterra Better for Families?

Toledo and Volterra are both good 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 Volterra. If you have a Twilight fan, this town is home to the Volturi, who are the royal family of vampires. For everyone else, its a charming town with medieval walls and wandering alleys that kids will enjoy exploring.

Is Toledo or Volterra Better for Couples?

Volterra is an amazing town to visit for romance. Also, Toledo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Volterra has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. It's unique atmosphere, amazing food, and medieval style make for a unique and world class couples destination. While many people visit as a day trip, you can spend the night and soak up the evening atmosphere as well.

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.

Is Toledo or Volterra Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Toledo and Volterra are both good destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to 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.

Volterra is a good city to visit for backpackers. There's only one or two hostels in town, so if you're looking for a more social backpacker setting, then this may not be your spot. It does make for a great day trip though and if you're more interested in culture than meeting other backpackers, then definitely stop by.

Is Toledo or Volterra Better for Students?

Toledo is well known for students. However, Volterra is not popular with students.

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

Volterra is not popular with students.

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

Toledo is a popular place for its public transit. However, Volterra is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Toledo, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a good bus system through town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Volterra. Public transit isn't necessary as the city is best explored on foot.

Is Toledo or Volterra a more walkable city?

Volterra is an amazing town to visit for its walkability. Also, Toledo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Volterra. Most people explore the town on foot.

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.

For even more information, also check out Is Toledo Worth Visiting? and Is Volterra Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Volterra or Toledo?

How long in Toledo or Volterra?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Toledo or Volterra to fill your time. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Toledo than Volterra 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 Volterra?

The city of Toledo 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.

Volterra might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Toledo or Volterra?

Toledo 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 Toledo, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Volterra is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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 Volterra?

Toledo 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Volterra. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Volterra?

Toledo 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.

Volterra is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Toledo or Volterra?

Toledo has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Volterra. When comparing the sizes of Toledo and Volterra, 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.