A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Valletta vs. New Orleans for Food, Nightlife, Old Town, and Couples

Should you visit Valletta or New Orleans?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Valletta and New Orleans can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Valletta

Valletta is a charming, cultural, and waterfront town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a energetic, fun-filled, and festive city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the food, nightlife, and live music.

Valletta and New Orleans: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Valletta or New Orleans?

Visitors will usually find more to do in New Orleans than Valletta, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. New Orleans is better known for its nightlife, music, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while Valletta is more popular for its museums, beaches, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. New Orleans is more touristy than Valletta and is known for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. Also, New Orleans is famous for The French Quarter. Valletta is well known for its ancient fortifications, Baroque palaces, and beautiful gardens.

The French Quarter

How is Valletta different from New Orleans?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Valletta or New Orleans?

Valletta is a world-class destination for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Valletta from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. With its rich culture and compact old town, there are countless museums, sights, and monuments that are worth visiting. Some options include Saint John's Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster's Palace and Armory, the National Museum of Archaeology, Manoel Theater, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Valletta or New Orleans? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Valletta and New Orleans.

Many restaurants in Valletta have been singled out for their culinary prowess. The town's culinary scene has a long history with many traditional flavors. You really must experience a meal in one of the traditional stone cellar restaurants, which often serve local meze. Head to Republic Street for a stretch of longstanding restaurants in town. Local dishes include stuffat tal-fenek (rabbit stew), bragioli (rolled meat covered in sauce), and lampuki pie (fish pie).

Eat your way through New Orleans, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.

Is Valletta or New Orleans Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is terrific for its evening party scene. Also, Valletta is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

New Orleans is a must-see party destination. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.

Valletta has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. It wasn't long ago that the town went quiet in the evenings, but recent years have brought a surge in bars and clubs around town. You'll find the liveliest nightlife in areas around Strait Street and the Valletta Waterfront. If you're looking for a true clubbing scene, you'll want to head north out of town to Paceville.

Is Valletta or New Orleans Better for Music?

New Orleans is terrific for its music scene. However, Valletta is not a live music destination.

New Orleans has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.

Valletta is not a live music destination.

Is Valletta or New Orleans Better for Beaches?

Valletta is a decent place to visit for its beaches. However, New Orleans is not a beach destination.

Valletta is a good spot to see the beach. There aren't any beaches in town, but if you head north to St. George’s Bay you'll find some nice beaches with a variety of resorts to choose from.

New Orleans is not a beach destination.

Is Valletta or New Orleans Better for its Old Town?

Valletta is a world-class destination for its historic old town. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its old town.

The historic old town of Valletta is revered around the world. The old town is laid out with a uniform grid and the streets are lined with hundreds of historic buildings. At the heart of old town is Republic Street, which divides the area in half and is where you'll find a large concentration of restaurants.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of New Orleans. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

Is the Shopping Better in Valletta or New Orleans?

Valletta is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Valletta. For the best shopping head to Republic Street and Merchants Street where you'll find craft shops, boutiques, and other local souvenirs. Many visitors enjoy picking up blown glass, a locally made miniature, or cactus liquor. Lace is also a common local item that you'll find around town.

If you're looking to go shopping, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.

Is Valletta or New Orleans Better for Families?

Valletta is a town with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Valletta is a family-friendly town. This charming town has nearby beaches as well as a few museums that kids will enjoy, including a toy museum. There are also several multi-media shows that educate visitors on the area's history. Make sure you check out Malta 5D and the Malta Experience.

New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.

Is Valletta or New Orleans Better for Couples?

Valletta is a world-class destination for romance. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Valletta is a great town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. The town offers beautiful walks, luxury spa experiences, and evening sunset cruises that are seeped in romance. During the evening you can enjoy a cocktail hour and then dine in one of the town's many unique restaurants.

New Orleans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.

Is Valletta or New Orleans Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Valletta is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for backpackers.

Valletta is very popular with the backpacker crowd. The island has grown in popularity with backpackers, particularly those coming from Europe, as there are affordable flights and easy accessibility. You'll also find some nice hostels around town where you can stay on a budget.

New Orleans is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a handful of hostels in New Orleans that are good options for backpackers who want to meet other travelers.

Is Valletta or New Orleans Better for Students?

New Orleans is a city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Valletta is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit New Orleans. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

Valletta is not popular with students.

Is Valletta or New Orleans Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Valletta is a town with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its public transit.

Valletta has some public transit options. If you're not up for walking up and down the hills, there are some buses around town.

Public transit is generally limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.

Is Valletta or New Orleans a more walkable city?

Valletta is a world-class destination for its walkability. Also, New Orleans 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 Valletta. The town is compact and easy to walk around with many sights within a short distance of each other. There's also very little street traffic.

New Orleans is a somewhat walkable place. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.

For even more information, also check out Is Valletta Worth Visiting? and Is New Orleans Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in New Orleans or Valletta?

How long in Valletta or New Orleans?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Valletta and New Orleans. In our opinion, Valletta has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Valletta than New Orleans. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Valletta, and 2-3 days is enough time in New Orleans.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Valletta than New Orleans 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 Valletta.

One day in Valletta or New Orleans?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural town of Valletta. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The city of New Orleans offers nightlife and live music. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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.

A weekend in Valletta or New Orleans?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the historic destination of Valletta. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

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

Five days in Valletta or New Orleans?

The historic town of Valletta offers shopping and museums. 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. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

New Orleans 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.

A week in Valletta or New Orleans?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Valletta. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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.

New Orleans 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Malta, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malta, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Valletta and New Orleans, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Valletta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Valletta is in Europe and New Orleans is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Valletta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valletta 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 New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in Valletta.

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

Which is Bigger, Valletta or New Orleans?

New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Valletta. When comparing the sizes of Valletta and New Orleans, 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 Valletta or New Orleans?

New Orleans has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Valletta experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Valletta or New Orleans in the Summer?

Both New Orleans and Valletta are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Valletta throughout the year. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year.

In the summer, Valletta is around the same temperature as New Orleans. Typically, the summer temperatures in Valletta in July average around 26°C (79°F), and New Orleans averages at about 82°F (28°C).

It's quite sunny in New Orleans. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Valletta. Valletta usually receives more sunshine than New Orleans during summer. Valletta gets 365 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 264 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. In July, Valletta usually receives less rain than New Orleans. Valletta gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Valletta or New Orleans in the Autumn?

Both New Orleans and Valletta during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Valletta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to New Orleans for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In October, Valletta is generally around the same temperature as New Orleans. Daily temperatures in Valletta average around 21°C (70°F), and New Orleans fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Valletta. In the autumn, Valletta often gets less sunshine than New Orleans. Valletta gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 240 hours of full sun.

Valletta usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as New Orleans. Valletta gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Valletta or New Orleans in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Valletta and New Orleans. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Valletta year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to New Orleans in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Valletta is a little warmer than New Orleans in the winter. The daily temperature in Valletta averages around 13°C (55°F) in January, and New Orleans fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

Valletta usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as New Orleans during winter. Valletta gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 158 hours of full sun in the winter.

New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Valletta usually receives less rain than New Orleans. Valletta gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Valletta or New Orleans in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Valletta as well as New Orleans. Valletta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to New Orleans for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Valletta is cooler than New Orleans. Typically, the spring temperatures in Valletta in April average around 16°C (61°F), and New Orleans averages at about 68°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Valletta this time of the year. In the spring, Valletta often gets around the same amount of sunshine as New Orleans. Valletta gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 254 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in New Orleans. Valletta usually gets less rain in April than New Orleans. Valletta gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for New Orleans and Valletta