A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vienna vs. La Fortuna for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Vienna or La Fortuna?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vienna or La Fortuna, 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.

Vienna

Vienna is a classical, traditional, and artistic city. You'll find world class beauty in Vienna as well. And you can't forget about the live music, food, and shopping. See Vienna travel costs.

La Fortuna

La Fortuna is a scenic, popular, and stunning town. The beauty of La Fortuna is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, hiking, and nightlife. See La Fortuna travel costs.

Vienna and La Fortuna: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Vienna or La Fortuna?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Vienna than La Fortuna, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Vienna is better known for its museums and attractions, food, music, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while La Fortuna is more popular for its resorts and hiking. Vienna is well known for its strong classical music roots including being home to both Mozart and Beethoven. Also, Vienna is famous for The Imperial Schönbrunn Palace. La Fortuna is well known for its hot springs, luxury resorts, and volcanic views.

The Imperial Schönbrunn Palace

How is Vienna different from La Fortuna?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Vienna or La Fortuna?

Vienna is notable for its sights and museums. However, La Fortuna is a mediocre town for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Vienna. Filled with palaces, museums, and parks, there are many things to see around town. Make sure you check out the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg, and Kunsthistorisches Museum.

While most people don't head to La Fortuna specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Most people spend their time outdoors exploring the area, but there are also some museums that highlight local art and culture.

Is the Food Better in Vienna or La Fortuna? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Vienna is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, La Fortuna is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Vienna. The city's cuisine has been influenced by many different flavors. Pastries are ubiquitous so make sure you try the apfelstrudel and kaiserschmarrn. Other common dishes include wiener schnitzel and goulash.

La Fortuna is becoming an appealing option for foodies. It's a touristy mecca, and there are a number of decent restaurants around town. The area has some of the freshest local ingredients and the food reflects that. You'll find restaurants both in the center of town and along the road between the town and the hot springs.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna Better for Nightlife?

The notable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Vienna and La Fortuna.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Vienna. The music and dance scene is diverse and fun. There are clubs that cater to different crowds and personalities.

La Fortuna has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The larger resorts usually have a couple of bars onsite. There are also local bars and pubs throughout the town. While things often quiet down by 9:00, you will probably be able to find a laid back place to enjoy a drink with friends.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna Better for Music?

Vienna is renowned for its live music scene. However, La Fortuna is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Vienna On the surface, the city seems locked in the past, with ballet dancing and classical concerts filling the evenings. But the city also has a famous jazz scene, as well as techno, hip-hop, and rock all having a strong presence.

La Fortuna is not a live music destination.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna Better for Resorts?

La Fortuna is an unbeatable place for its luxury resorts. However, Vienna is not a resort destination.

La Fortuna offers an unforgettable resort vacation. There are many larger international resorts in the area. Many offer spectacular views, spas, and beautifully maintained pools that take advantage of the area's hot springs.

Vienna is not a resort destination.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna Better for its Old Town?

Vienna is renowned for its old town. However, La Fortuna does not have a historic old town.

The old town of Vienna is one of the most recognized in the world. Innere Stadt, as it is known, is encircled by Ringstrasse and filled with many shops and cafes. Head to Kärntner Strasse and Graben for popular pedestrian streets.

La Fortuna does not have a historic old town.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna Better for Hiking?

La Fortuna is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Vienna is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting La Fortuna. The area is filled with stunning hikes that take you through different landscapes and ecosystems. You'll likely see some wildlife, visit spectacular waterfalls, and, of course, catch views of the impressive Arenal Volcano.

Vienna is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Vienna or La Fortuna?

Vienna is renowned for its shopping opportunities. However, La Fortuna is a mediocre town for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Vienna make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is filled with pedestrian streets that are lined with designer shops, jewelry stores, and art galleries.

La Fortuna has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. You'll find a couple of good souvenir shops around town where you can pick up some locally made items.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna More Beautiful?

Vienna is renowned for its scenery and beauty. Also, La Fortuna is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its scenery and beauty.

You'll find world class beauty in Vienna as well. The city has beautiful Baroque architecture and a livable atmosphere.

With stunning beauty, La Fortuna attracts visitors from all around. The town is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, lush rainforests, and dramatic views of the volcano. There are countless hikes and a plenty of opportunities to soak up the natural setting.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna Better for Families?

La Fortuna is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, La Fortuna is very family-friendly. Kids will love exploring the outdoors and seeing some of Costa Rica's best environments. There are plenty of hiking trails, but if you're looking for short and simple, head to Ecocentro Danaus, which has a half mile flat walking loop and a butterfly garden. Another good option is Bogarin Trail, where you might see a sloth. And of course you have to check out Arenal Volcano National Park.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Vienna. Families enjoy taking carriage rides or dressing up in costumes at Schönbrunn Palace. The city also has children's museums, parks, and playgrounds where you can let little legs run around.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna Better for Couples?

Vienna and La Fortuna are both world-class to visit as a couple.

Vienna has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. With it's Baroque architecture and classical concerts, this city is filled with romance. Explore the palaces, take a carriage ride, or enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant.

La Fortuna is a great city for couples, as it has plenty to offer. There are amazing resorts and spas in the area that make for a truly luxurious and romantic holiday. Many couples visit for their honeymoon, and whether you enjoy exploring nature or pampering yourself in a five star setting, there really is something for everyone.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Fortuna is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit La Fortuna. As one of the top places to visit in Costa Rica, this town has a number of hostels that cater to the backpacker crowds.

Vienna is a good city to visit for backpackers. The city flies under the radar for many backpackers, but those who visit will be rewarded with beautiful buildings, charming cafes, and fun hostels.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna Better for Students?

Vienna is renowned for students. However, La Fortuna is not popular with students.

Vienna is a very popular place to visit for students. The city is a popular destination for international students who are interested in art, architecture, and music.

La Fortuna is not popular with students.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Vienna is renowned for its public transit. Also, La Fortuna is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Vienna has a great public transit system. The system includes buses, trains, trams and underground lines.

La Fortuna has some public transit options. There are public buses throughout the area as well as private transportation services, taxis, and car sharing.

Is Vienna or La Fortuna a more walkable city?

Vienna is renowned for its high level of walkability. Also, La Fortuna is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Vienna on foot. The city center is particularly walkable with pedestrian areas and low traffic zones.

La Fortuna is a somewhat walkable city. While the town itself is very walkable, many of the area's attractions can only be reached by car.

For even more information, also check out Is Vienna Worth Visiting? and Is La Fortuna Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in La Fortuna or Vienna?

How long in Vienna or La Fortuna?

It's fun to spend time in either Vienna or La Fortuna. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Vienna due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Vienna, and 2-4 days is enough time in La Fortuna.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Vienna than La Fortuna 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 Vienna.

One day in Vienna or La Fortuna?

With live music and food around the musical city of Vienna, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the destination of La Fortuna. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Vienna or La Fortuna?

With food and shopping around the destination of Vienna, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

La Fortuna 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 Vienna or La Fortuna?

Vienna, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Visiting the old town is also a must. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in La Fortuna. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Vienna or La Fortuna?

Vienna is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the stunning destination of La Fortuna. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking 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 Tours for Seniors to Austria, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Austria, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Vienna or La Fortuna?

Vienna has a larger population, and is about 560 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Vienna and La Fortuna, 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 Vienna or La Fortuna?

Vienna has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but La Fortuna experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Vienna or La Fortuna in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Vienna as well as La Fortuna. Many travelers come to Vienna for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.

Vienna is cooler than La Fortuna in the summer. The daily temperature in Vienna averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vienna this time of the year. In the summer, Vienna often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. Vienna gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. Vienna usually gets less rain in July than La Fortuna. Vienna gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vienna or La Fortuna in the Autumn?

Both La Fortuna and Vienna are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Vienna in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Vienna is much colder than La Fortuna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vienna in October average around 12°C (54°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Vienna usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during autumn. Vienna gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. In October, Vienna usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. Vienna gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in La Fortuna is December to April. May to November in La Fortuna is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Vienna or La Fortuna in the Winter?

Both La Fortuna and Vienna during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Vienna for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.

Vienna can be very cold during winter. In January, Vienna is generally much colder than La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Vienna average around 2°C (36°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In La Fortuna, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Vienna often gets less sunshine than La Fortuna. Vienna gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun.

Vienna usually gets more rain in January than La Fortuna. Vienna gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vienna or La Fortuna in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Vienna and La Fortuna. The spring months attract visitors to Vienna because of the natural beauty. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Vienna is much colder than La Fortuna in the spring. The daily temperature in Vienna averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Fortuna this time of the year. In Vienna, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vienna usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during spring. Vienna gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Vienna usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. Vienna gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. December to April in La Fortuna is the dry season. The hurricane season in La Fortuna is May to November.

Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Vienna