A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Villach vs. Bressanone for Food, Old Town, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Villach or Bressanone?

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

Should I visit Villach or Bressanone? 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.

Villach

Villach is a nature-filled, outdoorsy, and historic town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and hiking.

Bressanone

Bressanone is a charming, quaint, and picturesque town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food, hiking, and shopping.

Villach and Bressanone: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for food
  • Less walkable
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Popular for food and cuisine
  • Good for hiking
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Very walkable
  • Small town charm
  • Impressive beauty
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less family-friendly


Is there more to do in Villach or Bressanone?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bressanone. Although Villach and Bressanone are popular destinations, Bressanone has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bressanone is very popular for its food, historical sights, shopping, and small town charm, while Villach attracts visitors for its nightlife. Villach is famous for its many alpine hikes, nearby lakes, and its quaint main square. Bressanone is famous for its charming old town and its idyllic setting. It is also well known for The Bressanone/Brixen Cathedral.

How is Villach different from Bressanone?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Villach or Bressanone?

Villach
Bressanone

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Villach or Bressanone.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Villach. There are several historical buildings in town such as the Parish Church of St. Jakob, the Holy Cross Church, and the Parish Church of St. Martin. Also worth a visit is the Museum of the City of Villach.

Bressanone is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Most visitors simply enjoy soaking up the town's atmosphere, but sights around town include The Royal Palace, the cathedral, and Franzenfeste Fortress.


Is the Food Better in Villach or Bressanone? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Villach
Bressanone

Bressanone is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Villach is a mediocre town for its restaurants.

Dining out in Bressanone is an experience not to be missed. Despite its small size, there are many family run restaurants that make use of ingredients from local farms. The town also hosts a few culinary festivals throughout the year.

Villach offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find the standard options of pizza and burgers around town. While the food scene isn't particularly special, the quality is decent and reliable.

Is Villach or Bressanone Better for Nightlife?

Villach
Bressanone

Villach is a town with good options for its evening party scene. However, Bressanone is a town with minimal options for nightlife.

Villach has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The weekends are when you'll find the best nightlife. There are some local bars and clubs that come to life and attract a young crowd on a weekend night.

Bressanone doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a small town with some quaint bars and pubs where you can enjoy a beer and chat with other visitors.

Is Villach or Bressanone Better for its Old Town?

Villach
Bressanone

Bressanone is notable for its historic old town charm. Also, Villach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Bressanone. The cathedral and beautiful old buildings make this a charming place to explore.

Villach is a good destination for visiting its old town. You'll find churches and gardens throughout the charming old town. At the heart of the town is the main square.


Is Villach or Bressanone Better for Hiking?

Villach
Bressanone

If you're looking to go hiking, Villach and Bressanone both have excellent trails.

Villach is a popular spot for hiking. The surrounding countryside is filled with both short and long hikes. You can take a short stroll or spend hours (or days) exploring the alpine scenery. Breathtaking views and peaceful retreats make this a wonderful area for hiking.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Bressanone. There's a huge variety of hikes in the surrounding countryside. You can walk alongside the river, head into the foothills, or explore the nearby vineyards.

Is the Shopping Better in Villach or Bressanone?

Villach
Bressanone

Bressanone is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Villach is a mediocre town for shopping.

Many visitors go to Bressanone to go shopping. The medieval streets are lined with family-owned shops, boutique clothing stores, and other unique local shopping opportunities.

Villach is a good destination for shopping. There are your standard shopping centers where you can pick up clothes or anything you may have forgotten for your trip.

Is Villach or Bressanone Better for Families?

Villach
Bressanone

Villach is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Bressanone is a town with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

Villach is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The area is filled with outdoor adventures that the whole family will enjoy. There's kid-friendly hiking, adventure parks, nature parks, and some swimming areas.

For families, Bressanone is not always the best place to visit. It's a great town to take a lunch break. The kids will enjoy wandering the alley-like streets. There's a river through town and great views of the Alps.


Is Villach or Bressanone Better for Couples?

Villach
Bressanone

With fun activities for couples, both Villach and Bressanone make for a excellent place to visit.

Villach is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples who enjoy outdoor adventures, beautiful hikes, and stunning scenery will appreciate a visit to this area.

Bressanone makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This charming town is seeped in romance. The quaint streets and surrounding mountain setting make this an idyllic place to take a romantic trip.

Is Villach or Bressanone Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Villach
Bressanone

Villach is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Bressanone is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Villach is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. There are a number of hostels in the area that cater to backpackers who enjoy the outdoor setting and beautiful hikes that are nearby.

Plenty of backpackers visit Bressanone. There's a couple of hostels and cheaper guesthouses in town, so backpackers can enjoy a few days in this picturesque alpine town.

Is Villach or Bressanone Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Villach
Bressanone

Bressanone is a popular place for its public transit. However, Villach is a mediocre town for times when you don't have a car.

Bressanone has a few public transit options. There are trains and buses throughout the region.

Public transit is mostly limited in Villach. There are buses and trains in the area, but to experience the nearby nature you'll want to have a car.


Is Villach or Bressanone a more walkable city?

Villach
Bressanone

Bressanone is notable for its ease of walking around. However, Villach is a mediocre town for its walkability.

Bressanone is a very walkable destination. The town is compact and small enough to explore on foot.

Villach is generally not a very walkable town. Parts of the town are walkable but the surrounding natural areas are most easily accessed with a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Villach Worth Visiting? and Is Bressanone Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bressanone or Villach?

How long in Villach or Bressanone?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Villach or Bressanone to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Villach than Bressanone because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Villach, and 1-2 days is enough time in Bressanone.

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

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


  • How many days in Villach or Bressanone? Ideal Length of Stay
    Villach 1-3 
    Bressanone 1-2

One day in Villach or Bressanone?

With museums and nightlife around the nature-filled town of Villach, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Villach, one day is sufficent for most.

Bressanone is a small town with plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Villach or Bressanone?

With nightlife and museums around the destination of Villach, there's plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking 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 town.

Bressanone might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bressanone has to offer.


Five days in Villach or Bressanone?

Villach, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bressanone is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Villach or Bressanone?

Villach 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bressanone. Since Bressanone is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria, The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Bressanone or Villach?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Villach is €116, while the average daily cost in Bressanone is €138. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Villach and Bressanone in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Villach 69
    Bressanone 72
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Villach 138
    Bressanone 144
Compare Hotels in Villach and Bressanone

Looking for a hotel in Villach or Bressanone? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Villach


Hotels in Bressanone


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Villach Hotel Prices and Bressanone Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Villach 18
    Bressanone 23

Is it cheaper to fly into Villach or Bressanone?

Prices for flights to both Bressanone and Villach change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Villach 35
    Bressanone 47

Typical Food Prices in Bressanone

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bressanone:


  • Gelato
    2.20

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Villach 15
    Bressanone 20

Tours and Activities in Villach

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Villach are as follows:

  • Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive Tour: $74
  • Villach Private Walking Tour with Professional Guide: $250
  • Magic Christmas Tour: $769

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Villach 14
    Bressanone 26

Typical Alcohol Prices in Bressanone

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Bressanone:


  • 1/2 Litre of wine
    9.00
  • 2 Glasses of Wine
    7.00


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

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


Which is Bigger, Villach or Bressanone?

Villach has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bressanone. When comparing the sizes of Villach and Bressanone, 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.