A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Virginia Beach vs. Albuquerque for Food, Families, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Virginia Beach or Albuquerque?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Virginia Beach or Albuquerque, 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.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a relaxing, bustling, and fun-filled coastal city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include nightlife and beaches.

Albuquerque

Albuquerque is a desert, historic, and traditional town. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Virginia Beach and Albuquerque: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Virginia Beach or Albuquerque?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Albuquerque. Although Virginia Beach and Albuquerque are about the same size, Albuquerque has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Albuquerque is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, hiking, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Virginia Beach attracts visitors for its resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Virginia Beach is famous for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe. Albuquerque is famous for its adobe architecture, artisan shops, fascinating cultural venues, and surrounding desert landscapes. It is also well known for The Old Town.

How is Virginia Beach different from Albuquerque?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Virginia Beach or Albuquerque?

Albuquerque is great for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Albuquerque can be an interesting and educational experience. The old town has a lot of history including the San Felipe de Neri Church. Also worth visiting is the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Unser Racing Museum, and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.

Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Virginia Beach or Albuquerque? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Albuquerque is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Albuquerque has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city's local cuisine combines Native American and Spanish flavors to make a variety of unique specialties. You should try the green chili stew, breakfast burrito, sopaipillas, and blue corn pancakes.

Virginia Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is Virginia Beach or Albuquerque Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is nice in both Virginia Beach and Albuquerque.

If you're looking for night time activities Virginia Beach has a few options to choose from. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Albuquerque. Head downtown and to the Nob Hill neighborhood for wine bars, breweries, and billiard halls. These areas have the best nightlife scene and they're also compact enough to explore on foot.

Is Virginia Beach or Albuquerque Better for Resorts?

Virginia Beach is a good destination for its luxury resorts. However, Albuquerque is not a resort destination.

Virginia Beach has a handful of resorts to choose from. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

Albuquerque is not a resort destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Albuquerque Better for Beaches?

Virginia Beach is a good destination for its beaches. However, Albuquerque is not a beach destination.

Virginia Beach offers a nice beach destination. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

Albuquerque is not a beach destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Albuquerque Better for its Old Town?

Albuquerque is terrific for its old town. However, Virginia Beach does not have a historic old town.

Albuquerque has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. There is a wonderful old town where the city's first neighborhood was established. It dates back to the early 1700's and has its roots in Spanish colonial history. The area has many adobe houses, great local restaurants, and artisan shops.

Virginia Beach does not have a historic old town.

Is Virginia Beach or Albuquerque Better for Hiking?

Albuquerque is a nice place to visit for hiking. However, Virginia Beach is not a hiking destination.

Albuquerque has hiking trails worth exploring. The desert landscape is varied and beautiful. Popular trails in the area include Tree Spring Trail, Birdhouse Ridge, and West Ridge.

Virginia Beach is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Virginia Beach or Albuquerque?

Albuquerque is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Albuquerque is well-known for its shopping. The city's old town has many cultural artisan shops where you can buy local items. It's a fun and unique shopping experience, and though it sometimes feels a bit touristy, there are many local shops that offer an authentic experience.

Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Albuquerque Better for Families?

Virginia Beach is a great coastal city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Albuquerque is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

Virginia Beach is a very family-friendly destination. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

Albuquerque is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of nature centers as well as the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo. Outside of town there are many parks and natural areas to explore.

Is Virginia Beach or Albuquerque Better for Couples?

Albuquerque is great for its romantic activities. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for couples.

Albuquerque is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Surrounded by natural beauty, and filled with culture and charm, this city makes a great romantic getaway. It's particularly wonderful during the famous International Balloon Fiesta.

Virginia Beach is a good coastal city for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

Is Virginia Beach or Albuquerque Better for Students?

For students, both Virginia Beach and Albuquerque are nice places to visit.

It's common for students to visit Virginia Beach. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

Albuquerque is a good coastal city to visit for students. It offers a unique cultural environment that students can appreciate. There are also many outdoor recreational opportunities.

Is Virginia Beach or Albuquerque Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Albuquerque is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Albuquerque. ABQ Ride is the bus system around town, but most visitors prefer to have their own car.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is Virginia Beach or Albuquerque a more walkable city?

Albuquerque is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.

Albuquerque is a somewhat walkable place. Walkable areas include the old town, the area around the University of New Mexico, and the uptown area.

Virginia Beach is generally not very walkable. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

For even more information, also check out Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting? and Is Albuquerque Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Albuquerque or Virginia Beach?

How long in Virginia Beach or Albuquerque?

It's fun to spend time in either Virginia Beach or Albuquerque. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Virginia Beach due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 5-7 days is a good amount of time for Virginia Beach, and 2-4 days is enough time in Albuquerque.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Albuquerque than Virginia Beach 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 Albuquerque.

One day in Virginia Beach or Albuquerque?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the bustling coastal city of Virginia Beach. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Albuquerque, you'll find museums and nightlife. Visiting the old town is also a must. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Virginia Beach or Albuquerque?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the fun-filled destination of Virginia Beach. This coastal city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Albuquerque is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Virginia Beach or Albuquerque?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the relaxing coastal city of Virginia Beach. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Albuquerque. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Virginia Beach or Albuquerque?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the destination of Virginia Beach. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this coastal city.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the town of Albuquerque. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Virginia Beach and Albuquerque, we can see that Albuquerque 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 North America, 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 Virginia Beach Expensive? and Is Albuquerque Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Virginia Beach or Albuquerque?

Albuquerque has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Virginia Beach. When comparing the sizes of Virginia Beach and Albuquerque, 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.