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

Should you visit Zurich or Amalfi?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zurich and Amalfi. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Zurich

Zurich is a beautiful, historic, and liberal city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food.

Amalfi

Amalfi is a stunning, dramatic, and charming town. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Zurich and Amalfi: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Zurich or Amalfi?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Amalfi than Zurich, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Amalfi is better known for its food, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Zurich is more popular for its museums, music, historical sights, and shopping. Amalfi is more touristy than Zurich and is known for its dramatic views, charming character, and excellent limoncello. Also, Amalfi is famous for the dramatic coastline. Zurich is well known for its beautiful setting on Lake Zurich as well as its cafes, restaurants, and high prices.

How is Zurich different from Amalfi?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Zurich or Amalfi?

Zurich is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Amalfi is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Zurich. Make sure you check out the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fraumünster, as well as the Swiss National Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Amalfi. The town is an attraction in and off itself. It's filled with charm and character and visitors spend much of their time simply walking around and soaking up the atmosphere.

Is the Food Better in Zurich or Amalfi? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Amalfi is a must-visit destination for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Eat your way through Amalfi, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The town's access to the beautiful sea means that many dishes use a variety of seafood. Eggplant is also a common ingredient and you'll find everything from pastas to elegant desserts around town.

Zurich has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Many restaurants have a strong German influence, but you'll also find traditional Swiss dishes such as cheese and chocolate fondue. There are also several Michelin star restaurants in town.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for Nightlife?

Both Zurich and Amalfi are very good when it comes to partying.

Zurich offers plenty to do in the evening. The city has some of the best nightlife in Switzerland. There are a high concentration of bars and clubs around town, or you could check out one of the badis, which are pools that also act as bars during the summer months. They're usually located by the lake.

Amalfi has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a good number of bars and clubs in town that often have live music or DJs. Alternatively, there are also clubs that dot the entire coastline.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for Music?

Zurich is well known for its live music scene. However, Amalfi is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in Zurich. There are many nightclubs that offer a variety of music types including electronic music, rock, and even reggae.

Amalfi is not a live music destination.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Amalfi is a good destination for its diving and snorkeling. However, Zurich is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Amalfi. You'll find snorkeling trips that take you along the coastline and stop at several places so you can take a peak at the underwater world.

Zurich is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for Beaches?

Amalfi is a good destination for the beache. However, Zurich is not a beach destination.

Amalfi offers a nice beach destination. The beaches tend to be pebbly and rocky. During the summer months they can get very crowded, but taking a swim is a great way to escape the heat for a bit.

Zurich is not a beach destination.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for its Old Town?

Zurich is an amazing city to visit for its old town. Also, Amalfi is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

Zurich offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The city has an old town that is split into two parts on each side of the Limmat River. The historic districts are filled with churches, squares, and charming areas that are fun to explore. Walking tours are the best way to explore the old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Amalfi. The town is charming and filled with great shops and restaurants. It's the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere of the Amalfi Coast.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for Hiking?

Amalfi is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Zurich is not a hiking destination.

Amalfi is a popular spot for hiking. The coastline is filled with great trails that offer stunning views. Hiking is a top way to see the natural beauty of the Amalfi Coast and catch a glimpse at some of the best beaches.

Zurich is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Zurich or Amalfi?

Zurich is an amazing city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Amalfi is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Zurich make it a world-class shopping destination. Visitors often buy chocolate, watches, and jewelry in this city. You'll find brand names and luxury items that are of high quality. Each neighborhood has its own character with stores ranging from traditional to international.

Amalfi has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find many great shops that sell everything from clothing to fine wine, local foods, or limoncello.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for Families?

Zurich is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Amalfi is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Zurich is a very kid-friendly city. It's a surprisingly mellow city with a relaxing vibe that makes it easy to explore with kids. Popular family-friendly activities include swimming in the Limmat River, sailing on Lake Zurich, and visiting Josefwiese park, which has a large playground.

Amalfi offers lots of family activities. The town is positioned in the middle of the Amalfi Coast, making it a great base for exploring the area. It's also one of the larger towns so you'll find more energy and things to do with kids, including the Museum of Paper.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for Couples?

Amalfi is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Amalfi is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The Amalfi Coast is a world class honeymoon destination and couples will enjoy staying in the lively town of Amalfi. It's a quaint and beautiful town in the middle of everything, so you'll have access to all that the area has to offer.

Zurich makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. One of the most romantic experiences you can have in town is visiting the Zurich Thermal Baths and Spa. There's an outdoor rooftop thermal pool as well as many ways that you can pamper yourselves.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Zurich is a city with good options for backpackers. However, Amalfi is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Zurich is a good city to visit for backpackers. The city has a number of hostels to choose from, but, like most of Switzerland, the city is expensive in general.

Amalfi is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The area has a couple of hostels around, but in general this is a difficult place to visit as a backpacker. There are SITA buses that offer transportation, and because the town is in the middle of the coastline, it offers decent access to everything.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for Students?

Zurich is an amazing city to visit for students. However, Amalfi is not popular with students.

Zurich is a very popular city for students. The city offers a number of unique experiences for international students. The academics are good and the university campuses are nice.

Amalfi is not popular with students.

Is Zurich or Amalfi Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Zurich is well known for its public transit. Also, Amalfi is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Zurich can get you around easily. The system is made up of streetcars and buses.

While Amalfi offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The SITA buses offer transit between many of the towns along the Amalfi Coast.

Is Zurich or Amalfi a more walkable city?

Amalfi is a must-visit destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Amalfi on foot. It's a compact and charming town that is a bit flatter than some nearby villages so it's easy to explore on foot.

Zurich is a very walkable destination. There are paths that lead along the rivers and the lake connecting the old town areas to other parts of the city.

For even more information, also check out Is Zurich Worth Visiting? and Is Amalfi Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Amalfi or Zurich?

How long in Zurich or Amalfi?

Both Zurich and Amalfi have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Amalfi than in Zurich. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Zurich, and 2-7 days is enough time in Amalfi.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Zurich than Amalfi 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 Zurich.

One day in Zurich or Amalfi?

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Zurich. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the destination of Amalfi. 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 Zurich or Amalfi?

Zurich is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the shopping, 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.

Amalfi 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 Zurich or Amalfi?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Zurich. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Amalfi. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Zurich or Amalfi?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the liberal destination of Zurich. This city 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.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the stunning destination of Amalfi. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best 2-Week Tours from Rome, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Zurich or Amalfi?

Zurich has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Amalfi. When comparing the sizes of Zurich and Amalfi, 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 Zurich or Amalfi?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Zurich or Amalfi in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and Amalfi. Most visitors come to Zurich for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Amalfi because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Zurich is around the same temperature as Amalfi in the summer. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Amalfi fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Amalfi this time of the year. In Zurich, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zurich usually receives less sunshine than Amalfi during summer. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Amalfi receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Zurich usually receives more rain than Amalfi. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Amalfi receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Zurich or Amalfi in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Zurich as well as Amalfi. The autumn months attract visitors to Zurich because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Amalfi this time of year.

In the autumn, Zurich is cooler than Amalfi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zurich in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Amalfi averages at about 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Zurich often gets less sunshine than Amalfi. Zurich gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amalfi receives 189 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Amalfi. Zurich usually gets less rain in October than Amalfi. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Amalfi receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Zurich or Amalfi in the Winter?

Both Amalfi and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Zurich this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Amalfi for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Zurich in the winter. In January, Zurich is generally much colder than Amalfi. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 3°C (37°F), and Amalfi fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Zurich usually receives less sunshine than Amalfi during winter. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Amalfi receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Amalfi. In January, Zurich usually receives less rain than Amalfi. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Amalfi receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Zurich or Amalfi in the Spring?

Both Amalfi and Zurich during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Zurich for the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Amalfi in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Zurich is cooler than Amalfi in the spring. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Amalfi fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Zurich often gets less sunshine than Amalfi. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amalfi receives 189 hours of full sun.

Zurich usually gets more rain in April than Amalfi. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Amalfi receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Amalfi and Zurich