A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zurich vs. Quepos for Couples, Backpackers, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Zurich or Quepos?

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 Quepos. 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 historic, liberal, and beautiful city. With stunning beauty, Zurich attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Zurich travel costs.

Quepos

Quepos is a laid-back, relaxed, and local town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches. See Quepos travel costs.

Zurich and Quepos: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Zurich or Quepos?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Zurich. Although Zurich and Quepos are both popular with visitors, Zurich has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Zurich is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, music, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Quepos is known for its resorts and beaches. Zurich is more touristy than Quepos and is popular for its beautiful setting on Lake Zurich as well as its cafes, restaurants, and high prices. It is also home to The Grossmünster. Quepos is popular for its big game sport fishing.

How is Zurich different from Quepos?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Quepos 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 Quepos?

Zurich is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Quepos is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Zurich specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Make sure you check out the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fraumünster, as well as the Swiss National Museum.

Quepos offers a few options for museum-goers. You won't find much as far as museums go around town.

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

Zurich is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

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.

Quepos offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find a mix of cafes, fine dining, and seafood restaurants in the area. You can get traditional Costa Rican dishes as well as a more international flavor depending on your preference.

Is Zurich or Quepos Better for Nightlife?

Zurich is a very popular place for its evening party scene. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Zurich has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Quepos has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find a few bars and clubs around town, but it is a small town and the selection can be limited.

Is Zurich or Quepos Better for Music?

Zurich is a very popular place for its music scene. However, Quepos is not a live music destination.

It's worth checking out the music scene in Zurich while you're in town. There are many nightclubs that offer a variety of music types including electronic music, rock, and even reggae.

Quepos is not a live music destination.

Is Zurich or Quepos Better for Resorts?

Quepos is a moderate town for its resorts. However, Zurich is not a resort destination.

Not known for its high-end resorts, Quepos offers a few options. It's a fishing town with a local vibe, so you'll likely want to stay outside of town if you're looking for an upscale resort.

Zurich is not a resort destination.

Is Zurich or Quepos Better for Beaches?

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

Quepos offers a nice beach destination. If you want to be close to the beach, you'll do better to stay at nearby Manuel Antonio. Quepos does have a waterfront and access to deep sea fishing.

Zurich is not a beach destination.

Is Zurich or Quepos Better for its Old Town?

Zurich is a world-class destination for its historic old town charm. However, Quepos does not have a historic old town.

The historic old town of Zurich is revered around the world. 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.

Quepos does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Zurich or Quepos?

Zurich is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Zurich specifically to go shopping. 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.

Quepos is a great destination for shopping. You'll find boutique shops around town that sell everything from clothing to art.

Is Zurich or Quepos More Beautiful?

Zurich is a very popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Quepos is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Zurich attracts visitors from all around. With Lake Zurich and the mountains as a backdrop, this is a truly beautiful city.

Quepos is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Zurich or Quepos Better for Families?

Both Zurich and Quepos are high quality family-friendly destinations.

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.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Quepos. Most of the beaches are kid-friendly and the children will love the wildlife. You'll also find zipline tours in the area as well as canopy walks.

Is Zurich or Quepos Better for Couples?

Quepos 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.

Quepos is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The beaches and resorts make this a favorite honeymoon destination for couples. There are many great restaurants and plenty of activities like horseback riding or surfing nearby.

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 Quepos Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Quepos is a must-visit destination for backpackers. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Quepos. It's one of the more popular destinations in Costa Rica, so you'll find plenty of hostels and other backpackers to hang out with.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Zurich. The city has a number of hostels to choose from, but, like most of Switzerland, the city is expensive in general.

Is Zurich or Quepos Better for Students?

Zurich is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Quepos is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Zurich. The city offers a number of unique experiences for international students. The academics are good and the university campuses are nice.

Quepos is not popular with students.

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

Zurich is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

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

You'll find some public transit in Quepos, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are a number of buses that pass through town. There are also buses that travel between Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

Is Zurich or Quepos a more walkable city?

Zurich is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

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.

Quepos is somewhat walkable. It is a relatively walkable town.

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

Should I spend more time in Quepos or Zurich?

How long in Zurich or Quepos?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Zurich than Quepos 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 Quepos?

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 food and shopping when visiting the destination of Quepos. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Zurich or Quepos?

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.

Quepos 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 Zurich or Quepos?

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 Quepos. 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 Zurich or Quepos?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the beautiful 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the laid-back destination of Quepos. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zurich and Quepos, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is Quepos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zurich is in Europe and Quepos 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 Quepos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quepos 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 Quepos.

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

Which is Bigger, Zurich or Quepos?

Zurich has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Zurich and Quepos, 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 Quepos?

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

Should I visit Zurich or Quepos in the Summer?

Both Quepos and Zurich during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Zurich for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.

In the summer, Zurich is cooler than Quepos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zurich in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Quepos averages at about 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Zurich. In the summer, Zurich often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.

Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Zurich usually gets less rain in July than Quepos. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Zurich or Quepos in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and Quepos. Many visitors come to Zurich in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Zurich is generally much colder than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 13°C (56°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Zurich usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Zurich gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Zurich usually receives less rain than Quepos. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in Quepos.

Should I visit Zurich or Quepos in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Zurich as well as Quepos. Most visitors come to Zurich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.

Zurich can be very cold during winter. Zurich is much colder than Quepos in the winter. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. In the winter, Zurich often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.

Zurich usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Zurich or Quepos in the Spring?

Both Quepos and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Zurich because of the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Zurich is much colder than Quepos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zurich in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Quepos averages at about 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Quepos. Zurich usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during spring. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Zurich usually receives more rain than Quepos. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Quepos is December to April. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season.

Typical Weather for Quepos and Zurich