A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zurich vs. San Diego for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Zurich or San Diego?

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 San Diego. 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. Visitors also love the live music, food, and shopping.

San Diego

San Diego is a hip, dynamic, and energetic coastal city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food.

Zurich and San Diego: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Zurich or San Diego?

You'll generally find more things to do in San Diego than Zurich. San Diego is bigger than Zurich, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. San Diego is better known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while Zurich is more popular for its food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. San Diego is more touristy than Zurich and is popular for its relaxed coastal atmosphere, its many kid-friendly sights, and its beautiful beaches with critter-filled tidal pools. Also, San Diego is famous for The San Diego Zoo. 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 San Diego?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Zurich and San Diego.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Zurich. Make sure you check out the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fraumünster, as well as the Swiss National Museum.

San Diego offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. While the city is famous for it's beaches, zoos, and aquariums, don't overlook the museums and other landmarks. Popular options include the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, the Old Town State Historic Park, and Point Loma and Cabrillo Monument.

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

Zurich is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Zurich has a huge number of terrific 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the San Diego area. The city has great seafood and a diversity of cuisines. There are many casual dining options that serve informal foods like burgers or salads, but there are also award-winning fine dining restaurants with elegant atmospheres. Popular local dishes include fish tacos and California burritos.

Is Zurich or San Diego Better for Nightlife?

Both Zurich and San Diego are excellent 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.

San Diego has a large number of nightlife venues. The heart of the city's nightlife scene is in the Gaslamp District, which is filled with bars, clubs, and music venues. There's a young student population that keeps the nightlife scene casual and fun.

Is Zurich or San Diego Better for Music?

Both Zurich and San Diego offer excellent live music venues.

The music scene in Zurich is very popular with diverse venues. There are many nightclubs that offer a variety of music types including electronic music, rock, and even reggae.

It's worth checking out the music scene in San Diego while you're in town. Popular venues include the House of Blues, The Belly Up, and The Shout House.

Is Zurich or San Diego Better for Resorts?

San Diego is a good destination for its resorts. However, Zurich is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, San Diego makes a nice vacation spot. Most people prefer to stay in hotels or VRBOs, but several popular resorts include Fairmont Grand Del Mar, Paradise Point, and the famous Hotel del Coronado.

Zurich is not a resort destination.

Is Zurich or San Diego Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

San Diego 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 San Diego. Popular snorkeling and diving spots include La Jolla Cove, Mission Bay, and Turtle Town. The water's a bit chili, but it's still worth going for a dive or popping on a mask and snorkeling around for a bit.

Zurich is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Zurich or San Diego Better for Beaches?

San Diego is a must-visit destination for the beache. However, Zurich is not a beach destination.

San Diego offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The city has great beaches with tidal pools and interesting sea life at low tide. Adults and kids alike will enjoy hitting the beach when the tides are out and looking for local critters in the tidal pools. Popular beaches in the area include La Jolla Cove Beach, Coronado Beach, and Pacific Beach.

Zurich is not a beach destination.

Is Zurich or San Diego Better for its Old Town?

Zurich is renowned for its old town. However, San Diego does not have a historic old town.

The old town of Zurich is one of the most recognized in 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.

San Diego does not have a historic old town.

Is Zurich or San Diego Better for Hiking?

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

San Diego is a popular spot for hiking. The city is filled with parks and has tons of natural beauty. There is plenty of urban hiking in town, or you can visit more natural areas just out of town. Head to Torrey Pines State Park or Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail for some nice hikes.

Zurich is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Zurich or San Diego?

Zurich is renowned for its shopping opportunities. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Zurich draws large crowds to its stores. 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.

Many visitors go to San Diego to go shopping. Head to Fashion Valley or Westfield UTC for some fun shopping. There are suburban shopping malls in the area as well as souvenir shops in the more touristy areas.

Is Zurich or San Diego Better for Families?

San Diego is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, San Diego is very family-friendly. The city is filled with kid-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy. There's the world-class zoo, several amusement parks, the beaches, aquariums, and more. The year-round warm weather makes it easy to spend plenty of time outdoors in parks, playgrounds, and beaches where kids can stretch their legs and run around.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Zurich. 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.

Is Zurich or San Diego Better for Couples?

San Diego 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.

San Diego is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. For adventurous couples, there are many outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. The beaches offer a great playground for adults who enjoy the water and warm weather. There are also restaurants and a great nightlife in San Diego.

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 San Diego Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Zurich and San Diego are notable destinations for backpackers.

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit San Diego. Backpackers will enjoy the young vibe of the city. There are a few great hostels near the beach or in town.

Is Zurich or San Diego Better for Students?

Zurich and San Diego are both terrific destinations for students and younger travelers.

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

Many students frequent San Diego. With its young population and many universities, international students will feel right at home in San Diego. There are also many great outdoor activities for the adventurous.

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

Zurich is great for times when you don't have a car. However, San Diego is not a good destination for its public transit.

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

Public transit is generally limited in San Diego. The city has a trolley (light rail system) as well as a bus system. Most people depend on cars to get around, and you'll likely enjoy your trip a bit more if you have your own vehicle.

Is Zurich or San Diego a more walkable city?

Zurich is great for its high level of walkability. Also, San Diego is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its ease of walking around.

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

San Diego is a somewhat walkable city. The downtown area is walkable, but if you want to travel further, you'll need to find a different form of transportation.

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

Should I spend more time in San Diego or Zurich?

How long in Zurich or San Diego?

In either Zurich or San Diego, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, San Diego has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in San Diego than Zurich. In general, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Zurich, and 3-5 days is enough time in San Diego.

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

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

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

You'll find nightlife and live music around the city of Zurich. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the destination of San Diego. 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 San Diego?

You'll find live music and food around the historic destination of Zurich. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

San Diego is a great place to explore. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Zurich or San Diego?

You'll find food and shopping around the beautiful city of Zurich. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the shopping. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Diego. Don't miss the beaches, 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 San Diego?

Zurich is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the hip destination of San Diego. This coastal city 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 Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Zurich or San Diego?

San Diego has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Zurich. When comparing the sizes of Zurich and San Diego, 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 San Diego?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Zurich or San Diego in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Zurich as well as San Diego. The summer months attract visitors to Zurich because of the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.

Zurich is around the same temperature as San Diego in the summer. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and San Diego fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zurich this time of the year. In the summer, Zurich often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun.

Zurich usually gets more rain in July than San Diego. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Zurich or San Diego in the Autumn?

Both San Diego and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Zurich this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Diego for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Zurich is much colder than San Diego. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zurich in October average around 13°C (56°F), and San Diego averages at about 68°F (20°C).

It's quite sunny in San Diego. Zurich usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during autumn. Zurich gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Zurich usually receives more rain than San Diego. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Zurich or San Diego in the Winter?

Both San Diego and Zurich during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Zurich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to San Diego in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Zurich. In January, Zurich is generally much colder than San Diego. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 3°C (37°F), and San Diego fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Zurich often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun.

Zurich usually gets more rain in January than San Diego. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Zurich or San Diego in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and San Diego. Many visitors come to Zurich in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Diego for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.

Zurich is cooler than San Diego in the spring. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and San Diego fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego this time of the year. Zurich usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during spring. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Zurich usually receives more rain than San Diego. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Diego and Zurich