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

Should you visit Zurich or Santa Elena?

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 Santa Elena. 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 live music, food, and shopping. See Zurich travel costs.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a tranquil, outdoorsy, and scenic town. Santa Elena is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the hiking and shopping. See Santa Elena travel costs.

Zurich and Santa Elena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Zurich or Santa Elena?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Zurich. Although Zurich and Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena is known for its hiking. Zurich 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. Santa Elena is popular for its birdwatching and environmental conservation.

How is Zurich different from Santa Elena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Zurich is great for its historical sights. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

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.

Santa Elena offers a few options for museum-goers. The area is filled with outdoor gardens, parks, and nature reserves, but there are few museums to visit.

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

Zurich is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

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.

Santa Elena offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find some basic but good restaurants around town. Many offer pasta, pizza, and typical Costa Rican dishes.

Is Zurich or Santa Elena Better for Nightlife?

Zurich is great for its evening party scene. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for nightlife.

Many people head to Zurich for the nightlife scene. 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.

Most people don't head to Santa Elena specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's a couple of bars but not much else for nightlife in town.

Is Zurich or Santa Elena Better for Music?

Zurich is great for its music scene. However, Santa Elena is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Zurich draws a good crowd. There are many nightclubs that offer a variety of music types including electronic music, rock, and even reggae.

Santa Elena is not a live music destination.

Is Zurich or Santa Elena Better for its Old Town?

Zurich is a must-visit destination for its historic old town charm. However, Santa Elena does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Zurich can be explored in its historical center. 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.

Santa Elena does not have a historic old town.

Is Zurich or Santa Elena Better for Hiking?

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

Santa Elena is a popular spot for hiking. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a range of trails including a walk along the Continental Divide. There's also the famous red hanging bridge.

Zurich is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Zurich or Santa Elena?

Zurich is a must-visit destination for its shopping areas. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town 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.

Santa Elena is a great destination for shopping. There are some art galleries and artisan shops around town where you can pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Is Zurich or Santa Elena More Beautiful?

Zurich is great for its scenery and beauty. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its scenery and 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.

Santa Elena is a gorgeous place to visit. The cloud forest and canopy walks give you access to breathtaking views and unique wildlife.

Is Zurich or Santa Elena Better for Families?

Both Zurich and Santa Elena are excellent 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 Santa Elena. Monteverde has many canopy walks, zipline courses, and animal parks that the kids will love. The nature and wildlife make this a fun and educational destination for everyone.

Is Zurich or Santa Elena Better for Couples?

Zurich and Santa Elena both excellent destinations for a couple.

Zurich is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Santa Elena makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The cloud forest is filled with romantic views and unique landscapes. Couples who enjoy the outdoors will fall in love with this magical setting.

Is Zurich or Santa Elena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and affordable activities. There are also many hostels with social activities that make this a great backpacker-friendly destination.

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 Santa Elena Better for Students?

Zurich is a must-visit destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Santa Elena is not popular with students.

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.

Santa Elena is not popular with students.

Is Zurich or Santa Elena 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. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Zurich. The system is made up of streetcars and buses.

Santa Elena has a few public transit options. There are buses through town that travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Is Zurich or Santa Elena a more walkable city?

Zurich is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town 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.

Santa Elena is somewhat walkable. It's relatively easy to walk around, but you will need to take a bus to Monteverde.

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

Should I spend more time in Santa Elena or Zurich?

How long in Zurich or Santa Elena?

It's fun to spend time in either Zurich or Santa Elena. 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 Santa Elena.

Families should spend more time in Zurich than Santa Elena. 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 Santa Elena. 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 Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the beautiful city of Zurich. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Most people visit for the shopping. 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.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping when visiting the destination of Santa Elena. 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 Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the liberal destination of Zurich. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the liberal city of Zurich. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Santa Elena. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Santa Elena?

Many people enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting Zurich. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people visit for the shopping. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping when visiting the outdoorsy destination of Santa Elena. This town 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 G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Zurich or Santa Elena?

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

Should I visit Zurich or Santa Elena in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Zurich as well as Santa Elena. The summer months attract visitors to Zurich because of the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zurich this time of the year. In the summer, Zurich often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. Zurich usually gets less rain in July than Santa Elena. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Zurich or Santa Elena in the Autumn?

Both Santa Elena 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. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

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

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

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. In October, Zurich usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October is the hurricane season in Santa Elena.

Should I visit Zurich or Santa Elena in the Winter?

Both Santa Elena and Zurich during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Zurich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Zurich. Zurich is much colder than Santa Elena in the winter. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Zurich often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.

Zurich usually gets more rain in January than Santa Elena. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year. February to May is the dry season in Santa Elena.

Should I visit Zurich or Santa Elena in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and Santa Elena. Many visitors come to Zurich in the spring for the natural beauty. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. Zurich usually receives less sunshine than Santa Elena during spring. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Zurich usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season. June to October in Santa Elena is the hurricane season.

Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Zurich