A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arlington vs. Banff for Couples, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Arlington or Banff?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Arlington or Banff, 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.

Arlington

Arlington is a historical, educational, and international city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Arlington travel costs.

Banff

Banff is a outdoorsy, sporty, and adventurous town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. With stunning beauty, Banff attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the shopping, skiing, and nightlife. See Banff travel costs.

Arlington and Banff: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arlington or Banff?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Banff. Although Arlington and Banff are both popular with visitors, Banff has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Banff is more popular for its skiing, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Arlington is known for its museums and attractions. Arlington is popular for its international connections, its biking and walking trails, and being the location of the Pentagon. Banff is popular for its stunning beauty, pristine nature, and nearby lakes. It is also home to Lake Louise.

How is Arlington different from Banff?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Arlington or Banff Better for Skiing?

Banff is terrific for skiing and snowboarding. However, Arlington is not a skiing destination.

The snow ski experience you'll have in Banff is among the best in the world. The town makes a great base for experiencing the three nearby ski resorts: Banff Sunshine, The Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt Norquay. You can purchase a SkiBig3 Lift Ticket and experience the area's best skiing. There's a long ski season and a stunning setting within the Canadian Rockies.

Arlington is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Arlington or Banff?

Arlington is notable for its sights and museums. However, Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

Arlington offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Arlington National Cemetery is where you'll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the tomb of John F. Kennedy Jr. There are many memorials around town, with the most famous being the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. There are also several museums like the DEA Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Arlington or Banff? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Arlington and Banff.

Arlington has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. It's a global city, and the restaurants reflect that. You'll find amazing Thai, Japanese, and Mexican restaurants. There are also less common cuisines to choose from such as Ethiopian, Moroccan, and Peruvian.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Banff makes for a great culinary experience. The downtown has bistros, taverns, and many casual eateries. For a more fine dining experience, you can go to one of the luxury hotels, which have nice dining areas. Throughout town you'll find classic Canadian food like poutine, as well as pizza and bar food.

Is Arlington or Banff Better for Nightlife?

Both Arlington and Banff have very good vibes after the sun sets.

Arlington has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The city has a huge young population that drives the nightlife scene. There are clubs, bars, and lounges in many neighborhoods. There are also comedy clubs and plenty of live music.

The people in Banff know how to have a good time. It's a great town for partying and it's compact and easy to barhop if you want. For the town's size, you'll find a huge number of bars and breweries to choose from, and there's always something going on.

Is Arlington or Banff Better for Hiking?

Banff is terrific for its hiking trails. However, Arlington is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Banff draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The town is set within Banff National Park, and is surrounded by world class hiking. There are more than 1,000 miles of trails that wander alongside rivers, lead to waterfalls, or climb mountain peaks. You may also see local wildlife.

Arlington is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Arlington or Banff?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Arlington and Banff.

Arlington has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Many neighborhoods have local shops or farmer's markets. There are also shopping centers and malls such as Ballston Quarter, The Crossing Clarendon, and The Village at Shirlington.

Banff is a great destination for shopping. There are tons of downtown shops that sell local items, art, sports gear, or clothing.

Is Arlington or Banff More Beautiful?

Banff is an excellent place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Arlington is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Banff attracts visitors from all around. The dramatic Rocky Mountains and stunning natural beauty make this an iconic and beautiful destination.

Arlington is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Arlington or Banff Better for Families?

Banff is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Arlington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Banff. Kids will enjoy the low key hikes like Tunnel Mountain hike. There's also the Banff Gondola and several playgrounds in downtown Banff. For adventure activities, check out the Golden Skybridge or Lake Louise.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Arlington. Kids will enjoy seeing the planes talk off from Gravelly Point park. There are also plenty of outdoor spaces and educational opportunities in the area, including world class museums.

Is Arlington or Banff Better for Couples?

Banff is terrific for couples. Also, Arlington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Banff has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. It's a beautiful destination for a honeymoon or anniversary trip. There are countless hikes and stunning natural beauty. There are also spas, horseback riding, and many great restaurants.

Arlington is a nice destination for couples. There's a vibrant cultural scene and many international restaurants that couples can enjoy. It's also a great place to take in a show or concert.

Is Arlington or Banff Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arlington and Banff are both very good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Arlington. There are a couple of hostels and many free activities nearby. There's also great public transportation that makes for a convenient backpacker destination.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Banff. There are a couple of hostels around town and plenty of natural beauty that appeals to backpackers.

Is Arlington or Banff Better for Students?

Arlington is notable for students. However, Banff is not popular with students.

Arlington is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There are a huge number of colleges and museums in the area as well as many great internship and educational opportunities.

Banff is not popular with students.

Is Arlington or Banff Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Arlington is an unbeatable place for its public transit. Also, Banff is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors in Arlington can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. There is a reliable bus system around town as well as many metro connections.

Banff has some public transit options. There's a bus system, Roam, that connects the towns of Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise.

Is Arlington or Banff a more walkable city?

Arlington and Banff are very good when it comes to walkability.

Arlington is a very walkable destination. There are many pedestrian-friendly areas around town, particularly in the neighborhoods that are concentrated around metro stations.

Banff is very walkable. The downtown is very walkable and there are trailheads nearby as well.

For even more information, also check out Is Arlington Worth Visiting? and Is Banff Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Banff or Arlington?

How long in Arlington or Banff?

In either Arlington or Banff, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Banff than Arlington because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Arlington, and 2-5 days is enough time in Banff.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arlington than Banff 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 Arlington.

One day in Arlington or Banff?

In Arlington, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this historical destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Even though Banff is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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.

A weekend in Arlington or Banff?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arlington. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Banff is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and skiing. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Arlington or Banff?

Arlington is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Arlington. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Banff is a small town with plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer.

A week in Arlington or Banff?

You'll find food and shopping around the educational destination of Arlington. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Banff is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Arlington or Banff?

Arlington has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Arlington and Banff, 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.