A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Avignon vs. Rome for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Avignon or Rome?

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 Avignon and Rome. 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.

Avignon

Avignon is a historical, quaint, and charming town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping. See Avignon travel costs.

Rome

Rome is a archeological, bustling, and fun-filled city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Rome is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. It's also popular because of the live music, food, and shopping. See Rome travel costs.

Avignon and Rome: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Avignon or Rome?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rome than Avignon. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Rome is very popular for its nightlife, music, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Avignon attracts visitors for its historical sights and small town charm. Rome is more touristy than Avignon and is popular for its iconic archaeological sites such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, as well as its gelato, Italian cuisine, and strong religious roots. It is also well known for The Colosseum. Avignon is famous for its architectural beauty and historical importance.

The Colosseum

How is Avignon different from Rome?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Avignon or Rome?

You'll find a number of fantastic museums and attractions in both Rome and Avignon.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Avignon has many famous sights for visitors. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Rome that are not to be missed. The historical sights around the city are among the most impressive in the world. Almost anywhere you look you'll find a notable landmark but some of the most famous include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum.

Is the Food Better in Avignon or Rome? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at fantastic restaurants in both Avignon and Rome.

Eat your way through Avignon, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

For foodies, Rome is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Homemade pasta, fresh sauces, and fine wine all make the food scene among the best. Also make sure you try the gelato.

Is Avignon or Rome Better for Nightlife?

Rome is renowned for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Rome is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. You'll find a huge concentration of bars and clubs in the Testaccio area. There are late night clubs with salsa dancing, merengue, and live DJ's spinning every type of music.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Avignon or Rome Better for Music?

Rome is renowned for its music scene. However, Avignon is not a live music destination.

Rome has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. Popular music venues include Live Alcazar, Atlantico Live, and Beba do Samba.

Avignon is not a live music destination.

Is Avignon or Rome Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. However, Rome does not have a historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Avignon offers plenty to see. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Rome does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Avignon or Rome?

Rome is renowned for its shopping areas. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Rome specifically to go shopping. For the biggest brand names, head to Via del Corso, which is near the Spanish Steps. Popular items to buy include Italian ceramics, shoes, leather goods, and jewelry.

Avignon is a great destination for shopping. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Avignon or Rome More Beautiful?

Rome is renowned for its scenery and beauty. However, Avignon is not a destination known for its beauty.

Rome is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. With its many beautiful landmarks and impressive architecture, this city has a lot of attractive places to visit. Don't miss Villa Borghese Park, Trastevere, Palazzo Madama, the Appian Way, and Piazza Navona.

Avignon is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Avignon or Rome Better for Families?

Rome is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Avignon 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 Rome. What kid wouldn't be thrilled to be surrounded by pizza and spaghetti restaurants? In addition to kid-friendly food options, there are also a number of great activities that the whole family can enjoy including exploring the Colosseum, taking a gladiator class, and eating gelato.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Avignon. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Avignon or Rome Better for Couples?

Avignon and Rome both very good destinations for a couple.

Avignon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Couples visit Rome frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. With many beautiful buildings, world class restaurants, and world renowned sights, this city makes a great romantic destination.

Is Avignon or Rome Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rome is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Rome, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. Backpackers will find no shortage of hostels where they can stay, particularly near the main train station where accommodation is particularly cheap (but not always the best quality).

Plenty of budget travelers visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Is Avignon or Rome Better for Students?

Rome is renowned for its student-friendly activities. However, Avignon is not popular with students.

Rome is a very popular place to visit for students. The city is a popular study abroad destination and you'll find plenty of international students here.

Avignon is not popular with students.

Is Avignon or Rome Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Rome is renowned for times when you don't have a car. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Rome has a great public transit system. There's a metro system, trams, and a comprehensive bus system that goes around the city.

You'll find some public transit in Avignon, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Avignon or Rome a more walkable city?

Avignon and Rome are fantastic when it comes to walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Avignon. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

Getting around Rome on foot is easy. You'll find many of the most popular sights in a compact area that's easily explored on foot. Do watch out for traffic, which can be a bit chaotic at times.

For even more information, also check out Is Avignon Worth Visiting? and Is Rome Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rome or Avignon?

How long in Avignon or Rome?

Both Avignon and Rome have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Rome than in Avignon. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Avignon, and 3-7 days is enough time in Rome.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rome than Avignon 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 Rome.

One day in Avignon or Rome?

Avignon is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and food. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Because Rome is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Avignon or Rome?

Avignon is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Because Rome is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Avignon or Rome?

Avignon is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This town offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Rome is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Rome has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Avignon or Rome?

Because Avignon is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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's hard to know how much time to spend in Rome. Because Rome is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Avignon or Rome?

Rome has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Avignon and Rome, 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 Avignon or Rome?

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 Avignon or Rome in the Summer?

Both Rome and Avignon during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Avignon for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Rome because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Avignon is around the same temperature as Rome in the summer. The daily temperature in Avignon averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Rome fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

In Rome, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Avignon. In the summer, Avignon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Rome. Avignon gets 354 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun.

Avignon usually gets more rain in July than Rome. Avignon gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Avignon or Rome in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Avignon and Rome. The autumn months attract visitors to Avignon because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rome this time of year.

In the autumn, Avignon is around the same temperature as Rome. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Avignon in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Rome averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Avignon usually receives less sunshine than Rome during autumn. Avignon gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Avignon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Avignon usually receives more rain than Rome. Avignon gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Avignon or Rome in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Avignon as well as Rome. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Avignon this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Rome for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Avignon is generally cooler than Rome. Daily temperatures in Avignon average around 7°C (44°F), and Rome fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Avignon often gets more sunshine than Rome. Avignon gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun.

Avignon usually gets less rain in January than Rome. Avignon gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Avignon or Rome in the Spring?

Both Rome and Avignon are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Avignon for the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to Rome in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Avignon is around the same temperature as Rome in the spring. The daily temperature in Avignon averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Rome fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

It's quite sunny in Rome. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Avignon. Avignon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rome during spring. Avignon gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Avignon usually receives more rain than Rome. Avignon gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rome and Avignon