A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bar Harbor vs. Calgary for Food, Couples, and Families

Should you visit Bar Harbor or Calgary?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bar Harbor and Calgary can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a charming, picturesque, and relaxed coastal town. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. The beauty of Bar Harbor is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and food. See Bar Harbor travel costs.

Calgary

Calgary is a western, local, and authentic city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums. See Calgary travel costs.

Bar Harbor and Calgary: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bar Harbor or Calgary?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bar Harbor. Although Bar Harbor and Calgary are popular destinations, Bar Harbor has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bar Harbor is very popular for its food, resorts, beaches, hiking, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Calgary attracts visitors for its museums and attractions and nightlife. Bar Harbor is famous for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park. It is also well known for Acadia National Park. Calgary is famous for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede.

How is Bar Harbor different from Calgary?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bar Harbor or Calgary?

Calgary is a city with good options for its sights and museums. However, Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Calgary is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's worth visiting the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, the Hangar Flight Museum, and Heritage Park, among others.

Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Bar Harbor or Calgary? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bar Harbor is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Bar Harbor. The town is famous for its Maine lobster, but there are also countless other types of fresh seafood available. You'll find waterfront restaurants with beautiful views and fresh ingredients.

Calgary may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The food scene is constantly evolving and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants. The city is known for its beef, so you should definitely sample a local steak.

Is Bar Harbor or Calgary Better for Nightlife?

Calgary is a city with good options for nightlife. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for nightlife and partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Calgary. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Bar Harbor doesn't offer many options. It's a peaceful and sleepy town, so you wont find much in the way of nightlife.

Is Bar Harbor or Calgary Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is a coastal town with good options for its resorts. However, Calgary is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Bar Harbor makes a nice vacation spot. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Calgary is not a resort destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Calgary Better for Beaches?

Bar Harbor is a coastal town with good options for the beach. However, Calgary is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Bar Harbor. A nice beach is close by but do note that the sand is very shelly and there is a big difference between high and low tides.

Calgary is not a beach destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Calgary Better for Hiking?

Bar Harbor is a coastal town with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Bar Harbor. Nearby Acadia National Park has plenty of hiking options. There's also the Bar Harbor Shore Path that wanders along the coastline and offers beautiful views.

Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bar Harbor or Calgary?

Bar Harbor is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Bar Harbor is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

Calgary has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are plenty of independent shops around town as well as some great shopping neighborhoods. Make sure you check out Fourth Street and 17th Avenue. There are also large shopping malls.

Is Bar Harbor or Calgary More Beautiful?

Bar Harbor is well known for its scenery and beauty. However, Calgary is not a destination known for its beauty.

The beauty of Bar Harbor is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Surrounded by the water and beautiful landscaping, the town offers visitors plenty of beauty.

Calgary is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bar Harbor or Calgary Better for Families?

Both Bar Harbor and Calgary are nice to visit with kids.

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly place to visit. It is a small town with a lot of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife spotting are all fun activities for all ages.

Calgary is a family-friendly coastal town. There are a surprising number of things around town to do with kids such as petting zoos, museums, and even amusement parks. The Calgary Zoo is worth a visit, but also make sure you check out Calaway Park Amusement Park and the Telus Spark science center.

Is Bar Harbor or Calgary Better for Couples?

Bar Harbor is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Bar Harbor frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It is a quaint coastal town that is perfect for a couple's getaway or a short honeymoon. There are romantic restaurants, scenic walks, and beautiful views that make this a wonderful retreat.

Calgary is a good coastal town for couples to visit. You'll find outdoor sports, boat tours, and plenty of great restaurants around town. If you're looking for a low key destination with a great vibe, then this is a great city for a weekend trip.

Is Bar Harbor or Calgary Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is a city with good options for backpackers. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Calgary is a good city to visit for backpackers. A surprising number of backpackers end up passing through town, so you'll find a handful of hostels to choose from.

Bar Harbor is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. It's a small town with mostly high end accommodation so budget travelers and backpackers will struggle to find a place to stay.

Is Bar Harbor or Calgary Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Calgary is a city with good options for its public transit. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for times when you don't have a car.

Calgary has a few public transit options. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.

Public transit is mostly limited in Bar Harbor. There is a free shuttle bus that will help you get around town if needed.

Is Bar Harbor or Calgary a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor is well known for its high level of walkability. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

Bar Harbor is a very walkable coastal town. The town is small enough that it's easily explored on foot.

Calgary is generally not a very walkable coastal town. While there are a couple of walkable neighborhood's around town, it's definitely not the most walkable city.

For even more information, also check out Is Bar Harbor Worth Visiting? and Is Calgary Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calgary or Bar Harbor?

How long in Bar Harbor or Calgary?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bar Harbor or Calgary to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bar Harbor than Calgary because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bar Harbor, and 1-2 days is enough time in Calgary.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calgary than Bar Harbor 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 Calgary.

One day in Bar Harbor or Calgary?

Bar Harbor is a small town with plenty to do. This coastal town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With museums and nightlife around the western city of Calgary, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Calgary, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Bar Harbor or Calgary?

Bar Harbor might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bar Harbor has to offer.

With nightlife and shopping around the destination of Calgary, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Bar Harbor or Calgary?

Bar Harbor is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Calgary, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Bar Harbor or Calgary?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bar Harbor. Since Bar Harbor is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Calgary is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bar Harbor or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 170 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of Bar Harbor and Calgary, 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.