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

Should you visit Bar Harbor or Victoria?

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 Victoria 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 quaint, charming, and picturesque coastal town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, Bar Harbor attracts visitors from all around. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Bar Harbor travel costs.

Victoria

Victoria is a scenic, relaxing, and cultural city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and hiking. See Victoria travel costs.

Bar Harbor and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bar Harbor or Victoria?

Both Victoria and Bar Harbor have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Bar Harbor is better known for its food, resorts, beaches, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Victoria is more popular for its museums and attractions and nightlife. Bar Harbor is well known for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park. Victoria is well known for its colonial buildings and public parks.

How is Bar Harbor different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Victoria is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several popular museums like the Royal BC Museum and Craigdarroch Castle. Also make sure you check out the Parliament Buildings.

Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Bar Harbor has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Victoria offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find tons of fresh seafood around town. Make sure you try to the Dungeness crab, wild caught salmon, and fish chowder.

Is Bar Harbor or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

Victoria 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 Victoria. There are a good number of bars and pubs around town. Most offer a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy a cold drink in a casual setting.

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 Victoria Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is a good destination for its luxury resorts. However, Victoria is not a resort destination.

Bar Harbor has a few great resort options. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Victoria is not a resort destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Victoria Better for Beaches?

Bar Harbor is a good destination for the beach. However, Victoria is not a beach destination.

Bar Harbor offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Victoria is not a beach destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Victoria Better for Hiking?

Both Bar Harbor and Victoria are destinations which offer notable hiking.

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.

Victoria offers some nice hiking trails. There are many outdoor spaces and parks that offer local hiking trails. This is a great way to experience the scenic beauty of the area.

Is the Shopping Better in Bar Harbor or Victoria?

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bar Harbor. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

Victoria is a great destination for shopping. There are plenty of larger shopping malls as well as local boutiques and farmer's markets.

Is Bar Harbor or Victoria More Beautiful?

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Victoria is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Bar Harbor attracts visitors from all around. Surrounded by the water and beautiful landscaping, the town offers visitors plenty of beauty.

Victoria is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bar Harbor or Victoria Better for Families?

Victoria is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Victoria is a very family-friendly place to visit. There are plenty of opportunities to get outside and get the energy out. Walking trails are popular. You can also do the Malahat SkyWalk which offers impressive views. Cadboro-Gyro Park has a playground, zip-line, and picnic areas. Another hightlight for kids is a visit to the Beacon Hill Children's Farm. If the weather isn't cooperating, you can visit the BC Aviation Museum.

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly coastal town. 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.

Is Bar Harbor or Victoria Better for Couples?

Both Bar Harbor and Victoria are very good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Bar Harbor is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Victoria makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city offers many great activities for couples such as a visit to Hatley Park and Castle. The city is also famous for its many flower gardens which are best visited in spring. Kayaking, hiking, and exploring are also favorite activities for couples.

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

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

Victoria is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a few hostels around town that attract the backpacker and budget traveler crowd.

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 Victoria Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Bar Harbor and Victoria offer respectable public transit options.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Victoria. While there are buses, it's best not to count on them because they're not particularly reliable.

Is Bar Harbor or Victoria a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor and Victoria both are very good when exploring on foot.

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

Victoria is a very walkable coastal town. Many of the sights are close by and easy to walk to.

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

Should I spend more time in Victoria or Bar Harbor?

How long in Bar Harbor or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either Bar Harbor or Victoria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Victoria due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Bar Harbor, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

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

Couples should spend more time in Bar Harbor than Victoria. 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 Victoria 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 Victoria.

One day in Bar Harbor or Victoria?

Bar Harbor is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and food. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

With museums and nightlife around the cultural city of Victoria, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bar Harbor or Victoria?

Bar Harbor is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this coastal town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bar Harbor, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Victoria, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Bar Harbor or Victoria?

Bar Harbor is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Victoria, 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 Victoria?

Bar Harbor is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This coastal town offers something for everyone.

Victoria 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 Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

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

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 Victoria Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bar Harbor or Victoria?

Victoria has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of Bar Harbor and Victoria, 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 Bar Harbor or Victoria?

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 Bar Harbor or Victoria in the Summer?

Both Victoria and Bar Harbor during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bar Harbor this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Victoria for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bar Harbor is generally a little warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Bar Harbor average around 69°F (21°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Bar Harbor usually gets more rain in July than Victoria. Bar Harbor gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bar Harbor or Victoria in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bar Harbor and Victoria. Many travelers come to Bar Harbor for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Victoria in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Bar Harbor is cooler than Victoria in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bar Harbor averages around 48°F (9°C) in October, and Victoria fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In October, Bar Harbor usually receives more rain than Victoria. Bar Harbor gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bar Harbor or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bar Harbor as well as Victoria. Many visitors come to Bar Harbor in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Victoria for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Victoria can be very cold during winter. Bar Harbor can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Bar Harbor is much colder than Victoria. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bar Harbor in January average around 18°F (-8°C), and Victoria averages at about 5°C (41°F).

It's quite rainy in Victoria. Bar Harbor usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Bar Harbor gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bar Harbor or Victoria in the Spring?

Both Victoria and Bar Harbor are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bar Harbor for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Bar Harbor is generally much colder than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Bar Harbor average around 43°F (6°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In April, Bar Harbor usually receives more rain than Victoria. Bar Harbor gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Victoria and Bar Harbor