A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Boise vs. Hope for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Boise or Hope?

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

Should I visit Boise or Hope? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Boise

Boise is a friendly, welcoming, and authentic city. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums. See Boise travel costs.

Hope

Hope is a local, small, and friendly town. It's also popular because of the hiking. See Hope travel costs.

Boise and Hope: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Boise or Hope?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Hope than Boise, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Hope is better known for its hiking, while Boise is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, and shopping. Hope is more touristy than Boise and is known for its chainsaw carvings and being the filming location of "Rambo." Also, Hope is famous for Othello Tunnels. Boise is well known for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Boise different from Hope?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Boise or Hope?

Boise is very good for its historical sights. However, Hope is not known for its sights and museums.

Boise is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Hope offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. You can check out Hopes Art Gallery, The Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum, or the Hope Museum.

Is the Food Better in Boise or Hope? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Boise and Hope offer a number of respectable restaurants to choose from.

Boise may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Hope offers some easy restaurants to choose from. There's a decent selection of casual restaurants with basic dishes and local cuisine.

Is Boise or Hope Better for Nightlife?

Boise is very good for nightlife. However, Hope is not known for nightlife and partying.

If you're looking for night time activities Boise has a few options to choose from. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Most people don't head to Hope specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's a small town but there are some local pubs and bars.

Is Boise or Hope Better for Hiking?

Hope is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Boise is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Hope. There are a range of hikes in the area, like more challenging routes such as Hope Mountain and Wells Peak. For a more casual hike you can check out Rotary Trail, Thacker Marsh Trail, and the Othello Tunnels.

Boise is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Boise or Hope?

Boise is very good for shopping. However, Hope is not known for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Boise. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

If you're looking to go shopping, Hope has some nice offerings. It's a small town, but there are places to peak up anything you may have forgotten.

Is Boise or Hope Better for Families?

Hope is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Hope. Kids will love enjoying the outdoors just as much as the adults. You can also visit the Hope Museum or the Coquihalla Gorge.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Boise or Hope Better for Couples?

Hope is an excellent place to visit for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

Hope makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy adventures and nature will love a few days in this beautiful area.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Boise or Hope Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hope is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Boise is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Hope. There are many camping and backpacking opportunities in the area.

Boise is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. Backpackers rarely make their way to this town.

Is Boise or Hope Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Boise is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Hope is not known for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Hope. There is no public transit in town.

Is Boise or Hope a more walkable city?

Boise and Hope are respectable when it comes to walkability.

Boise is generally not a very walkable city. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

Hope is generally not very walkable. The town is relatively walkable, but you'll likely want to get into the surrounding area where most of the activities are.

For even more information, also check out Is Boise Worth Visiting? and Is Hope Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hope or Boise?

How long in Boise or Hope?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Boise and Hope. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Hope than in Boise. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Boise, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hope.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hope than Boise 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 Hope.

One day in Boise or Hope?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Boise. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Hope, many people enjoy the that this small destination offers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. This town 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.

A weekend in Boise or Hope?

Boise is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hope. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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.

Five days in Boise or Hope?

You'll find shopping and museums around the friendly destination of Boise. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Hope is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the when visiting the destination of Hope. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Boise or Hope?

The welcoming city of Boise offers museums and nightlife. 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.

You'll find around the local destination of Hope. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Boise or Hope?

Boise has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of Boise and Hope, 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.