A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Frankfurt vs. Arles for Attractions, Old Town, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Frankfurt or Arles?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Frankfurt and Arles can help you decide which place is right for you.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a connected, energetic, and dynamic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Frankfurt travel costs.

Arles

Arles is a charming, compact, and quaint town. With stunning beauty, Arles attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Arles travel costs.

Frankfurt and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Frankfurt or Arles?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Frankfurt than Arles. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Frankfurt is very popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Arles attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Frankfurt is famous for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife. It is also well known for The Old Town Center. Arles is famous for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

The Old Town Center

How is Frankfurt different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Frankfurt or Arles?

Arles is an unbeatable place for its museums and history. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Arles has many famous sights for visitors. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Frankfurt can be an interesting and educational experience. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

Is the Food Better in Frankfurt or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Frankfurt and Arles can be an enjoyable experience.

Frankfurt has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Arles makes for a great culinary experience. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Is Frankfurt or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Frankfurt is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Frankfurt is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

If you're looking for night time activities Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Frankfurt or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Arles offers plenty to see. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Many visitors go to Frankfurt to see the historical old town. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Is the Shopping Better in Frankfurt or Arles?

Frankfurt is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Frankfurt. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Frankfurt or Arles More Beautiful?

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

With stunning beauty, Arles attracts visitors from all around. This small city is famous for inspiring works by Vincent Van Gogh.

Frankfurt is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Frankfurt or Arles Better for Families?

Frankfurt is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Frankfurt or Arles Better for Couples?

Arles is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Arles makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Frankfurt is a nice destination for couples. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

Is Frankfurt or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Frankfurt is well known for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Frankfurt is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

Is Frankfurt or Arles Better for Students?

Frankfurt is an unbeatable place for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Frankfurt. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

Arles is not popular with students.

Is Frankfurt or Arles Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Frankfurt is an unbeatable place for its public transit. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors in Frankfurt can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

While Arles offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Frankfurt or Arles a more walkable city?

Frankfurt and Arles are very good when it comes to walkability.

Frankfurt is a very walkable destination. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

Arles is very walkable. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Frankfurt Worth Visiting? and Is Arles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arles or Frankfurt?

How long in Frankfurt or Arles?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Frankfurt than Arles 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 Frankfurt.

One day in Frankfurt or Arles?

Each neighborhood in Frankfurt has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Arles. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Arles has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Frankfurt or Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Frankfurt. 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the compact destination of Arles. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Frankfurt or Arles?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the quaint town of Arles. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the museums. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Frankfurt or Arles?

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

Arles is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Arles?

Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Frankfurt and Arles, 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 Frankfurt or Arles?

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 Frankfurt or Arles in the Summer?

Both Arles and Frankfurt during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

Frankfurt is cooler than Arles in the summer. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Frankfurt. In the summer, Frankfurt often gets less sunshine than Arles. Frankfurt gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Frankfurt usually gets more rain in July than Arles. Frankfurt gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Arles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Frankfurt and Arles. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Frankfurt is cooler than Arles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Frankfurt in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Arles averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Arles during autumn. Frankfurt gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Arles receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Arles. Frankfurt gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Arles in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Frankfurt as well as Arles. Many travelers come to Frankfurt for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Arles in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Frankfurt. In January, Frankfurt is generally much colder than Arles. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 1°C (34°F), and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Frankfurt often gets less sunshine than Arles. Frankfurt gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Frankfurt usually gets less rain in January than Arles. Frankfurt gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Frankfurt or Arles in the Spring?

Both Arles and Frankfurt are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Frankfurt in the spring for the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the natural beauty during these months.

Frankfurt is cooler than Arles in the spring. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Arles. Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Arles during spring. Frankfurt gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Arles. Frankfurt gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Frankfurt