A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Gainesville vs. Edmonton for Attractions, Nightlife, Food, and Families

Should you visit Gainesville or Edmonton?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Edmonton, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Gainesville

Gainesville is a active, vibrant, and high energy city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Gainesville travel costs.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a cultural, authentic, and friendly city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums. See Edmonton travel costs.

Gainesville and Edmonton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Gainesville or Edmonton?

Both Edmonton and Gainesville have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Gainesville is more popular for its food and nightlife, while Edmonton is known for its shopping. Edmonton is more touristy than Gainesville and is known for its many festivals and lively personality. Gainesville is popular for being the home of the University of Florida

How is Gainesville different from Edmonton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Gainesville or Edmonton?

Both Gainesville and Edmonton have excellent landmarks and museums for visitors.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Gainesville can be an interesting and educational experience. There's a surprising number of museums around town such as the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. Also fascinating is the Historic Haile Homestead, the Butterfly Rainforest, and the city's planetarium.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Edmonton. You'll find a number of good museums around town such as the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

Is the Food Better in Gainesville or Edmonton? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Gainesville is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Edmonton is not a good city for its restaurants.

Gainesville offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Casual eateries are popular around town, particularly with the student population. There are grills, diners, and bistros that serve local dishes at affordable prices.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Edmonton. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is Gainesville or Edmonton Better for Nightlife?

Gainesville is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Edmonton is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Gainesville offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife centers around the student population. The two main party areas are Midtown and Downtown. Midtown is between Northwest 17th Street and Northwest 18th Street and it's convenient for students who live on campus. The area has a great stretch of bars and clubs. The Downtown area has many of the city's top clubs, and it's popular with upperclassmen and students who live off campus.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Edmonton. There's a mix of nightclubs, bars, and breweries around town. Head to Jasper Avenue for the high end clubs or check out a live show at one of the active theaters around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Gainesville or Edmonton?

Edmonton is notable for shopping. Also, Gainesville is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Edmonton is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city is home to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Canada, and among the largest in the world. The mall includes hundreds of shops, restaurants, a hotel, ice rink, movie theaters, an aquarium, and Galaxyland, which is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. The mall is divided into themed sections that represent iconic places from around the world such as Europa Boulevard and Bourbon Street.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Gainesville. You'll find all of the standard shopping options around town such as malls, shopping centers, and retail outlets. Two popular areas are the Neighborhoods at Butler and Celebration Pointe.

Is Gainesville or Edmonton Better for Families?

Gainesville and Edmonton are both good destinations for the whole family.

Gainesville is a family-friendly place to visit. You'll find outdoor activities, nature parks, and a couple of museums that will appeal to all ages. Highlights for families include A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center, the Adventure Outpost, and Alfred A. Ring Park.

Edmonton is a family-friendly city. Many families live in town so if you're visiting for a few days you'll find plenty to do with kids. Most of the activities are concentrated in the downtown areas and along the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. The whole family will enjoy a visit to Telus World of Science. There's also the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and Galaxyland, as well as many other activities.

Is Gainesville or Edmonton Better for Couples?

Gainesville and Edmonton are both good to visit as a couple.

Gainesville is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy wine tasting and fine dining or enjoying the city's many outdoor activities. Go on a picnic or explore one of the museums in Downtown Gainesville.

Edmonton makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There's a good theater scene, so you can enjoy dinner and a show. There are also quaint cafes, mellow breweries, and plenty of cultural activities like art museums.

Is Gainesville or Edmonton Better for Students?

Gainesville is a well-known place for students. However, Edmonton is not popular with students.

Gainesville is very popular with students. As the location of the University of Florida, you'll find many students around town. This keeps the energy high with plenty of evening activities and affordable entertainment options.

Edmonton is not popular with students.

Is Gainesville or Edmonton Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Gainesville and Edmonton offer good public transit options.

Gainesville has a few public transit options. There's a decent bus system that's free to students and employees of the university.

Edmonton has some public transit options. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

Is Gainesville or Edmonton a more walkable city?

Gainesville and Edmonton both are good when exploring on foot.

Gainesville is somewhat walkable. Biking is actually a popular way to get around town and some areas are pedestrian-friendly.

Edmonton is a somewhat walkable place. There are parts of the city that are very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Gainesville Worth Visiting? and Is Edmonton Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Edmonton or Gainesville?

How long in Gainesville or Edmonton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Gainesville or Edmonton to fill your time. In our opinion, Gainesville has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Gainesville than Edmonton. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Gainesville than Edmonton 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 Gainesville.

One day in Gainesville or Edmonton?

The city of Gainesville offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the authentic city of Edmonton. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Gainesville or Edmonton?

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

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Edmonton. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Gainesville or Edmonton?

Gainesville 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.

The authentic city of Edmonton offers museums and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Gainesville or Edmonton?

Gainesville 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 city offers something for everyone.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting Edmonton. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Gainesville or Edmonton?

Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the sizes of Gainesville and Edmonton, 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.