A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Greensboro vs. Santa Barbara for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Greensboro and Santa Barbara. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Greensboro

Greensboro is a welcoming, under-rated, and friendly city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Greensboro travel costs.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a scenic, stunning, and wealthy coastal town. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. The famous beauty of Santa Barbara is one of the main draws. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Greensboro and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Barbara than Greensboro. While Greensboro is larger than Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Greensboro and is known for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also home to The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Greensboro is popular for its interesting museums and diverse restaurants.

How is Greensboro different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Greensboro is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Greensboro. The Greensboro Science Center is a highlight for families. Other interesting museums around town include the Elsewhere Modern Art Museum, the Greensboro History Museum, the International Civil Rights Center, and the Weatherspoon Art Museum.

Is the Food Better in Greensboro or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Greensboro is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Santa Barbara. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

Greensboro may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. You'll find a good selection of restaurants around town with Mexican, southern, Italian, and Chinese all being popular options.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Greensboro and Santa Barbara.

Greensboro has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Head downtown for the most trendy bars, breweries, and nightclubs.

If you're looking for night time activities Santa Barbara has a few options to choose from. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is well known for its resorts. However, Greensboro is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Santa Barbara to choose from. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Greensboro is not a resort destination.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a coastal town with a few options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Greensboro is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Santa Barbara has a few snorkeling spots. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Greensboro is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is a must-visit destination for the beach. However, Greensboro is not a beach destination.

Santa Barbara offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Greensboro is not a beach destination.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a good destination for its old town. However, Greensboro does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Santa Barbara to see the old town. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Greensboro does not have a historic old town.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is a must-visit destination for its hiking experiences. However, Greensboro is not a hiking destination.

Santa Barbara is well-known for its hiking and trekking. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Greensboro is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is a must-visit destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Greensboro is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Santa Barbara make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Greensboro has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are shopping centers and shopping malls around town as well as some interesting local boutiques.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is a must-visit destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Greensboro is not a destination known for its beauty.

The famous beauty of Santa Barbara is one of the main draws. The city is beautifully situated right by the ocean and offers stunning views and and an amazing setting. It is also filled with opulent houses and grand estates, giving it an air of grandeur.

Greensboro is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Greensboro is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Barbara is a very kid-friendly coastal town. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Greensboro offers lots of family activities. Kids will love visiting the Greensboro Science Center, which has hands-on science exhibits and a small zoo. Younger kids will also enjoy a visit to the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum. During the summer months the Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park is a great way to spend a day. Other times of the year, there are indoor play spaces and movie theaters around town.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. However, Greensboro is not particularly known for couples.

Santa Barbara is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Greensboro is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The Carolina Theater makes a great date night activity. There is also a diverse selection of restaurants around town and a few parks for a daytime outing.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is well known for students. Also, Greensboro is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Many students visit Santa Barbara. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

It's common for students to visit Greensboro. University of North Carolina at Greensboro attracts students to the city. There are also several smaller colleges in the area.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Barbara is a good destination for its public transit. However, Greensboro is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Santa Barbara, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Public transit is mostly limited in Greensboro. There are several bus routes around town, but you really can depend on them to get where you're going. A car is important for making the most of your trip.

Is Greensboro or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is well known for its high level of walkability. However, Greensboro is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable coastal town. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

Greensboro is generally not a very walkable city. Most areas aren't walkable, but for the most pedestrian-friendly sections head to College Hill, downtown, or Brice Street.

For even more information, also check out Is Greensboro Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Greensboro?

How long in Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Greensboro 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 Santa Barbara.

One day in Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the friendly destination of Greensboro. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

With museums and nightlife around the scenic coastal town of Santa Barbara, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Greensboro. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Santa Barbara, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this coastal town.

Five days in Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the under-rated destination of Greensboro. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

Santa Barbara, a popular coastal town, is full of activities for travelers. 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. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the city of Greensboro. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Santa Barbara 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 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.

When comparing the travel costs between Greensboro and Santa Barbara, we can see that Greensboro is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

Greensboro has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Greensboro and Santa Barbara, 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 Greensboro or Santa Barbara?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Greensboro or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Greensboro and Santa Barbara. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Greensboro this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Greensboro is a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the summer temperatures in Greensboro in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 65°F (19°C).

Greensboro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Greensboro usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Greensboro gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Greensboro or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Greensboro as well as Santa Barbara. Many travelers come to Greensboro for the shopping scene. Additionally, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Greensboro is generally around the same temperature as Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Greensboro average around 62°F (17°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

Greensboro usually gets more rain in October than Santa Barbara. Greensboro gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Greensboro or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

Both Santa Barbara and Greensboro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Greensboro in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Greensboro can get quite cold in the winter. Greensboro is much colder than Santa Barbara in the winter. The daily temperature in Greensboro averages around 40°F (4°C) in January, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

In January, Greensboro usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santa Barbara. Greensboro gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Greensboro or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and Greensboro during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Greensboro is a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the spring temperatures in Greensboro in April average around 61°F (16°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 57°F (14°C).

Greensboro usually gets more rain in April than Santa Barbara. Greensboro gets 3.1 inches (80 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Greensboro