A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Orleans vs. Bar Harbor for Food, Couples, and Families

Should you visit New Orleans or Bar Harbor?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between New Orleans and Bar Harbor 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.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a vibrant, energetic, and fun-filled city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food. See New Orleans travel costs.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a quaint, charming, and picturesque coastal town. Since it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors, too. Bar Harbor is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. Other reasons to visit include beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Bar Harbor travel costs.

New Orleans and Bar Harbor: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Orleans or Bar Harbor?

Tourists will generally find more to do in New Orleans. Although New Orleans and Bar Harbor are both popular with visitors, New Orleans has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. New Orleans is more popular for its food, nightlife, music, historical sights, and big city activities, while Bar Harbor is known for its resorts, beaches, hiking, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. New Orleans is more touristy than Bar Harbor and is popular for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also home to The French Quarter. Bar Harbor is popular for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park.

The French Quarter

How is New Orleans different from Bar Harbor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

New Orleans is terrific for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its restaurants.

Many restaurants in New Orleans have been singled out for their culinary prowess. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.

Bar Harbor has a huge number of terrific 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.

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is terrific for nightlife. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for nightlife and partying.

New Orleans is a must-see party destination. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.

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 New Orleans or Bar Harbor Better for Music?

New Orleans is terrific for live music. However, Bar Harbor is not a live music destination.

New Orleans is a world class music destination. The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.

Bar Harbor is not a live music destination.

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is a coastal town with good options for its luxury resorts. However, New Orleans is not a resort destination.

Bar Harbor has a handful of resorts to choose from. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

New Orleans is not a resort destination.

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor Better for Beaches?

Bar Harbor is a coastal town with good options for its beaches. However, New Orleans is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Bar Harbor. 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.

New Orleans is not a beach destination.

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is a well-known place for its historic old town. However, Bar Harbor does not have a historic old town.

New Orleans is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

Bar Harbor does not have a historic old town.

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor Better for Hiking?

Bar Harbor is a coastal town with good options for its hiking trails. However, New Orleans is not a hiking destination.

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.

New Orleans is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Orleans or Bar Harbor?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bar Harbor. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

If you're looking to go shopping, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor More Beautiful?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, New Orleans is not a destination known for its beauty.

Bar Harbor is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Surrounded by the water and beautiful landscaping, the town offers visitors plenty of beauty.

New Orleans is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor Better for Families?

Bar Harbor is a coastal town with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

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.

New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor Better for Couples?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for romance. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Bar Harbor makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

New Orleans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor Better for Students?

New Orleans is a city with good options for students. However, Bar Harbor is not popular with students.

New Orleans is a good city to visit for students. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

Bar Harbor is not popular with students.

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find decent public transit in both New Orleans and Bar Harbor.

Public transit is mostly limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.

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

Is New Orleans or Bar Harbor a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

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

New Orleans is a somewhat walkable place. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.

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

Should I spend more time in Bar Harbor or New Orleans?

How long in New Orleans or Bar Harbor?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Orleans and Bar Harbor. In our opinion, Bar Harbor has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Bar Harbor than New Orleans. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New Orleans 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 New Orleans.

One day in New Orleans or Bar Harbor?

With food and nightlife around the fun-filled city of New Orleans, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Bar Harbor is a small town with plenty to do. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in New Orleans or Bar Harbor?

With nightlife and live music around the destination of New Orleans, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Bar Harbor might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. This coastal town 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 New Orleans or Bar Harbor?

New Orleans, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Because Bar Harbor is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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 New Orleans or Bar Harbor?

New Orleans 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.

Since Bar Harbor is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. 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 Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between New Orleans and Bar Harbor, we can see that New Orleans 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 New Orleans Expensive? and Is Bar Harbor Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Orleans or Bar Harbor?

New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans and Bar Harbor, 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 New Orleans or Bar Harbor?

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 New Orleans or Bar Harbor in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Orleans as well as Bar Harbor. The summer months attract visitors to New Orleans because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bar Harbor this time of year.

New Orleans is a little warmer than Bar Harbor in the summer. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Orleans usually gets more rain in July than Bar Harbor. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Bar Harbor in the Autumn?

Both Bar Harbor and New Orleans are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bar Harbor for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, New Orleans is much warmer than Bar Harbor. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Orleans in October average around 69°F (21°C), and Bar Harbor averages at about 48°F (9°C).

In October, New Orleans usually receives less rain than Bar Harbor. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Orleans or Bar Harbor in the Winter?

Both Bar Harbor and New Orleans during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to New Orleans for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Bar Harbor in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Bar Harbor can get quite cold in the winter. In January, New Orleans is generally much warmer than Bar Harbor. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 51°F (11°C), and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 18°F (-8°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually gets more rain in January than Bar Harbor. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Bar Harbor in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and Bar Harbor. Many visitors come to New Orleans in the spring for the activities around the city. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bar Harbor for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months.

New Orleans is much warmer than Bar Harbor in the spring. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 68°F (20°C) in April, and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).

New Orleans gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Bar Harbor. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bar Harbor and New Orleans