A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ocean City vs. Victoria for Families, Nightlife, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Ocean City or Victoria?

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

Should I visit Ocean City or Victoria? 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.

Ocean City

Ocean City is a laid back, active, and energetic city. It's also popular because of the beaches, nightlife, and food. See Ocean City travel costs.

Victoria

Victoria is a cultural, scenic, and relaxing city. Other popular activities here include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Victoria travel costs.

Ocean City and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ocean City or Victoria?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Ocean City. Although Ocean City and Victoria are popular destinations, Ocean City has more sights and attractions for tourists. Ocean City is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, and beaches, while Victoria attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, hiking, and shopping. Ocean City is more touristy than Victoria and is popular for its miles of sandy beach, fun-filled activities, and thrilling water sports. It is also well known for the Ocean City boardwalk. Victoria is famous for its colonial buildings and public parks.

How is Ocean City different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ocean City or Victoria?

Victoria is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Ocean City is not a good city for its museums and history.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Victoria. There are several popular museums like the Royal BC Museum and Craigdarroch Castle. Also make sure you check out the Parliament Buildings.

While most people don't head to Ocean City specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Most people spend their time on the beach, but for the rainy days you can check out the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum or the Art League of Ocean City.

Is the Food Better in Ocean City or Victoria? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Ocean City and Victoria both to be nice destinations.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Ocean City area. Themed restaurants are popular in the area. You'll also find all-you-can-eat seafood buffets and casual diners with pancakes and waffles. Pizza, burgers, and other fast food options are also abundant.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Victoria. You'll find tons of fresh seafood around town. Make sure you try to the Dungeness crab, wild caught salmon, and fish chowder.

Is Ocean City or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

Ocean City is a very popular place for its evening party scene. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Ocean City has a large number of nightlife venues. Happy hours are popular at the bars in the area. You'll also find live music and DJ led parties. Head to the boardwalk, which will overwhelm your senses. There are neon lights, colorful rides, and arcades filled with people and activities.

Victoria has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a good number of bars and pubs around town. Most offer a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy a cold drink in a casual setting.

Is Ocean City or Victoria Better for Resorts?

Ocean City is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Victoria is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Ocean City to choose from. There are many oceanfront resorts with pools and rooms with ocean views. The hotels along the beach tend to be the most expensive, but if you find a place across from the Coastal Highway, it's very challenging to walk to the beach.

Victoria is not a resort destination.

Is Ocean City or Victoria Better for Beaches?

Ocean City is a very popular place for the beach. However, Victoria is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Ocean City for it's beautiful beaches. There are ten miles of sandy beach that are lined with hotels and resorts. A festive boardwalk runs along the coastline and has many rides, arcades, restaurants, and more. The beach offers waves and warm water during the summer months.

Victoria is not a beach destination.

Is Ocean City or Victoria Better for Hiking?

Victoria is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Ocean City is not a hiking destination.

Victoria is a good destination for hiking. There are many outdoor spaces and parks that offer local hiking trails. This is a great way to experience the scenic beauty of the area.

Ocean City is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ocean City or Victoria?

Victoria is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Ocean City is not a good city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Victoria to go shopping. There are plenty of larger shopping malls as well as local boutiques and farmer's markets.

Ocean City is a good destination for shopping. You'll find surf stores and souvenir shops along the three mile boardwalk. There are also many vendors and shopping centers along the Coastal Highway. For something a little more interesting you can head to the Inlet Village.

Is Ocean City or Victoria Better for Families?

Ocean City is an amazing city to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Ocean City is very family-friendly. Beyond the family-friendly beach, there's also minigolf, dolphin tours, and themed-restaurants that are perfect for kids. Head to the Jolly Roger amusement park for a thrilling afternoon or spend some time visiting Ripley's Believe It or Not. The boardwalk is lined with activities for both kids and adults. There are also candy shops, ice cream parlors, and pizza joints where you can grab a bite to eat.

Victoria is a very family-friendly place to visit. There are plenty of opportunities to get outside and get the energy out. Walking trails are popular. You can also do the Malahat SkyWalk which offers impressive views. Cadboro-Gyro Park has a playground, zip-line, and picnic areas. Another hightlight for kids is a visit to the Beacon Hill Children's Farm. If the weather isn't cooperating, you can visit the BC Aviation Museum.

Is Ocean City or Victoria Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Ocean City and Victoria make for a superb place to visit.

Ocean City is a very popular place to visit for couples. Hotels line the beach, many with beautiful views and nice pools. You can take long romantic walks along the coastline or head to one of the many seafood restaurants in town.

Victoria makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city offers many great activities for couples such as a visit to Hatley Park and Castle. The city is also famous for its many flower gardens which are best visited in spring. Kayaking, hiking, and exploring are also favorite activities for couples.

Is Ocean City or Victoria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Victoria is a popular place for backpackers. However, Ocean City is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Victoria. There are a few hostels around town that attract the backpacker and budget traveler crowd.

Ocean City is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't any hostels in the area, but there are some affordable motels if you look beyond the beachfront properties.

Is Ocean City or Victoria Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Ocean City and Victoria offer reasonable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Ocean City. There are boardwalk trams as well as shuttle buses, but most people have their own vehicle, and its recommended you have a private car to get around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Victoria. While there are buses, it's best not to count on them because they're not particularly reliable.

Is Ocean City or Victoria a more walkable city?

Victoria is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. However, Ocean City is not a good city for its walkability.

Victoria is a very walkable destination. Many of the sights are close by and easy to walk to.

Ocean City is generally not a very walkable city. If you stay at an oceanfront hotel or on the ocean block, it's possible to walk to the beach. If you stay further back, you'll have to cross the Coastal Highway, which is eight lanes of busy traffic.

For even more information, also check out Is Ocean City Worth Visiting? and Is Victoria Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Victoria or Ocean City?

How long in Ocean City or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either Ocean City or Victoria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Ocean City due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Ocean City, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Victoria than Ocean City 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 Victoria.

One day in Ocean City or Victoria?

The city of Ocean City offers food and nightlife. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

With museums and nightlife around the relaxing city of Victoria, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Ocean City or Victoria?

Ocean City is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Victoria, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Ocean City or Victoria?

Ocean City is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Ocean City, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Victoria, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. 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 Ocean City or Victoria?

Ocean City is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ocean City has to offer. This city offers something for everyone.

Victoria 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 Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between Ocean City and Victoria, we can see that Victoria 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 Ocean City Expensive? and Is Victoria Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ocean City or Victoria?

Victoria has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Ocean City and Victoria, 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 Ocean City or Victoria?

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 Ocean City or Victoria in the Summer?

Both Victoria and Ocean City during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Ocean City for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Victoria because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Ocean City is much warmer than Victoria in the summer. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ocean City. Ocean City usually gets more rain in July than Victoria. Ocean City gets 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ocean City or Victoria in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocean City and Victoria. The autumn months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the shopping scene. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Victoria this time of year.

In the autumn, Ocean City is a little warmer than Victoria. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ocean City in October average around 58°F (14°C), and Victoria averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In October, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Victoria. Ocean City gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Ocean City or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ocean City as well as Victoria. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Victoria for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Victoria. It's quite cold in Ocean City in the winter. In January, Ocean City is generally much colder than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 35°F (2°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

It's quite rainy in Victoria. Ocean City usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Ocean City gets 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ocean City or Victoria in the Spring?

Both Victoria and Ocean City are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Ocean City for the beaches.

Ocean City is a little warmer than Victoria in the spring. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 54°F (12°C) in April, and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In April, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Victoria. Ocean City gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Victoria and Ocean City