A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Pasadena vs. Salt Lake City for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

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 Pasadena and Salt Lake City. 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.

Pasadena

Pasadena is a quaint, charming, and picturesque city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Pasadena travel costs.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a notable, religious, and architectural city. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, hiking, and shopping. See Salt Lake City travel costs.

Pasadena and Salt Lake City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Salt Lake City than Pasadena. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Salt Lake City is very popular for its scuba diving & snorkeling and hiking, while Pasadena attracts visitors for its food, nightlife, and shopping. Salt Lake City is more touristy than Pasadena and is popular for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. It is also well known for Temple Square. Pasadena is famous for being the home of the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl.

How is Pasadena different from Salt Lake City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Pasadena or Salt Lake City.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Pasadena. There's a good number of museums around town that include kids' museums, art museums, and local museums. Popular museums include the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, and the Pasadena Museum of History. Many people also enjoy touring the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Salt Lake City offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many of the fascinating sights around town are influenced by the city's Mormon culture. Temple Square is a highlight for most visitors. It spans 35 acres and is beautifully landscaped with several fountains. There are also four main churches - The Temple, the Tabernacle, the Temple Annex, and Assembly Hall. The city also has several museums such as the Natural History Museum and the historic Liberty Park.

Is the Food Better in Pasadena or Salt Lake City? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Pasadena is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Pasadena has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Local restaurants feature southern California cuisine as well as international flavors. Dishes often use local ingredients that are fresh and seasonal. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

Salt Lake City offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. In recent years the food scene has really improved and you'll find a variety of restaurants that serve everything from upscale dishes to more casual fare.

Is Pasadena or Salt Lake City Better for Nightlife?

Pasadena is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Pasadena has a large number of nightlife venues. Much of the nightlife scene is concentrated around Old Pasadena. You'll find clubs, bars, and lounges that begin the evening with Happy Hours and then become more party-focused as the evening progresses.

Salt Lake City is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. Known for its large Mormon population, nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Salt Lake City. While it will likely never be a party city, there are a growing number of entertainment options around town.

Is Pasadena or Salt Lake City Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is a good destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Pasadena is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Salt Lake City. There are a number of good ski resorts nearby, making this a good base or starting point for a ski vacation.

Pasadena is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Pasadena or Salt Lake City Better for Hiking?

Salt Lake City is a good destination for the nearby hiking options. However, Pasadena is not a hiking destination.

Salt Lake City offers some nice hiking trails. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.

Pasadena is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

Pasadena is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Pasadena. Old Pasadena is where you'll find some of the best shopping. It's filled with a charming atmosphere and interesting boutiques.

Salt Lake City is a great destination for shopping. The city has sprawling outlet malls as well as local stores and craft shops. City Creek Center is a favorite shopping destination, but there are also several large shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Is Pasadena or Salt Lake City Better for Families?

Both Pasadena and Salt Lake City are nice family-friendly destinations.

Pasadena is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of kid-friendly museums around town including Kidspace Children's Museum. There are also nature centers, playgrounds, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants.

Salt Lake City is a family-friendly city. There are museums that kids will enjoy like the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Leonardo Museum. There are also fun-filled activities like a visit to Lagoon Amusement Park. You can learn about history at This Is the Place Heritage Park or learn about the undersea world at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

Is Pasadena or Salt Lake City Better for Couples?

Pasadena and Salt Lake City both nice destinations for a couple.

Pasadena is a good city for couples to visit. It's a charming town with a bit of a European vibe and plenty of outdoor activities. Fine dining and interesting shopping make this a nice weekend destination.

Salt Lake City is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with beautiful gardens like Red Butte Garden. There are also nice restaurants and romantic hotels that will make this a nice place for a couple's getaway.

Is Pasadena or Salt Lake City Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Pasadena and Salt Lake City offer nice public transit options.

Pasadena has a few public transit options. Buses and light rail offer local transit and connect the city to nearby Los Angeles.

Salt Lake City has some public transit options. There's a surprisingly good public transit system that includes light rail, buses, and commuter trains, but if you want to get out of town you'll need to have a car.

Is Pasadena or Salt Lake City a more walkable city?

Pasadena is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for its walkability.

Pasadena is a somewhat walkable city. Most people head to Old Pasadena, which is the most concentrated and walkable part of the city.

Salt Lake City is generally not very walkable. While some neighborhoods are walkable, like Temple Square, most visitors prefer to have a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Pasadena Worth Visiting? and Is Salt Lake City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Salt Lake City or Pasadena?

How long in Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Pasadena and Salt Lake City. In our opinion, Pasadena has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Pasadena than Salt Lake City. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Pasadena, and 2-3 days is enough time in Salt Lake City.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Pasadena than Salt Lake 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 Pasadena.

One day in Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

In Pasadena, you'll find museums and nightlife. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

The city of Salt Lake City offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. 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.

A weekend in Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

Pasadena is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pasadena. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Salt Lake City 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.

A week in Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Pasadena. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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.

Salt Lake City 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Pasadena or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Pasadena. When comparing the sizes of Pasadena and Salt Lake City, 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.