A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Roanoke vs. Victoria for Hiking, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Roanoke or Victoria?

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

Should I visit Roanoke 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.

Roanoke

Roanoke is a scenic, outdoorsy, and laid back town. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Roanoke travel costs.

Victoria

Victoria is a cultural, scenic, and relaxing city. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Victoria travel costs.

Roanoke and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Roanoke or Victoria?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Victoria than Roanoke. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Victoria is very popular for its food, while Roanoke attracts visitors for its hiking. Victoria is more touristy than Roanoke and is known for its colonial buildings and public parks. It is also well known for Butchart Gardens. Roanoke is famous for its welcoming hospitality and convenient access to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

How is Roanoke different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Roanoke or Victoria?

You'll find a number of nice museums and attractions in both Victoria and Roanoke.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Roanoke. There are several museums and sights around town such as the Living-Coral Reef Aquarium, the Science Museum of Western Virginia, and the Taubman Museum of Art. There's also the Harrison Museum of African American Culture and even the Roanoke Pinball Museum.

Victoria is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several popular museums like the Royal BC Museum and Craigdarroch Castle. Also make sure you check out the Parliament Buildings.

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

Victoria is a popular place for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Roanoke is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Victoria is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find tons of fresh seafood around town. Make sure you try to the Dungeness crab, wild caught salmon, and fish chowder.

Roanoke offers some easy restaurants to choose from. There are burger joints, pizza restaurants, and plenty of other casual eateries where you can grab a quick meal.

Is Roanoke or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find nice options in both Roanoke and Victoria.

If you're looking for night time activities Roanoke has a few options to choose from. There are local venues in the area that have drinks and often live music. You'll find jazz, country, rock, and bluegrass, particularly along Crooked Road in Franklin County.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Victoria. 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 Roanoke or Victoria Better for Hiking?

Roanoke is a very popular place for its hiking trails. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Roanoke. The surrounding countryside is filled with mountain hikes. The Blue Ridge Mountains are crossed by trails that take you to waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, and through serene forest. McAfee Knob, Sharp Top Mountain, and Roaring Run Trail some of the best hikes in the area.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Roanoke or Victoria?

If you're looking to go shopping, Roanoke and Victoria both offer plenty of nice spots.

Roanoke has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Market Street in Downtown Roanoke is lined with local vendors, particularly at the Historic Roanoke City Market. The town also has a mall and several shopping centers.

Victoria is a great destination for shopping. There are plenty of larger shopping malls as well as local boutiques and farmer's markets.

Is Roanoke or Victoria Better for Families?

Victoria is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Roanoke is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Victoria. 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.

Roanoke is a family-friendly place to visit. The Blue Ridge Parkway is filled with kid-friendly hiking trails and fun outdoor activities. You can visit the Blue Ridge Institute & Farm Museum or Smith Mountain Lake Farm. There's also Virginia Children's Theater.

Is Roanoke or Victoria Better for Couples?

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

Roanoke is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Staying at a quaint bed and breakfast, tucked into the beautiful mountain setting is the perfect romantic getaway. Nearby there are vineyards and wine cellars, as well as gardens, hikes, and other outdoor activities.

Victoria is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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 Roanoke or Victoria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Roanoke and Victoria are nice places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Roanoke. There are several campgrounds in the area as well as great hiking trails.

Victoria is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a few hostels around town that attract the backpacker and budget traveler crowd.

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

Roanoke and Victoria both offer reasonable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Roanoke. There are buses as well as a free trolley service through the downtown, but you really do need a car to get most places.

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

Is Roanoke or Victoria a more walkable city?

Victoria is a great city for its ease of walking around. However, Roanoke is not known for its walkability.

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

Roanoke is generally not very walkable. The downtown area is the most walkable part of town, with sidewalks and more dense development styles.

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

Should I spend more time in Victoria or Roanoke?

How long in Roanoke or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either Roanoke or Victoria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Victoria due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Roanoke, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

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

Couples should spend more time in Victoria than Roanoke. 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 Roanoke 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 Roanoke or Victoria?

The town of Roanoke offers nightlife and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Victoria, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Roanoke or Victoria?

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

In Victoria, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Roanoke or Victoria?

Roanoke 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.

Victoria is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Roanoke or Victoria?

Roanoke is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Victoria. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Victoria. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between Roanoke 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 Roanoke Expensive? and Is Victoria Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Roanoke or Victoria?

Victoria has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Roanoke. When comparing the sizes of Roanoke 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 Roanoke or Victoria?

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 Roanoke or Victoria in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Roanoke and Victoria. Most visitors come to Roanoke for the hiking 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.

Roanoke is much warmer than Victoria in the summer. The daily temperature in Roanoke averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Roanoke gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Roanoke usually receives more rain than Victoria. Roanoke gets 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Roanoke or Victoria in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Roanoke as well as Victoria. The autumn months attract visitors to Roanoke because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Victoria this time of year.

In the autumn, Roanoke is a little warmer than Victoria. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Roanoke in October average around 60°F (16°C), and Victoria averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Roanoke usually gets more rain in October than Victoria. Roanoke gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Roanoke or Victoria in the Winter?

Both Victoria and Roanoke are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Roanoke 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 Roanoke in the winter. In January, Roanoke is generally much colder than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Roanoke average around 38°F (3°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Victoria. In January, Roanoke usually receives less rain than Victoria. Roanoke gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Roanoke or Victoria in the Spring?

Both Victoria and Roanoke during the spring are popular places to visit.

Roanoke is much warmer than Victoria in the spring. The daily temperature in Roanoke averages around 59°F (15°C) in April, and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

Roanoke usually gets more rain in April than Victoria. Roanoke gets 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Victoria and Roanoke