A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Saint Augustine vs. Santa Fe for Old Town, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Saint Augustine or Santa Fe?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saint Augustine or Santa Fe, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is a colonial, historic, and notable city. Saint Augustine offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Saint Augustine travel costs.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a historic, charming, and artsy historic town. Santa Fe is a gorgeous place to visit. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for skiing, live music, and food. See Santa Fe travel costs.

Saint Augustine and Santa Fe: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Augustine or Santa Fe?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Santa Fe than Saint Augustine, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Santa Fe is better known for its skiing, music, hiking, and quaint atmosphere, while Saint Augustine is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, beaches, and historical sights. Saint Augustine is more touristy than Santa Fe and is popular for being the oldest consistently inhabited city in the United States. Santa Fe is well known for its strong arts scene, its Pueblo-style architecture, and its unique local cuisine. Also, Santa Fe is famous for The Museum of New Mexico Complex.

How is Saint Augustine different from Santa Fe?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe Better for Skiing?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for winter skiing. However, Saint Augustine is not a skiing destination.

Santa Fe is a great destination for skiing with plenty areas to explore. There are a few good ski resorts not far from Santa Fe. Popular options include Taos Ski Valley, Ski Santa Fe, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, and Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort.

Saint Augustine is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint Augustine or Santa Fe?

Saint Augustine is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Saint Augustine specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. It's history is brought to life with many monuments and museums. The Lightner Museum, the Old Jail Museum, the Lincolnville Museum, and Castillo De San Marcos are among the city's most notable sights. Also worth a visit is the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.

Santa Fe is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Head to the Museum of New Mexico Complex, which has four museums that give a great overview of the history of the area. Also make sure you visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.

Is the Food Better in Saint Augustine or Santa Fe? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Saint Augustine and Santa Fe offer excellent local cuisine and restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Saint Augustine makes for a great culinary experience. The food scene is influenced by the long history of the city. You'll find flavors that are influenced by Spanish, African, and Native American cultures. There are several popular dishes around town such as fried shrimp, clam chowder, and shrimp and grits.

Santa Fe has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are many local restaurants that use regional ingredients and offer great flavors. There are also cafes and bistros where you can enjoy breakfast or brunch. Local dishes include sopaipillas made with Native American fry bread, slow-cooked beans, and anything made with red and green chili peppers.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe Better for Nightlife?

Saint Augustine is very good for its evening party scene. However, Santa Fe is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Saint Augustine has a few options to choose from. There are wineries, pubs, live music venues, and a number of activities that take advantage of the outdoor setting.

Most people don't head to Santa Fe specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. While most of the town quiets down at night, the city has a few areas that stay active late into the night. Live music is popular and diverse. It often includes different genres such as the blues, country, salsa or bluegrass.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe Better for Music?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for live music. However, Saint Augustine is not a live music destination.

The music scene helps keep Santa Fe active and fun. The town has an eclectic music scene that includes a mix of the blues, country, Latin American music, and bluegrass.

Saint Augustine is not a live music destination.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe Better for Beaches?

Saint Augustine is a great city for the beach. However, Santa Fe is not a beach destination.

Saint Augustine is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. Head to the beach to relax and swim. There are miles of sandy beach nearby, with some of the most popular being Ponte Vedra Beach, known for its golf courses, Vilano Beach, with its charming atmosphere, and the scenic Anastasia State Park.

Santa Fe is not a beach destination.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe Better for its Old Town?

Saint Augustine is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for its historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Saint Augustine offers plenty to see. As the longest running, continuously occupied city in the United States, the Historic Downtown is at the heart of the city. It's filled with quaint restaurants, historic hotels, and charming streets. You can take carriage rides or wander through the historic sites. Many of the buildings date back to the 1700s and offer a glimpse into Florida's past.

Many visitors go to Santa Fe to see the historical old town. As the 2nd oldest city in the United States, the old town historic district is filled with charm. The Pueblo-style buildings are brightly colored and there are churches throughout.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe Better for Hiking?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for its hiking experiences. However, Saint Augustine is not a hiking destination.

Santa Fe has hiking trails worth exploring. Because it's located right by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there are many beautiful hikes right outside of town. Popular trails include the Picacho Peak Trail and the Nambe Lake Trail. Bandelier National also has many places to hike.

Saint Augustine is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Augustine or Santa Fe?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Santa Fe and Saint Augustine.

Saint Augustine is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The Historic Downtown has unique art galleries and boutiques. St. George Street is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir and Aviles Street is the oldest street in the United States. It's also filled with artisan boutiques. Plaza de la Constitución is known for its long running public market and it often has live entertainment.

Santa Fe is well-known for its shopping. There are many unique shops and art galleries that feature local artists and craftsmen.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe More Beautiful?

Saint Augustine and Santa Fe both are comparable with their notable scenery and beauty.

Saint Augustine is a gorgeous place to visit. Colonial architecture and a charming atmosphere give this historic town a unique beauty.

Santa Fe is a beautiful place to visit, too. This cultural city has a unique beauty that is hard to find anywhere else.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe Better for Families?

Saint Augustine is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Saint Augustine. Kids will love the Alligator Farm but there's also a surprisingly fascinating archaeological park - The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. The Colonial Quarter is fun for all ages as well, as is a visit to Fort Castillo De San Marcos. If you have some time, head outside of town to the Marineland Dolphin Adventure, which is well worth the trip.

Santa Fe is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a few kids' museums in Santa Fe including the Santa Fe Children's Museum and the Meow Wolf Art Complex. Kids also enjoy the botanical gardens at Museum Hill and Bandelier National Monument just outside of the city.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe Better for Couples?

Saint Augustine is a great city for couples. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for romance.

Saint Augustine is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The Ancient City has a charm that is unique in Florida. There is beautiful architecture and a historical atmosphere that is romantic and genuine. You can enjoy a carriage ride and then sample some local cuisine before heading to the beach.

Santa Fe is a nice destination for couples. There are many romantic inns around town, each with a lot of character. The town also has a lot of atmosphere that makes for a romantic getaway.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe Better for Students?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for students. However, Saint Augustine is not popular with students.

Santa Fe is popular with students. There are a few colleges and universities in town and students will appreciate the reasonable cost of living and outdoor activities nearby.

Saint Augustine is not popular with students.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Saint Augustine and Santa Fe.

Public transit is generally limited in Saint Augustine. The Old Town Trolley travels through the historic center. There's also a bus service through the region, but you really need a private vehicle to explore everything.

Public transit is mostly limited in Santa Fe. There is a bus system - the Santa Fe Trails Bus Service.

Is Saint Augustine or Santa Fe a more walkable city?

Saint Augustine and Santa Fe both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Saint Augustine is very walkable. It's one of the more walkable cities in the area. Downtown, Uptown, and even near the beach have accessible areas with sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly zones.

Santa Fe is a very walkable city. The historic district is walkable and it's easy to visit most of the tourist sights in this area on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Saint Augustine Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Fe Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Fe or Saint Augustine?

How long in Saint Augustine or Santa Fe?

In either Saint Augustine or Santa Fe, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Santa Fe than Saint Augustine because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-4 days is a good amount of time for Saint Augustine, and 2-5 days is enough time in Santa Fe.

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

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

One day in Saint Augustine or Santa Fe?

The city of Saint Augustine offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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.

The cultural destination of Santa Fe offers live music and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Saint Augustine or Santa Fe?

Saint Augustine is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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.

The historic town of Santa Fe offers food and shopping. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Saint Augustine or Santa Fe?

Saint Augustine 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.

Santa Fe is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. This historic town offers something for everyone. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Saint Augustine or Santa Fe?

Saint Augustine is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and skiing when visiting Santa Fe. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Saint Augustine and Santa Fe, we can see that Saint Augustine 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 Saint Augustine Expensive? and Is Santa Fe Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Augustine or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Saint Augustine. When comparing the sizes of Saint Augustine and Santa Fe, 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.