A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salt Lake City vs. Victoria for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Salt Lake City or Victoria?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Salt Lake City and Victoria can help you decide which place is right for you.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a notable, religious, and architectural city. It's also popular because of the scuba diving and snorkeling, hiking, and shopping. See Salt Lake City travel costs.

Victoria

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

Salt Lake City and Victoria: Pros and Cons

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

Visitors will generally find more to do in Salt Lake City than Victoria. While Victoria is larger than Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Salt Lake City is very popular for its museums and attractions and scuba diving & snorkeling, while Victoria attracts visitors for its nightlife. Salt Lake City is famous for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. It is also well known for Temple Square. Victoria is famous for its colonial buildings and public parks.

How is Salt Lake City different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Salt Lake City is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Salt Lake City. 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.

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 Salt Lake City or Victoria? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Salt Lake City is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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.

Victoria offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find tons of fresh seafood around town. Make sure you try to the Dungeness crab, wild caught salmon, and fish chowder.

Is Salt Lake City or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

Victoria is very good for its evening party scene. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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.

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 Salt Lake City or Victoria Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is a good destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Victoria 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.

Victoria is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Salt Lake City or Victoria Better for Hiking?

You'll find nice hiking in both Salt Lake City and Victoria.

Many people include a hike when visiting Salt Lake City. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.

Victoria has hiking trails worth exploring. 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 Salt Lake City or Victoria?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Salt Lake City and Victoria.

Salt Lake City has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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.

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

Is Salt Lake City or Victoria Better for Families?

Victoria is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake City or Victoria Better for Couples?

Victoria is a very popular place for couples. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

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.

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 Salt Lake City or Victoria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Victoria is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for backpackers.

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

Salt Lake City is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels in town, but most backpackers overlook this destination or breeze through town quickly.

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

Salt Lake City is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Victoria is lacking in good options for its public transit.

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.

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 Salt Lake City or Victoria a more walkable city?

Victoria is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for its walkability.

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

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 Salt Lake City Worth Visiting? and Is Victoria Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Salt Lake City or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either Salt Lake City or Victoria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Victoria due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Salt Lake City, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

Families should spend more time in Victoria than Salt Lake City. 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 Salt Lake 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 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 Victoria.

One day in Salt Lake City or Victoria?

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.

In Victoria, you'll find museums and nightlife. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Salt Lake City or Victoria?

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.

Victoria is a great place to explore. Anyone can find something fun to do here. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Salt Lake City or Victoria?

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.

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

A week in Salt Lake City or Victoria?

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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Victoria. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salt Lake City and Victoria, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is Victoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Victoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Victoria 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 Victoria.

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

Which is Bigger, Salt Lake City or Victoria?

Victoria has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Salt Lake City. When comparing the sizes of Salt Lake 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.