A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Santa Barbara vs. Aspen for Food, Hiking, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Santa Barbara or Aspen?

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

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Aspen? 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.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a pristine, affluent, and scenic coastal town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. The famous beauty of Santa Barbara is one of the main draws. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Aspen

Aspen is a quaint, vibrant, and artsy ski town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. With stunning beauty, Aspen attracts visitors from all around. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include live music, food, and hiking. See Aspen travel costs.

Santa Barbara and Aspen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Barbara or Aspen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santa Barbara. Although Santa Barbara and Aspen are popular destinations, Santa Barbara has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Barbara is very popular for its museums and attractions, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Aspen attracts visitors for its skiing, food, nightlife, music, christmas markets, and small town charm. Santa Barbara is famous for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also well known for The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Aspen is famous for its world-class skiing, many food, film, and music festivals, and its stunning mountain hikes.

How is Santa Barbara different from Aspen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Skiing?

Aspen is renowned for snow skiing. However, Santa Barbara is not a skiing destination.

If you're an avid snow skiier, Aspen should be on your list. Near the town, there are 4 separate ski resorts. In town you'll find Aspen Mountain, which is known for it's black-diamond runs. Aspen Highlands, a couple miles away, has a mix of slopes and is less crowded. Buttermilk attracts many freestyle skiers and Aspen Snowmass is considered one of the best family-friendly ski areas.

Santa Barbara is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Barbara or Aspen?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Aspen does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Aspen does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Santa Barbara or Aspen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Aspen is renowned for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Aspen is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The town hosts many food festivals and there is a growing selection of diverse restaurants. In town you'll find cafes and restaurants that cater to both the local crowd and the travelers who flock to the area during peak seasons.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Santa Barbara. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Nightlife?

Aspen is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for nightlife.

Aspen offers plenty to do in the evening. The people in Aspen know how to have a good time. The nightlife scene includes craft beer, live music, and dancing. There's a local vibe, particularly during the off-season times when the tourist crowds are less.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Music?

Aspen is a well-known place for its music scene. However, Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Aspen is very popular with diverse venues. Popular music venues in town include Silver City Mountain Saloon and Belly Up Aspen.

Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara and Aspen offer a relatively similar set of excellent luxury resort options.

Santa Barbara is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Aspen. Popular resorts in the area include The Little Nell, Hotel Jerome, and St. Regis Aspen.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a coastal town with a few options for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Aspen is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Santa Barbara has a few snorkeling spots. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Aspen is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is renowned for the beach. However, Aspen is not a beach destination.

Santa Barbara is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Aspen is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a coastal town with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Aspen does not have a historic old town.

Santa Barbara offers a nice historic old town area. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Aspen does not have a historic old town.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is renowned for its hiking experiences. Also, Aspen is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

Around Santa Barbara visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Many visitors go to Aspen for the hiking trails. During the summer and fall seasons, hiking is a great way to explore Aspen's nearby beauty. Popular trails include the Ute Trail, the Lost Man Trail, and the famous Maroon Bells Scenic Trail.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Barbara or Aspen?

Santa Barbara is renowned for its shopping areas. Also, Aspen is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Santa Barbara is a world class destination for shoppers. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Aspen. There are many great local shops and art galleries where you can pick interesting items or fine art.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is renowned for its scenery and beauty. Also, Aspen is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

The famous beauty of Santa Barbara is one of the main draws. The city is beautifully situated right by the ocean and offers stunning views and and an amazing setting. It is also filled with opulent houses and grand estates, giving it an air of grandeur.

Aspen is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Surrounded by the mountains and set amongst a beautiful natural setting, this town will take your breath away.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Aspen is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Barbara is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Aspen offers lots of family activities. Families that enjoy skiing together, hiking, rock climbing, and having adventures will enjoy a visit to this town. Aspen Mountain is not a great option for beginning skiers, but further away, Aspen Snowmass offers good beginner slopes.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is renowned for couples. Also, Aspen is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Aspen is a great coastal town if you're traveling as a couple. Aspen is both a popular ski destination as well as an established town. There are many great restaurants and activities that couples can enjoy and the setting is cute and very scenic, making it a beautiful and romantic destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for students. However, Aspen is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Santa Barbara. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Aspen is not popular with students.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Santa Barbara and Aspen offer nice public transit options.

Santa Barbara has a few public transit options. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Aspen has some public transit options. There are several shuttle buses around the town.

Is Santa Barbara or Aspen a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara and Aspen both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable destination. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

Aspen is very walkable. The town is compact enough that it can be explored on foot. If you're planning to head into the mountains to hike, you'll likely need a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting? and Is Aspen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Aspen or Santa Barbara?

How long in Santa Barbara or Aspen?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Aspen 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 Santa Barbara.

One day in Santa Barbara or Aspen?

In Santa Barbara, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this stunning destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Even though Aspen is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Santa Barbara or Aspen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Barbara. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Aspen. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Five days in Santa Barbara or Aspen?

Santa Barbara is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Santa Barbara. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Aspen is a small town with plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This ski town offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A week in Santa Barbara or Aspen?

You'll find food and shopping around the scenic destination of Santa Barbara. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Aspen is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

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 Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Barbara Expensive? and Is Aspen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Barbara or Aspen?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Aspen. When comparing the sizes of Santa Barbara and Aspen, 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.