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

Should you visit Santa Barbara or Denver?

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

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Denver? 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 scenic, stunning, and wealthy coastal town. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. You'll find world class beauty in Santa Barbara as well. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Denver

Denver is a sprawling, park-filled, and suburban city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include skiing, nightlife, and hiking. See Denver travel costs.

Santa Barbara and Denver: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Barbara or Denver?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Barbara than Denver. While Denver is larger than Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Barbara is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Denver is known for its skiing. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Denver and is known for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also home to The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Denver is popular for serving as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains and the many national parks that are in the area.

How is Santa Barbara different from Denver?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Santa Barbara or Denver Better for Skiing?

Denver is a popular place for snow skiing. However, Santa Barbara is not a skiing destination.

Head to Denver for some great skiing and other winter activities. Although there's no skiing in the immediate area, there is a huge list of world class ski resorts within an hour or two of town. Two of the closest are Echo Mountain Resort and Loveland Ski Area.

Santa Barbara is not a skiing destination.

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

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Denver is not a good city for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Santa Barbara can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

While most people don't head to Denver specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Many people use Denver as a starting or ending point for their mountain and national park trip, but those who linger can visit some of the city's museums and sights. Popular museums include the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the History Colorado Center, and the Forney Museum of Transportation.

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

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Denver is not a good city for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit 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.

Denver may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. It's a pretty large city, so you'll find some nice local restaurants, but the foodie scene is still emerging in many neighborhoods. A number of restaurants offer outdoor seating, which is nice. You'll also find a growing selection of international restaurants. For something uniquely local, you should try the Bison steak and fried pickles.

Is Santa Barbara or Denver Better for Nightlife?

Both Santa Barbara and Denver are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Denver. The city has come a long way with its nightlife. There's a great craft beer scene and the downtown area has really come to life. Popular bars and clubs in town include the Grizzly Rose and 54Thirty Rooftop. Many places are concentrated in the Soco Nightlife District.

Is Santa Barbara or Denver Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its resorts. However, Denver is not a resort destination.

Santa Barbara is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. 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.

Denver is not a resort destination.

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

Santa Barbara is a moderate coastal town for its diving and snorkeling. However, Denver is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Snorkeling is an option in Santa Barbara. 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.

Denver is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Denver Better for Beaches?

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

The beaches in Santa Barbara are among the best in the world. 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.

Denver is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Denver Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, Denver does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Santa Barbara to see the old town. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Denver does not have a historic old town.

Is Santa Barbara or Denver Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is renowned for the nearby hiking options. Also, Denver is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its hiking trails.

Known for its hiking, Santa Barbara draws a crowd to experience the nature and the 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.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Denver. The city is very close to many beautiful parks and hiking areas in the Rocky Mountains. It's not hard to make a day trip from town and enjoy some great hiking. Nice options include the Trading Post Trail in Red Rocks Mountain Park, Bergen Peak near Evergreen, and Chimney Gulch Trail near the town of Golden.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Barbara or Denver?

Santa Barbara is renowned for its shopping opportunities. Also, Denver is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Santa Barbara make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Denver has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city has many outlet malls that budget shoppers appreciate. There are also weekend farmer's markets, boutique shopping areas, and all of the major chains that you'll find in most larger cities.

Is Santa Barbara or Denver More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is renowned for its scenery and beauty. However, Denver is not a destination known for its beauty.

You'll find world class beauty in Santa Barbara as well. 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.

Denver is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Santa Barbara or Denver Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Denver is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Barbara is a very kid-friendly coastal town. 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.

Denver is a family-friendly coastal town. It is a family-friendly city with museums, playgrounds, and plenty of outdoor activities. There are also a few ropes courses near town that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Popular activities include the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus.

Is Santa Barbara or Denver Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is renowned for its romantic activities. Also, Denver is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Santa Barbara has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Denver is a good coastal town for couples to visit. There are many beautiful and romantic outdoor activities in the area such as parks and botanical gardens. There are also spas, including the impressive Spa at the Brown Palace, as well as upscale restaurants and fun bars and clubs to explore.

Is Santa Barbara or Denver Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for students. Also, Denver is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town to visit as a student. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Plenty of students visit Denver. There are a few students in the city, but there isn't a college town vibe that you'd get at other nearby university areas.

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

Both Santa Barbara and Denver offer good public transit options.

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

Denver has some public transit options. If you're not planning to leave town, the light rail and bus systems offer good access to much of Denver.

Is Santa Barbara or Denver a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Denver is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

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

Denver is not a very walkable coastal town. While the downtown area is generally walkable, this is still a sprawling city where you'll really want to have a car to access areas outside of town.

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

Should I spend more time in Denver or Santa Barbara?

How long in Santa Barbara or Denver?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Santa Barbara and Denver. In our opinion, Santa Barbara has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Santa Barbara than Denver. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Denver. 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 Denver. 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 Denver 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 Denver?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Santa Barbara. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and skiing when visiting the accessible destination of Denver. 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 Denver?

Santa Barbara is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Denver. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Santa Barbara or Denver?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Barbara. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the park-filled destination of Denver. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

A week in Santa Barbara or Denver?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the pristine destination of Santa Barbara. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find shopping and skiing around the city of Denver. 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 Denver, we can see that Denver 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 Denver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Denver 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 Denver Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Barbara or Denver?

Denver has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Santa Barbara and Denver, 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.