A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Barbara vs. Victoria for Hiking, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Santa Barbara or Victoria?

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

Should I visit Santa Barbara 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.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a stunning, wealthy, and opulent coastal town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Santa Barbara is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Victoria

Victoria is a cultural, scenic, and relaxing city. Other popular activities here include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Victoria travel costs.

Santa Barbara and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Barbara or Victoria?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Barbara than Victoria. While Victoria is larger than Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara has more sights and attractions for tourists. 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. Victoria is famous for its colonial buildings and public parks.

How is Santa Barbara different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Santa Barbara 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 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.

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 Santa Barbara or Victoria? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Santa Barbara has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

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 Santa Barbara or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

Both Santa Barbara and Victoria are nice 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 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 Santa Barbara or Victoria Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Victoria is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Santa Barbara to choose from. 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.

Victoria is not a resort destination.

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

Santa Barbara is a decent place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Victoria is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's possible to go snorkeling 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.

Victoria is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Victoria Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for the beach. However, Victoria is not a beach destination.

Santa Barbara offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around 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.

Victoria is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Victoria Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a good destination for its historic old town charm. However, Victoria does not have a historic old town.

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

Victoria does not have a historic old town.

Is Santa Barbara or Victoria Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its hiking trails. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Santa Barbara is well-known for its hiking and trekking. 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.

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 Santa Barbara or Victoria?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Santa Barbara specifically to go shopping. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

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

Is Santa Barbara or Victoria More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Victoria is not a destination known for its beauty.

Santa Barbara is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. 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.

Victoria is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Santa Barbara or Victoria Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Santa Barbara or Victoria.

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.

Victoria is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Is Santa Barbara or Victoria Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for couples. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Santa Barbara is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Couples visit Victoria frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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 Santa Barbara or Victoria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Victoria is a popular place for backpackers. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Victoria. There are a few hostels around town that attract the backpacker and budget traveler crowd.

Santa Barbara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city isn't really known as a budget friendly destination, but there are a couple of hostels in the area. There's also a large student population with a fun nightlife scene.

Is Santa Barbara or Victoria Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Victoria is not popular with students.

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

Victoria is not popular with students.

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

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

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

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 Santa Barbara or Victoria a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara and Victoria both are superb when exploring on foot.

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

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

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

Should I spend more time in Victoria or Santa Barbara?

How long in Santa Barbara or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

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

The beautiful coastal town of Santa Barbara offers food and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Victoria. 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 Victoria?

Santa Barbara is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this coastal town makes for a great vacation. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Santa Barbara, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Victoria. 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 Victoria?

Santa Barbara 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the relaxing destination of Victoria. 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 Victoria?

Santa Barbara 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 coastal town offers something for everyone.

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Victoria. 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 Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

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

Which is Bigger, Santa Barbara or Victoria?

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

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Victoria in the Summer?

Both Victoria and Santa Barbara during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, 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.

Santa Barbara is a little warmer than Victoria in the summer. The daily temperature in Santa Barbara averages around 65°F (19°C) in July, and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Santa Barbara usually gets less rain in July than Victoria. Santa Barbara gets 0 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Victoria in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Barbara and Victoria. The autumn months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Victoria this time of year.

In the autumn, Santa Barbara is much warmer than Victoria. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santa Barbara in October average around 62°F (17°C), and Victoria averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In October, Santa Barbara usually receives less rain than Victoria. Santa Barbara gets 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Santa Barbara as well as Victoria. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Barbara 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. In January, Santa Barbara is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Santa Barbara average around 52°F (11°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

It's quite rainy in Victoria. Santa Barbara usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Santa Barbara gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Victoria in the Spring?

Both Victoria and Santa Barbara are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

Santa Barbara is a little warmer than Victoria in the spring. The daily temperature in Santa Barbara averages around 57°F (14°C) in April, and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In April, Santa Barbara usually receives less rain than Victoria. Santa Barbara gets 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Victoria and Santa Barbara