A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Cruz vs. Halifax for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Santa Cruz or Halifax?

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

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Halifax? 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 Cruz

Santa Cruz is a coastal, scenic, and laid back town. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

Halifax

Halifax is a cultural, historical, and friendly city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Halifax travel costs.

Santa Cruz and Halifax: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Cruz or Halifax?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Cruz than Halifax. While Halifax is larger than Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Cruz is more touristy than Halifax and is popular for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. It is also home to Santa Cruz Wharf. Halifax is popular for its maritime past.

How is Santa Cruz different from Halifax?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Cruz or Halifax?

Both Santa Cruz and Halifax have good landmarks and museums for visitors.

Santa Cruz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

Halifax offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You should head to Pier 21, where you'll find the Canadian Museum of Immigration. The Discovery Center is a great spot for kids, as is the Natural History Museum. Finally, check out the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.

Is the Food Better in Santa Cruz or Halifax? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Santa Cruz and Halifax offer good local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Cruz offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

Halifax has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find lobster rolls and other seafood around town, but also make sure you try the Halifax donair, which is a shaved beef sandwich wrap that can be found a many pizza restaurants.

Is Santa Cruz or Halifax Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Santa Cruz has a large number of nightlife venues. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

Halifax has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There's a laid back atmosphere to the nightlife scene. There are casual bars and pubs where you can meet the locals and a few nightclubs where there's a relaxed but fun atmosphere.

Is Santa Cruz or Halifax Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for its beaches. However, Halifax is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Santa Cruz. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

Halifax is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Cruz or Halifax Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is a nice place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Halifax is not a hiking destination.

Santa Cruz has hiking trails worth exploring. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Halifax is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Cruz or Halifax?

Both Santa Cruz and Halifax are good shopping destinations.

Santa Cruz is a great destination for shopping. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Halifax. You'll find a mix of boutiques, artisan shops, large malls, and shopping centers.

Is Santa Cruz or Halifax Better for Families?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Santa Cruz is a very family-friendly destination. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Halifax. There are a handful of kid-friendly museums like the Museum of Natural History. Kids will also appreciate a visit to the Discovery Center or stretching their legs at Point Pleasant Park. History lovers should go see the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.

Is Santa Cruz or Halifax Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for romance. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Santa Cruz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

Halifax makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples can wander down the waterfront or take a stroll through Point Pleasant Park. The city also has number of romantic restaurants and hotels.

Is Santa Cruz or Halifax Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Santa Cruz and Halifax are good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Santa Cruz. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

Halifax is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's actually a decent number of hostels around town for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Halifax is a popular place for its public transit. However, Santa Cruz is a mediocre town for times when you don't have a car.

Halifax has a few public transit options. There are buses around town as well as a ferry to Dartmouth.

Public transit is mostly limited in Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Santa Cruz or Halifax a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is renowned for its walkability. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Santa Cruz. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

Halifax is a somewhat walkable place. It's a compact town that's relatively easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Santa Cruz Worth Visiting? and Is Halifax Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Halifax or Santa Cruz?

How long in Santa Cruz or Halifax?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Santa Cruz and Halifax. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Halifax than in Santa Cruz. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Santa Cruz, and 2-3 days is enough time in Halifax.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Halifax 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 Cruz.

One day in Santa Cruz or Halifax?

In Santa Cruz, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

With museums and nightlife around the friendly city of Halifax, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Santa Cruz or Halifax?

In Santa Cruz, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Cruz has to offer.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Halifax, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Santa Cruz or Halifax?

Santa Cruz is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Halifax, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Santa Cruz or Halifax?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Cruz. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Cruz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Halifax is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.

When comparing the travel costs between Santa Cruz and Halifax, we can see that Santa Cruz 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 Cruz Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Halifax?

Halifax has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and Halifax, 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 Cruz or Halifax?

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 Cruz or Halifax in the Summer?

Both Halifax and Santa Cruz during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Halifax in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Santa Cruz is around the same temperature as Halifax in the summer. The daily temperature in Santa Cruz averages around 67°F (19°C) in July, and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Santa Cruz usually gets less rain in July than Halifax. Santa Cruz gets 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Halifax in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Cruz and Halifax. Many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to Halifax for the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Santa Cruz is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santa Cruz in October average around 63°F (17°C), and Halifax averages at about 10°C (49°F).

Halifax receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Santa Cruz usually receives less rain than Halifax. Santa Cruz gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Halifax in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Santa Cruz as well as Halifax. Most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Halifax because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Halifax can be very cold. In January, Santa Cruz is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Santa Cruz average around 51°F (10°C), and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).

It's quite rainy in Halifax. Santa Cruz usually gets less rain in January than Halifax. Santa Cruz gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Halifax in the Spring?

Both Halifax and Santa Cruz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the beaches.

It's quite cold in Halifax in the spring. Santa Cruz is much warmer than Halifax in the spring. The daily temperature in Santa Cruz averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. In April, Santa Cruz usually receives less rain than Halifax. Santa Cruz gets 1 inches (26 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Halifax and Santa Cruz