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

Should you visit Santa Cruz or Victoria?

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

Should I visit Santa Cruz 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 Cruz

Santa Cruz is a laid back, coastal, and scenic town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

Victoria

Victoria is a scenic, relaxing, and cultural city. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and museums. See Victoria travel costs.

Santa Cruz and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Cruz or Victoria?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Cruz than Victoria. While Victoria is larger than Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Cruz is well known for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. Also, Santa Cruz is famous for Santa Cruz Wharf. Victoria is well known for its colonial buildings and public parks.

How is Santa Cruz different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Victoria 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 Victoria?

Both Santa Cruz and Victoria have notable 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.

Victoria offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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 Cruz or Victoria? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Santa Cruz and Victoria offer notable 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.

Victoria has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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 Cruz or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for its evening party scene. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

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.

Victoria has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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 Cruz or Victoria Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for the beach. However, Victoria is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Santa Cruz for it's beautiful beaches. 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.

Victoria is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Cruz or Victoria Better for Hiking?

If you're looking to go hiking, Santa Cruz and Victoria both have notable trails.

Santa Cruz is a good destination for hiking. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Many people include a hike when visiting Victoria. 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 Cruz or Victoria?

Both Santa Cruz and Victoria are notable 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 Victoria. There are plenty of larger shopping malls as well as local boutiques and farmer's markets.

Is Santa Cruz or Victoria Better for Families?

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

Santa Cruz is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Victoria is very family-friendly. 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 Cruz or Victoria Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Santa Cruz and Victoria make for a superb place to visit.

Santa Cruz is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

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.

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

Both Santa Cruz and Victoria are notable 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.

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

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

Both Santa Cruz and Victoria offer respectable public transit options.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Victoria. While there are buses, it's best not to count on them because they're not particularly reliable.

Is Santa Cruz or Victoria a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is an amazing town to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its 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.

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 Cruz Worth Visiting? and Is Victoria Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Victoria or Santa Cruz?

How long in Santa Cruz or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either Santa Cruz or Victoria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Victoria due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Santa Cruz, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

Families should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Victoria. 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 Victoria. 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 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 Cruz.

One day in Santa Cruz or Victoria?

The town of Santa Cruz offers food and shopping. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

With museums and nightlife around the relaxing city of Victoria, 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 Victoria?

Santa Cruz is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Santa Cruz, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Victoria, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Santa Cruz or Victoria?

Santa Cruz 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.

Victoria, 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 Victoria?

Santa Cruz is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

Victoria 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 Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

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

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 Victoria Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Victoria?

Victoria has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 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 Cruz or Victoria in the Summer?

Both Victoria and Santa Cruz during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Victoria because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Santa Cruz is generally a little warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Santa Cruz average around 67°F (19°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Santa Cruz usually gets less rain in July than Victoria. Santa Cruz gets 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Victoria in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Cruz and Victoria. The autumn months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Victoria this time of year.

Santa Cruz is much warmer than Victoria in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santa Cruz averages around 63°F (17°C) in October, and Victoria fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In October, Santa Cruz usually receives less rain than Victoria. Santa Cruz gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Santa Cruz as well as Victoria. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Victoria for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Victoria. In the winter, Santa Cruz is much warmer than Victoria. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santa Cruz in January average around 51°F (10°C), and Victoria averages at about 5°C (41°F).

It's quite rainy in Victoria. Santa Cruz usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Santa Cruz gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Victoria in the Spring?

Both Victoria and Santa Cruz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches.

In April, Santa Cruz is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Santa Cruz average around 58°F (14°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In April, Santa Cruz usually receives less rain than Victoria. Santa Cruz gets 1 inches (26 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Victoria and Santa Cruz