A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Monica vs. Victoria for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Santa Monica or Victoria?

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

Should I visit Santa Monica 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 Monica

Santa Monica is a lively, funfilled, and energetic town. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping. See Santa Monica travel costs.

Victoria

Victoria is a relaxing, cultural, and scenic city. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Victoria travel costs.

Santa Monica and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Monica or Victoria?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Monica than Victoria. While Victoria is larger than Santa Monica, Santa Monica has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Monica is more popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Victoria is known for its hiking. Santa Monica is more touristy than Victoria and is popular for its active lifestyle and fun-filled activities. It is also home to the Santa Monica Pier. Victoria is popular for its colonial buildings and public parks.

How is Santa Monica different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Santa Monica and Victoria.

Santa Monica offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There's a thriving arts scene and a number of museums around town. Check out the Museum of Flying, the California Heritage Museum, or the Santa Monica History Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Victoria. 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 Monica or Victoria? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Santa Monica has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. You'll find a diversity of restaurants in the area, many of which make use of the town's many farmer's markets. The restaurant scene has a beachy vibe with a lot of outdoor dining opportunities. There are also a range of cuisines to choose from such as Mexican, Italian, casual, and upscale.

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 Monica or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

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

Santa Monica has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a relaxed and laid back vibe to the nightlife scene. Many venues offer outdoor seating and live music in a casual setting. You can hang out on a patio and enjoy the California climate while you sip cold drinks and the beach town atmosphere.

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 Monica or Victoria Better for Beaches?

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

Santa Monica offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. Santa Monica Beach is large and lined with bike trails. It's also filled with activity and you'll find many water sports, beach volleyball, and surfing in the area. There's also the famous Santa Monica Pier, which has an amusement park aquarium, Ferris wheal, dining, and shopping.

Victoria is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Monica or Victoria Better for Hiking?

Victoria is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Santa Monica is not a hiking destination.

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.

Santa Monica is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Monica or Victoria?

Santa Monica is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Santa Monica. It's easy to pass the time shopping in Santa Monica. There are independent vendors, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. Head to Montana Avenue or Main Street for some of the best shopping.

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 Monica or Victoria Better for Families?

Santa Monica is an amazing town to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Santa Monica is very family-friendly. Many families spend their days hanging out on the beaches, soaking up the sun, and even trying to surf. There's a boardwalk as well as bike paths that are perfect for people watching. You should also check out the Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, which is a thrilling amusement park.

Victoria is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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 Monica or Victoria Better for Couples?

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

Santa Monica is a very popular place to visit for couples. Fun days on the beach, peaceful walks at sunset, and a wild nightlife scene make this the perfect couples destination for couples who enjoy activity and excitement.

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 Monica or Victoria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Santa Monica and Victoria are good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Santa Monica. There's no shortage of activities in the area, whether you're into surfing, partying, or sunbathing. There's also at least one hostel that's great for budget travelers and backpackers.

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

Santa Monica is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Victoria is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Santa Monica. The Metro E Line connects the city to downtown Los Angeles. There's also the Big Blue Bus as well the Santa Monica Circuit, which are small electric carts that offer free rides between Wilshire Boulevard and Marine Street, and from the ocean to Fifth Street.

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 Monica or Victoria a more walkable city?

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

Santa Monica is a very walkable town. The city is very walkable, particularly in the more touristy areas.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Victoria or Santa Monica?

How long in Santa Monica or Victoria?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Monica 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 Monica.

One day in Santa Monica or Victoria?

The town of Santa Monica 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.

In Victoria, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this cultural city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Santa Monica or Victoria?

Santa Monica 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 Monica, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Victoria is a fun place to experience. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring.

Five days in Santa Monica or Victoria?

Santa Monica is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Victoria. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

A week in Santa Monica or Victoria?

Santa Monica is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. 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 to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santa Monica or Victoria?

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

Both Victoria and Santa Monica during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Santa Monica for the beaches 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 the summer, Santa Monica is a little warmer than Victoria. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Monica in July average around 70°F (21°C), and Victoria averages at about 16°C (60°F).

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

Should I visit Santa Monica or Victoria in the Autumn?

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

In October, Santa Monica is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Santa Monica average around 67°F (20°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In October, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Victoria. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santa Monica or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Santa Monica as well as Victoria. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Monica 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. Santa Monica is much warmer than Victoria in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Monica averages around 57°F (14°C) in January, and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

It's quite rainy in Victoria. Santa Monica usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Santa Monica gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Monica or Victoria in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Santa Monica is much warmer than Victoria. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Monica in April average around 61°F (16°C), and Victoria averages at about 10°C (49°F).

In April, Santa Monica usually receives less rain than Victoria. Santa Monica gets 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Victoria and Santa Monica