A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Tampa vs. Bar Harbor for Food, Beaches, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Tampa or Bar Harbor?

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

Should I visit Tampa or Bar Harbor? 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.

Tampa

Tampa is a low-key, laid-back, and easy-going city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for food and beaches. See Tampa travel costs.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a quaint, charming, and picturesque coastal town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, Bar Harbor attracts visitors from all around. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Bar Harbor travel costs.

Tampa and Bar Harbor: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tampa or Bar Harbor?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Tampa than Bar Harbor, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Tampa is better known for its nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and big city activities, while Bar Harbor is more popular for its food, resorts, hiking, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Bar Harbor is more touristy than Tampa and is popular for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park. Tampa is well known for its amusement parks, wildlife parks, and popularity as a cruise ship port. Also, Tampa is famous for Busch Gardens.

How is Tampa different from Bar Harbor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is the Food Better in Tampa or Bar Harbor? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Tampa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Bar Harbor has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The town is famous for its Maine lobster, but there are also countless other types of fresh seafood available. You'll find waterfront restaurants with beautiful views and fresh ingredients.

Tampa offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are a surprising number of great local restaurants around town as well as a good food truck scene. Some favorite dishes include fresh caught seafood, Grouper sandwiches, and Cuban sandwiches.

Is Tampa or Bar Harbor Better for Nightlife?

Tampa is a moderate city for nightlife. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for nightlife and partying.

Most people don't head to Tampa specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. The city has some good nightclubs, sports bars, and other spots where locals enjoy spending the evening.

Bar Harbor doesn't offer many options. It's a peaceful and sleepy town, so you wont find much in the way of nightlife.

Is Tampa or Bar Harbor Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Tampa is not a resort destination.

Bar Harbor has a few great resort options. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Tampa is not a resort destination.

Is Tampa or Bar Harbor Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Tampa is a moderate city for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Bar Harbor is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Snorkeling is an option in Tampa. While the water isn't always the clearest, there are some nice snorkeling and diving spots in the area. Options include Shell Key and Egmont Key, Crystal River, and Fort De Soto.

Bar Harbor is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Tampa or Bar Harbor Better for Beaches?

Tampa is a well-known place for its beaches. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for the beach.

The beaches at Tampa attract visitors from all over. Popular beaches near Tampa include Ben T. Davis Beach, Fred Howard Park, and Indian Rocks Beach.

Bar Harbor offers a nice beach destination. A nice beach is close by but do note that the sand is very shelly and there is a big difference between high and low tides.

Is Tampa or Bar Harbor Better for Hiking?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Tampa is not a hiking destination.

Bar Harbor is a good destination for hiking. Nearby Acadia National Park has plenty of hiking options. There's also the Bar Harbor Shore Path that wanders along the coastline and offers beautiful views.

Tampa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Tampa or Bar Harbor?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bar Harbor. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Tampa or Bar Harbor More Beautiful?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Tampa is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Bar Harbor attracts visitors from all around. Surrounded by the water and beautiful landscaping, the town offers visitors plenty of beauty.

Tampa is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Tampa or Bar Harbor Better for Families?

Tampa is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Tampa is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of kid-oriented attractions including Busch Gardens Amusement Park, several kid-friendly museums, and a number of animal centers, aquariums, and wildlife rescue facilities.

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly city. It is a small town with a lot of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife spotting are all fun activities for all ages.

Is Tampa or Bar Harbor Better for Couples?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for couples. However, Tampa is lacking in options for romance.

Bar Harbor makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It is a quaint coastal town that is perfect for a couple's getaway or a short honeymoon. There are romantic restaurants, scenic walks, and beautiful views that make this a wonderful retreat.

Tampa is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The area does have great restaurants and some fun places to explore, but the downtown area has room for improvement and much of the city is suburban.

Is Tampa or Bar Harbor Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bar Harbor is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Tampa is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Bar Harbor. There is a free shuttle bus that will help you get around town if needed.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Tampa. There is the street car that runs from downtown Tampa to Ybor City and stops at 11 stations.

Is Tampa or Bar Harbor a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Tampa is lacking in options for its walkability.

Bar Harbor is a very walkable destination. The town is small enough that it's easily explored on foot.

Tampa is generally not very walkable. While there are some neighborhoods that are considered walkable, you really need a car if you hope to explore Tampa in depth.

For even more information, also check out Is Tampa Worth Visiting? and Is Bar Harbor Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bar Harbor or Tampa?

How long in Tampa or Bar Harbor?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Bar Harbor than Tampa. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bar Harbor that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bar Harbor than Tampa 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 Bar Harbor.

One day in Tampa or Bar Harbor?

With food around the laid-back city of Tampa, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Even though Bar Harbor is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Tampa or Bar Harbor?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bar Harbor. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Tampa or Bar Harbor?

Tampa, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bar Harbor is a fun place to experience. Bar Harbor is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Tampa or Bar Harbor?

Tampa 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.

Bar Harbor is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When comparing the travel costs between Tampa and Bar Harbor, we can see that Bar Harbor 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 Tampa Expensive? and Is Bar Harbor Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Tampa or Bar Harbor?

Tampa has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of Tampa and Bar Harbor, 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 Tampa or Bar Harbor?

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 Tampa or Bar Harbor in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Tampa as well as Bar Harbor. Many visitors come to Tampa in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Bar Harbor for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Tampa is a little warmer than Bar Harbor. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tampa in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Bar Harbor averages at about 69°F (21°C).

Tampa receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tampa usually gets more rain in July than Bar Harbor. Tampa gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tampa or Bar Harbor in the Autumn?

Both Bar Harbor and Tampa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Tampa for the city's sights and attractions during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Bar Harbor because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Tampa is generally much warmer than Bar Harbor. Daily temperatures in Tampa average around 75°F (24°C), and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In October, Tampa usually receives less rain than Bar Harbor. Tampa gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Tampa or Bar Harbor in the Winter?

Both Bar Harbor and Tampa during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Tampa because of the cuisine. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Bar Harbor this time of year.

It's quite cold in Bar Harbor in the winter. Tampa is much warmer than Bar Harbor in the winter. The daily temperature in Tampa averages around 60°F (15°C) in January, and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 18°F (-8°C).

Tampa usually gets less rain in January than Bar Harbor. Tampa gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tampa or Bar Harbor in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampa and Bar Harbor. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Tampa this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bar Harbor for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Tampa is much warmer than Bar Harbor. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tampa in April average around 71°F (22°C), and Bar Harbor averages at about 43°F (6°C).

In April, Tampa usually receives less rain than Bar Harbor. Tampa gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bar Harbor and Tampa