A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Tampa vs. Greenville for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Tampa or Greenville?

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

Should I visit Tampa or Greenville? 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 easy-going, low-key, and laid-back city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food and beaches. See Tampa travel costs.

Greenville

Greenville is a hospitable, southern, and welcoming city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Greenville travel costs.

Tampa and Greenville: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tampa or Greenville?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Tampa than Greenville. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Tampa is very popular for its food, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and big city activities, while Greenville attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, nightlife, and shopping. Tampa is more touristy than Greenville and is known for its amusement parks, wildlife parks, and popularity as a cruise ship port. It is also well known for Busch Gardens. Greenville is famous for its outdoor spaces and its growing arts scene.

How is Tampa different from Greenville?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Tampa or Greenville?

Greenville is a popular place for its museums and history. However, Tampa does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Greenville. Museums focus on art, history, and science. Notable museums in town include the Greenville County Museum of Art, the Upcountry History Museum, and the Sigal Music Museum.

Tampa does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Tampa is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Greenville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Tampa is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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.

Greenville offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The food scene is growing and the farm-to-table movement is apparent here, but the city is still often overlooked by foodies in the area.

Is Tampa or Greenville Better for Nightlife?

Greenville is a popular place for its evening party scene. However, Tampa is lacking in options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Greenville. Bars, breweries, and low key clubs are what drive the city's nightlife scene. There are both piano bars and live music venues that often lean towards the local country classics.

Tampa is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. The city has some good nightclubs, sports bars, and other spots where locals enjoy spending the evening.

Is Tampa or Greenville Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Tampa is adequate for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Greenville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are few places where you can go snorkeling 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.

Greenville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Tampa or Greenville Better for Beaches?

Tampa is a great city for the beach. However, Greenville is not a beach destination.

Tampa is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. Popular beaches near Tampa include Ben T. Davis Beach, Fred Howard Park, and Indian Rocks Beach.

Greenville is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Tampa or Greenville?

Greenville is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Greenville has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find upscale shopping in the city's downtown and sprawling shopping malls in other neighborhoods. There are plenty of name brand stores where you can pick up the latest style.

Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Tampa or Greenville Better for Families?

Tampa is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Greenville is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Tampa. 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.

Greenville is a family-friendly place to visit. There are many local families in town, so you'll find all kinds of kid-friendly activities to enjoy. Paris Mountain State Park is a popular place where everyone can run around. Falls Park on the Reedy River also has walking trails and is in the city's historic district. There's also a children's theater and plenty of playgrounds around town.

Is Tampa or Greenville Better for Couples?

Neither Tampa or Greenville is generally regarded as a top spot for a couple to visit.

Tampa is not always the best place to visit for a couple. 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.

Greenville is not the best destination for a couple to visit. You can take the free trolley down Main Street and then enjoy a meal at one of the local restaurants.

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

Greenville 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 Greenville. There are free trolleys that make their way around the downtown neighborhoods.

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 Greenville a more walkable city?

Tampa and Greenville are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

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

Greenville is generally not very walkable. The downtown area is surprisingly walkable, but like most cities in the area, you need a car to make the most of your visit.

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

Should I spend more time in Greenville or Tampa?

How long in Tampa or Greenville?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Tampa or Greenville to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Tampa than Greenville because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Tampa, and 1-2 days is enough time in Greenville.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Greenville 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 Greenville.

One day in Tampa or Greenville?

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.

In Greenville, many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping that this southern destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Tampa or Greenville?

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 Greenville. 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 Greenville?

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.

Greenville is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Greenville. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Tampa or Greenville?

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.

You'll find nightlife and shopping around the hospitable destination of Greenville. 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tampa and Greenville, we can see that Tampa is more expensive. And not only is Greenville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Greenville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Greenville 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 Tampa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tampa than you might in Greenville.

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

Which is Bigger, Tampa or Greenville?

Tampa has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Greenville. When comparing the sizes of Tampa and Greenville, 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.