A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Virginia Beach vs. Santa Fe for Food, Families, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Virginia Beach or Santa Fe?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Virginia Beach or Santa Fe, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a fun-filled, relaxing, and bustling coastal city. Virginia Beach offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the nightlife and beaches. See Virginia Beach travel costs.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a charming, artsy, and cultural historic town. Santa Fe is a beautiful place to visit, too. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the live music, food, and hiking. See Santa Fe travel costs.

Virginia Beach and Santa Fe: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Virginia Beach or Santa Fe?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Fe than Virginia Beach. While Virginia Beach is larger than Santa Fe, Santa Fe has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Fe is more popular for its skiing, museums and attractions, food, music, historical sights, hiking, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Virginia Beach is known for its nightlife, resorts, and beaches. Virginia Beach is popular for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe. Santa Fe is popular for its strong arts scene, its Pueblo-style architecture, and its unique local cuisine. It is also home to The Museum of New Mexico Complex.

How is Virginia Beach different from Santa Fe?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for Skiing?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for skiing. However, Virginia Beach is not a skiing destination.

For winter sports and skiing, Santa Fe is a great destination to visit. There are a few good ski resorts not far from Santa Fe. Popular options include Taos Ski Valley, Ski Santa Fe, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, and Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort.

Virginia Beach is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Virginia Beach or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Santa Fe offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Head to the Museum of New Mexico Complex, which has four museums that give a great overview of the history of the area. Also make sure you visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.

Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Virginia Beach or Santa Fe? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Fe is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Fe has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are many local restaurants that use regional ingredients and offer great flavors. There are also cafes and bistros where you can enjoy breakfast or brunch. Local dishes include sopaipillas made with Native American fry bread, slow-cooked beans, and anything made with red and green chili peppers.

Virginia Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for Nightlife?

Virginia Beach is very good for its evening party scene. However, Santa Fe is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Virginia Beach has a few options to choose from. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

Most people don't head to Santa Fe specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. While most of the town quiets down at night, the city has a few areas that stay active late into the night. Live music is popular and diverse. It often includes different genres such as the blues, country, salsa or bluegrass.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for Music?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for its live music scene. However, Virginia Beach is not a live music destination.

The music scene helps keep Santa Fe active and fun. The town has an eclectic music scene that includes a mix of the blues, country, Latin American music, and bluegrass.

Virginia Beach is not a live music destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for Resorts?

Virginia Beach is very good for its luxury resorts. However, Santa Fe is not a resort destination.

Virginia Beach has a few great resort options. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

Santa Fe is not a resort destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for Beaches?

Virginia Beach is very good for the beach. However, Santa Fe is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Virginia Beach to enjoy the beach. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

Santa Fe is not a beach destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for its Old Town?

Santa Fe is great for its old town. However, Virginia Beach does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Santa Fe to see the historical old town. As the 2nd oldest city in the United States, the old town historic district is filled with charm. The Pueblo-style buildings are brightly colored and there are churches throughout.

Virginia Beach does not have a historic old town.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for Hiking?

Santa Fe is a nice place to visit for hiking. However, Virginia Beach is not a hiking destination.

Santa Fe has hiking trails worth exploring. Because it's located right by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there are many beautiful hikes right outside of town. Popular trails include the Picacho Peak Trail and the Nambe Lake Trail. Bandelier National also has many places to hike.

Virginia Beach is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Virginia Beach or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Santa Fe is well-known for its shopping. There are many unique shops and art galleries that feature local artists and craftsmen.

Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe More Beautiful?

Virginia Beach and Santa Fe are somewhat similar when it comes to the good scenery.

Virginia Beach is a beautiful place to visit, too. As a developed beach town, the city has its share of hotels along the beach, but it is still a beautiful setting to explore.

Santa Fe offers plenty of beauty for visitors. This cultural city has a unique beauty that is hard to find anywhere else.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for Families?

Virginia Beach is a great coastal city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Virginia Beach. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

Santa Fe is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a few kids' museums in Santa Fe including the Santa Fe Children's Museum and the Meow Wolf Art Complex. Kids also enjoy the botanical gardens at Museum Hill and Bandelier National Monument just outside of the city.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for Couples?

Virginia Beach and Santa Fe are both good to visit as a couple.

Virginia Beach makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

Santa Fe is a good coastal city for couples to visit. There are many romantic inns around town, each with a lot of character. The town also has a lot of atmosphere that makes for a romantic getaway.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for Students?

For students, both Virginia Beach and Santa Fe are good places to visit.

It's common for students to visit Virginia Beach. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

Santa Fe is a good coastal city to visit for students. There are a few colleges and universities in town and students will appreciate the reasonable cost of living and outdoor activities nearby.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Fe is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Santa Fe. There is a bus system - the Santa Fe Trails Bus Service.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is Virginia Beach or Santa Fe a more walkable city?

Santa Fe is great for its high level of walkability. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.

Santa Fe is a very walkable historic town. The historic district is walkable and it's easy to visit most of the tourist sights in this area on foot.

Virginia Beach is generally not very walkable. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

For even more information, also check out Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Fe Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Fe or Virginia Beach?

How long in Virginia Beach or Santa Fe?

In either Virginia Beach or Santa Fe, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Virginia Beach than Santa Fe because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 5-7 days is a good amount of time for Virginia Beach, and 2-5 days is enough time in Santa Fe.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Fe than Virginia Beach 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 Fe.

One day in Virginia Beach or Santa Fe?

The coastal city of Virginia Beach offers nightlife. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Santa Fe, you'll find skiing and live music. Visiting the old town is also a must. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Virginia Beach or Santa Fe?

Virginia Beach is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Santa Fe is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Virginia Beach or Santa Fe?

Virginia Beach is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Virginia Beach, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Fe. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. It offers something for everyone. Because of this, five days is usually enough time for a trip here.

A week in Virginia Beach or Santa Fe?

Virginia Beach is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Virginia Beach has to offer. This coastal city offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic town of Santa Fe. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Virginia Beach or Santa Fe?

Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Santa Fe. When comparing the sizes of Virginia Beach and Santa Fe, 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.