Nylon strings are definitely a good sart although the action (space between the strings and the fretboard) tends to be a little high and the frets are slightly bigger. The feel of the strings will be very nice on your fingers. Oh and if your fingers hurt after, I will accept all responsibility

I tried to learn acoustic guitar. I don't remember having any particular problem with pain. I have long, skinny fingers with not a lot of meat on them. This was good for reach but bad for making bar chords. Even lowering the action I just never got anywhere. An electric guitar is easier to learn than an acoustic because the strings are lighter. I followed someone's advice to learn the acoustic "because it would make it easier to go to the electric" and in hindsight it was bad advice, because I never made enough progress to keep going. If I had tried the easiest thing first, it may have turned out differently.

Nothing stopping me from trying again, except my prejudice for having failed, a suspicion that I might prefer keyboards, and a lack of time compared to painting, game programming, and money making.