A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aberdeen vs. Galway for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Food

Should you visit Aberdeen or Galway?

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

Should I visit Aberdeen or Galway? 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.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a historic, cultural, and architectural city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Galway

Galway is a vibrant, lively, and friendly city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Aberdeen and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Aberdeen or Galway?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Aberdeen than Galway, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Aberdeen is more popular for its museums and historical sights, while Galway is known for its nightlife. Aberdeen is more touristy than Galway and is known for its longstanding maritime history and its many cultural sights and activities. It is also home to St Machar's Cathedral Aberdeen. Galway is popular for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music.

How is Aberdeen different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Aberdeen or Galway?

Aberdeen is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Aberdeen. The city's long running history means that there are plenty of sights and museums worth exploring. Highlights include St. Machar's Cathedral, the University and King's College of Aberdeen, Brig o'Balgownie, and the Tolbooth Museum.

Galway offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Popular landmarks and sights in town include Eyre Square, St. Nicholas' Church, the Galway Cathedral, and the Galway City Museum.

Is the Food Better in Aberdeen or Galway? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Aberdeen and Galway can be an enjoyable experience.

Aberdeen offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Everything from brunch bistros to fine dining are available in this city. You can enjoy local specialties or international options at any of the unique restaurants around town.

Galway has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

Is Aberdeen or Galway Better for Nightlife?

Galway is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Aberdeen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Galway offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife scene is among the best in Ireland. The city embraces the friendly Irish hospitality and there are laid back pubs and bars around town as well as a few trendy nightclubs.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Aberdeen. The nightlife scene is diverse with whisky dens, local pubs, and even trendy nightclubs to choose from.

Is Aberdeen or Galway Better for its Old Town?

Aberdeen is notable for its historic old town. However, Galway does not have a historic old town.

Aberdeen is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. This city's old town is a hidden gem in Scotland. The cobblestone streets and long history make for a fascinating place to explore.

Galway does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Aberdeen or Galway?

Both Aberdeen and Galway are good shopping destinations.

Aberdeen is a great destination for shopping. A mix of modern shopping centers, antique vendors, and local boutiques make for an interesting shopping scene. For some of the city's best shopping head to Union Square Shopping Centre, the Trinity Centre, or Bon Accord Aberdeen.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Galway. You'll find shopping both in the city center as well as at suburban shopping malls. For some of the best shopping head to The Latin Quarter, The Westend or the outdoor market which is found in Church lane by St Nicholas' Church.

Is Aberdeen or Galway Better for Families?

Aberdeen is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Aberdeen is a very family-friendly place to visit. Explore the city's history or wander through one of the many museums. Some of the best museums for kids include the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Little Treasures Toy Museum, the Aberdeen Science Center, and the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Adrenaline seekers will enjoy rock climbing and ropes courses at Transition Extreme or ziplining at Go Ape Crathes Castle. Also nearby is horseback riding and Codona’s Amusement Park.

Galway is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy the National Aquarium Galway or simply wandering around the Latin Quarter. About 15 minutes outside of the city is the Wildlands Adventure Park which has ziplines, ropes courses, and other adrenaline filled activities. Brigit's Garden is another fun place to let kids stretch their legs.

Is Aberdeen or Galway Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Aberdeen and Galway make for a good place to visit.

Aberdeen is a nice destination for couples. There are many of the standard activities for couples such as interesting restaurants, theaters, and fun concerts.

Galway makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are nice restaurants, beautiful walks, and a few parks to explore. There are also several romantic places just outside of town that make for a great day trip.

Is Aberdeen or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Aberdeen is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Galway. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

Aberdeen is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Aberdeen or Galway Better for Students?

Aberdeen and Galway are both good destinations for students and younger travelers.

Aberdeen is a good city to visit for students. The city is a nice affordable option for students who want to study at the University of Aberdeen.

Plenty of students visit Galway. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.

Is Aberdeen or Galway Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Aberdeen and Galway offer good public transit options.

Aberdeen has a few public transit options. There are public buses through town and it's possible to pick up a Grasshopper ticket that lets you ride on most of the bus companies.

Galway has some public transit options. There are two bus companies in Galway, Bus Eireann and City Direct.

Is Aberdeen or Galway a more walkable city?

Aberdeen and Galway both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Aberdeen is very walkable. It's easy to walk to most of the city's attractions.

Galway is a very walkable city. If you stay in central Galway, the area is generally compact and walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Aberdeen Worth Visiting? and Is Galway Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Galway or Aberdeen?

How long in Aberdeen or Galway?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Galway than Aberdeen 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 Galway.

One day in Aberdeen or Galway?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Aberdeen. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The city of Galway offers food and shopping. 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.

A weekend in Aberdeen or Galway?

Aberdeen is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Galway is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Galway, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Aberdeen or Galway?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Aberdeen. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Galway is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

A week in Aberdeen or Galway?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Aberdeen. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Galway is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

When comparing the travel costs between Aberdeen and Galway, we can see that Aberdeen 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 Europe, 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 Aberdeen Expensive? and Is Galway Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Aberdeen or Galway?

Aberdeen has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Aberdeen and Galway, 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 Aberdeen or Galway?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Galway in the Summer?

Both Galway and Aberdeen are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Aberdeen in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Galway for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Aberdeen is cooler than Galway in the summer. The daily temperature in Aberdeen averages around 14°C (58°F) in July, and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Aberdeen usually receives more sunshine than Galway during summer. Aberdeen gets 157 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Aberdeen usually receives more rain than Galway. Aberdeen gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Galway in the Autumn?

Both Galway and Aberdeen during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Aberdeen for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Galway because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Aberdeen is cooler than Galway. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Aberdeen in October average around 9°C (49°F), and Galway averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Aberdeen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Galway. Aberdeen gets 93 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 96 hours of full sun.

Galway gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Aberdeen usually gets less rain in October than Galway. Aberdeen gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Galway in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Aberdeen and Galway. The winter months attract visitors to Aberdeen because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Galway this time of year.

The weather in Aberdeen can be very cold. In January, Aberdeen is generally much colder than Galway. Daily temperatures in Aberdeen average around 3°C (38°F), and Galway fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

Aberdeen usually receives less sunshine than Galway during winter. Aberdeen gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun in the winter.

Galway receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Aberdeen usually receives less rain than Galway. Aberdeen gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Aberdeen or Galway in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Aberdeen as well as Galway. The activities around the city are the main draw to Aberdeen this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Galway for the activities around the city.

Aberdeen is cooler than Galway in the spring. The daily temperature in Aberdeen averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the spring, Aberdeen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Galway. Aberdeen gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun.

Aberdeen usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Galway. Aberdeen gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Galway and Aberdeen