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

Should you visit Bath or Galway?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bath and Galway can help you decide which place is right for you.

Bath

Bath is a historical, beautiful, and architectural spa town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Galway

Galway is a lively, friendly, and cultural city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Bath and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bath or Galway?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Galway than Bath. While Bath is larger than Galway, Galway has more sights and attractions for tourists. Galway is more popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Bath is known for its museums, historical sights, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Bath is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its world-renowned Roman built baths as well as its historical architecture and many museums. Galway is popular for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music. It is also home to The Galway Market.

How is Bath different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Bath is an unbeatable place for its sights and museums. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Bath that are not to be missed. The main draw to Bath is the rich history and most sights are focused on the area's spa city past. The Roman Baths are a highlight of a trip to the city, but other not to be missed places include Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent, and Pulteney Bridge.

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 Bath or Galway? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bath. Sample afternoon tea or try some local fish and chips. There are a diversity of restaurants to choose from so it's easy to find local favorites, vegetarian options, or international cuisine.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Galway. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

Is Bath or Galway Better for Nightlife?

Galway is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. Also, Bath is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Galway has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

Bath has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Head to George Street, which is the liveliest part of the city at night. You'll find a mix of high end restaurants, pubs, and cocktail bars that keep the energy high. One of the most popular nightlife venues in Bath is Bath Komedia, which is a popular music and comedy club.

Is Bath or Galway Better for its Old Town?

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

Bath is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The Roman old town has charming streets and a vibrant environment. On pleasant weekends you'll find tourists and locals alike filling the restaurants and town squares, giving the city an energy and lively atmosphere.

Galway does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bath or Galway?

Bath is notable for shopping. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Bath is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Head to Stall Street and Union Street for the most popular shopping streets in town. Many visitors pick up jewelry, glass, and fudge or other sweets while exploring the area.

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 Bath or Galway Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Bath or Galway.

Bath is a family-friendly spa town. The city is all about history and architecture, so at times it can be challenging for the kids to stay entertained. For a change of pace, take a boat on the canal or explore one of the beautiful gardens.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Galway. 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 Bath or Galway Better for Couples?

Bath is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Bath is a great spa town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. With its beautiful architecture and fascinating history, this city is perfect for couples. Take a canal cruise or wander through the scenic areas to enjoy a romantic trip.

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 Bath or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Bath is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Galway is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Bath. You'll find a surprising number of hostels around town so it's not hard to meet other backpackers while you're in the area.

Is Bath or Galway Better for Students?

Bath is notable for students. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Students come from all over to stay in Bath. The University of Bath offers a number of different programs so this is a popular city for local and international students.

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

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

Visitors will find good public transit in both Bath and Galway.

Bath has some public transit options. You likely won't need public transit because it's easy to walk most places, but there are buses around town.

You'll find some public transit in Galway, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are two bus companies in Galway, Bus Eireann and City Direct.

Is Bath or Galway a more walkable city?

Bath is an unbeatable place for its walkability. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Bath on foot. It is a very walkable city with most sights and activities packed into a very compact area. There are also many pedestrian areas that are easy to explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Galway or Bath?

How long in Bath or Galway?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bath and Galway. In our opinion, Bath has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bath than Galway. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bath, and 2-3 days is enough time in Galway.

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

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

One day in Bath or Galway?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bath. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Galway. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Bath or Galway?

Bath is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Galway is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bath or Galway?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bath. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Galway. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bath or Galway?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the architectural destination of Bath. This spa town 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.

The vibrant city of Galway offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bath or Galway?

Bath has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Bath 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.