A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Belfast vs. Siena for Couples, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Belfast or Siena?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Belfast or Siena, 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.

Belfast

Belfast is a affordable, under-rated, and authentic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife and shopping.

Siena

Siena is a charming, medieval, and history city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Belfast and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Belfast or Siena?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Siena than Belfast. While Belfast is larger than Siena, Siena has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Siena is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Belfast is known for its big city activities. Siena is more touristy than Belfast and is known for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace. It is also home to Piazza del Campo. Belfast is popular for being the birthplace of the Titanic and the location of the era of the "Troubles".

How is Belfast different from Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Belfast or Siena?

Siena is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Siena can be an interesting and educational experience. At the heart of the city is Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Piazza del Campo. Other world famous sights include Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico, Torre del Mangia, and Pinacoteca Nazionale.

Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Belfast or Siena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Siena is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Belfast is not a good city for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Siena makes for a great culinary experience. The town is all about local flavors and many restaurants use local ingredients in their dishes. Pecorino of Pienza is the local cheese, and you'll also find many cured meats. Local pasta dishes include wild boar ragu and a local spaghetti. You'll also find local meats such as lamb, rabbit, chicken and pork.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Belfast. While many restaurants have moved towards more modern cuisines, there are still places that hold tight to the traditions of the area. Traditional dishes include pasties, full Irish breakfasts, and oysters.

Is Belfast or Siena Better for Nightlife?

Both Belfast and Siena are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Belfast. The city has a number of bars and clubs with local DJs or musicians.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Siena. The nightlife is laid back and relaxed. Most visitors enjoy socializing in the evening and meeting friends at Piazza del Campo. There are often live performances which you can enjoy as well as many cafes and wine bars around town.

Is Belfast or Siena Better for its Old Town?

Siena is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. However, Belfast does not have a historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Siena offers plenty to see. The beautiful old town is filled with medieval brick buildings. At the heart of the city is Piazza del Campo, which is a lively square with many neighborhoods spreading out from there.

Belfast does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Belfast or Siena?

Both Belfast and Siena are good shopping destinations.

Belfast is a great destination for shopping. The main shopping areas in the city are Victoria Square Shopping Centre and CastleCourt.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Siena. The main shopping street in town is Via Banchi di Sopra, which has many boutiques that sell clothing, bags, and other items. The town also has many leather goods, ceramics, and other local items available.

Is Belfast or Siena Better for Families?

Belfast is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Siena is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

Belfast is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has several great kid-friendly museums, a zoo, and a few indoor or outdoor activity centers where you can let kids play and explore.

Siena is not always a place people visit with their families. The beauty and history may be lost to the little ones but there is a great atmosphere that even the young ones will appreciate. Kids will enjoy climbing to the top of Torre del Mangia or visiting one of the many playgrounds around town.

Is Belfast or Siena Better for Couples?

Siena is an unbeatable place for romance. However, Belfast is not a good city for its romantic activities.

Siena has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. With its impressive beauty and long running history, this is a truly romantic city. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are plazas and neighborhoods that are great for exploring. There are also many great restaurants, superb wine, and world class sights that are not to be missed.

Most people don't think of Belfast as a couple's destination. There are gardens and parks to explore, several nice hotels with spas, and an Observatory on the 23rd floor of the Grand Central Hotel.

Is Belfast or Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Siena is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Belfast is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Siena. Many backpackers visit Siena as a daytrip from nearby Florence. While there are some affordable places to stay here, the atmosphere isn't as backpacker friendly as nearby Florence.

Belfast is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a reasonably affordable destination with a few hostels to choose from, but most backpackers don't make their way to this city.

Is Belfast or Siena Better for Students?

Siena is a well-known place for students. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Siena is a great city to visit as a student. It's home to one of the oldest universities in Italy, and it's a wonderful study abroad destination for any student who wants to spend some time in Italy.

Plenty of students visit Belfast. The city's affordability has made it a popular option for international students headed to the area.

Is Belfast or Siena Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Siena is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Belfast is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Siena has a few public transit options. TIEMME is the bus service that runs in and around town. Many lines pass through the train station and provide service from there.

Public transit is mostly limited in Belfast. There is a bus service in the city.

Is Belfast or Siena a more walkable city?

Siena is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

Siena is very walkable. The compact town center is best explored on foot.

Belfast is a somewhat walkable place.

For even more information, also check out Is Belfast Worth Visiting? and Is Siena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Siena or Belfast?

How long in Belfast or Siena?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Siena than Belfast 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 Siena.

One day in Belfast or Siena?

In Belfast, many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping that this affordable 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.

In Siena, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Belfast or Siena?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Belfast. 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.

In Siena, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Siena has to offer.

Five days in Belfast or Siena?

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

Siena is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Belfast or Siena?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the affordable destination of Belfast. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Siena. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Siena. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Belfast or Siena?

Belfast has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Siena. When comparing the sizes of Belfast and Siena, 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 Belfast or Siena?

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 Belfast or Siena in the Summer?

Both Siena and Belfast are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Belfast for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Siena because of the family-friendly experiences.

Belfast is much colder than Siena in the summer. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 15°C (59°F) in July, and Siena fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Siena. Belfast usually receives less sunshine than Siena during summer. Belfast gets 151 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Belfast usually receives more rain than Siena. Belfast gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Belfast or Siena in the Autumn?

Both Siena and Belfast during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Belfast because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Siena this time of year.

In the autumn, Belfast is much colder than Siena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Belfast in October average around 9°C (48°F), and Siena averages at about 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Belfast often gets less sunshine than Siena. Belfast gets 92 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun.

Belfast usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Siena. Belfast gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Belfast or Siena in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Belfast and Siena. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Belfast this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Siena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Belfast in the winter. In January, Belfast is generally much colder than Siena. Daily temperatures in Belfast average around 4°C (39°F), and Siena fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Belfast usually receives less sunshine than Siena during winter. Belfast gets 50 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Belfast usually receives more rain than Siena. Belfast gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Belfast or Siena in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Belfast as well as Siena. Many travelers come to Belfast for the activities around the city. Additionally, many visitors come to Siena in the spring for the natural beauty.

Belfast is cooler than Siena in the spring. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Siena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Belfast often gets less sunshine than Siena. Belfast gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun.

Belfast usually gets less rain in April than Siena. Belfast gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Siena and Belfast