A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Birmingham vs. Dresden for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Birmingham or Dresden?

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 Birmingham and Dresden can help you decide which place is right for you.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a vibrant, fun-filled, and bustling city. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, and museums.

Dresden

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

Birmingham and Dresden: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Birmingham or Dresden?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Dresden than Birmingham. While Birmingham is larger than Dresden, Dresden has more sights and attractions for tourists. Dresden is better known for its historical sights and big city activities, while Birmingham is more popular for its museums, theatre productions, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere. Dresden is more touristy than Birmingham and is popular for its beautiful palaces, castles, and many landmarks (such as the Baroque Zwinger Palace, Semperoper Opera House and the Church of Our Lady). Also, Dresden is famous for Dresden Frauenkirche and The Royal Palace. Birmingham is well known for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere.

How is Birmingham different from Dresden?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Birmingham or Dresden?

Birmingham is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Birmingham offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

Dresden is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's rich in culture and baroque architecture. Some of the main sights around town include Dresden Frauenkirche, the Dresden Royal Palace and Museums, the Zwinger and Old Masters Picture Gallery, and the Semper Opera.

Is Birmingham or Dresden Better for Theater?

Birmingham is a great destination for its shows and theatre. However, Dresden is not a theatre destination.

While in town, many visitors enjoy seeing a show in Birmingham. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Dresden is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Birmingham or Dresden? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Birmingham and Dresden can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Birmingham. Food reviews are mixed around town. The city has its share of award-winning restaurants, but there are also popular dishes that are more of an acquired taste. Local flavors include pork scratching, Birmingham soup, and brummie bacon cakes.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Dresden. The food features a number of Saxon specialties, which are typically hearty and heavy on the meat. If you have a sweet tooth, you'll also appreciate the many sweets that you can find around town. You should make sure you try a Fettbemme (open faced sandwich), Eierschecke (a cake), and Sächsische Kartoffelsuppe (potato soup) while you're in town.

Is Birmingham or Dresden Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is great in both Birmingham and Dresden.

Many people head to Birmingham for the nightlife scene. With tons of students and young people looking to party, there is plenty to do in the evening. You'll find no shortage of pubs, clubs, and music venues around town.

Dresden has plenty to do after the sun goes down. Head to Neustadt for the highest concentration of bars and clubs. There's a diversity of trendy clubs and casual bars. Bar hopping is easy as most places are accessible by public transit.

Is Birmingham or Dresden Better for Music?

Birmingham is an amazing city to visit for its music scene. However, Dresden is not a live music destination.

In Birmingham you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. The city has long been a haven for musical creativity, and its influence over the global music scene is apparent. Popular music venues around town include Ghetto Golf, Digbeth Dining Club, and the Sunflower Lounge.

Dresden is not a live music destination.

Is Birmingham or Dresden Better for its Old Town?

Dresden is great for its historic old town. However, Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Dresden. Much of the city's old town has been rebuilt, but that's not to say it isn't beautiful. The main square and surrounding area are where you'll find the majority of the city's main sights.

Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Birmingham or Dresden?

Birmingham is a great destination for its shopping areas. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Birmingham. The city offers everything from large department stores to smaller local shops. There are several good shopping streets around town as well as large markets and even a jewelry quarter.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Dresden. Kunsthofpassage Dresden is a network of streets where you'll find crafts, art, and other eclectic items for sale. Prager Strasse is a popular shopping street near old town and Seestrasse is where you'll find all of the trendy brands that are popular throughout Europe. The city also has many shopping malls.

Is Birmingham or Dresden Better for Families?

Birmingham is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Dresden is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

Birmingham is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has put effort into making sure there are plenty of family-friendly activities around. You can visit a chocolate factory, explore an aquarium, enjoy an animal safari, or explore one of the hands-on museums.

For families, Dresden is not always the best place to visit. It doesn't have quite the abundance of activities for kids that you may find in other Germany cities, but that doesn't mean that kids will be bored. There's the Dresden Zoo, the Dresdner Parkeisenbahn (a small steam rail), and the Saxon Folk Art Museum. Families can also take a guided to of the Transparent Factory, which is owned by Volkswagon and provided information on the manufacturing of automobiles.

Is Birmingham or Dresden Better for Couples?

Birmingham is a great destination for couples. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Birmingham frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

Dresden is a nice destination for couples. Couples can explore the old town or walk through one of the city's many parks. The city has many cultural activities. In the new town you'll find many great bars and fascinating restaurants.

Is Birmingham or Dresden Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Dresden is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.

Dresden is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and the city itself is not particularly expensive.

Birmingham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there's at least one affordable hostel in town.

Is Birmingham or Dresden Better for Students?

Birmingham is an amazing city to visit for students. However, Dresden is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Birmingham. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.

Dresden is not popular with students.

Is Birmingham or Dresden Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Birmingham and Dresden both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Birmingham offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Dresden has a few public transit options. The city has two major train stations as well as tram and bus lines around town.

Is Birmingham or Dresden a more walkable city?

Birmingham and Dresden are great when it comes to walkability.

Birmingham is very walkable. Many parts of the city are very walkable.

Dresden is a very walkable city. Particularly in the compact city center you'll find Dresden to be very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Birmingham Worth Visiting? and Is Dresden Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dresden or Birmingham?

How long in Birmingham or Dresden?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Birmingham and Dresden. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Birmingham than in Dresden. Usually, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Birmingham, and 1-3 days is enough time in Dresden.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Dresden than Birmingham 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 Dresden.

One day in Birmingham or Dresden?

In Birmingham, you'll find food and shopping. One reason most visitors come is for the live music. 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.

With museums and nightlife around the park-filled city of Dresden, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Dresden, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Birmingham or Dresden?

In Birmingham, you'll find shopping and museums. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. One reason most visitors come is for the live music. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Birmingham has to offer.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Dresden, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Birmingham or Dresden?

Birmingham is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Birmingham has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Dresden, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Birmingham or Dresden?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Birmingham. Many people enjoy the theater and nightlife when visiting Birmingham. One reason most visitors come is for the live music. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Dresden is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

When comparing the travel costs between Birmingham and Dresden, we can see that Birmingham 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 Birmingham Expensive? and Is Dresden Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Birmingham or Dresden?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Dresden. When comparing the sizes of Birmingham and Dresden, 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 Birmingham or Dresden?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Birmingham or Dresden in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Birmingham as well as Dresden. Most visitors come to Birmingham for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Dresden because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Birmingham is generally cooler than Dresden. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 17°C (63°F), and Dresden fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

Birmingham usually gets less rain in July than Dresden. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Dresden in the Autumn?

Both Dresden and Birmingham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Birmingham because of the shopping scene and the music scene. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Dresden this time of year.

Birmingham is around the same temperature as Dresden in the autumn. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Dresden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In October, Birmingham usually receives more rain than Dresden. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Birmingham or Dresden in the Winter?

Both Dresden and Birmingham during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Birmingham this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Dresden for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Dresden. It's quite cold in Birmingham in the winter. In the winter, Birmingham is much warmer than Dresden. Typically, the winter temperatures in Birmingham in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Dresden averages at about 1°C (33°F).

Birmingham usually gets more rain in January than Dresden. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Dresden in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Birmingham and Dresden. Furthermore, many visitors come to Dresden in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Birmingham is generally cooler than Dresden. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 9°C (48°F), and Dresden fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In April, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Dresden. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Dresden and Birmingham