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

Should you visit Birmingham 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 Birmingham and Galway can help you decide which place is right for you.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a bustling, historic, and vibrant city. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food.

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 museums, nightlife, and food.

Birmingham and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Birmingham or Galway?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Birmingham than Galway, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Birmingham is more popular for its museums, theatre productions, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Galway is known for its big city activities. Birmingham is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere. It is also home to Victoria Square. Galway is popular for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music.

How is Birmingham different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Galway 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 Galway?

Birmingham 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 Birmingham. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

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 Birmingham or Galway Better for Theater?

Birmingham is notable for theatre. However, Galway is not a theatre destination.

Birmingham attracts a wide-range of world-class performances. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Galway is not a theatre destination.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Birmingham and Galway can be difficult as they are each good 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 Galway. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

Is Birmingham or Galway Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is superb in both Birmingham and Galway.

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.

Galway has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

Is Birmingham or Galway Better for Music?

Birmingham is an unbeatable place for live music. However, Galway is not a live music destination.

Birmingham is a world class music destination. 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.

Galway is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Birmingham or Galway?

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

Birmingham is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

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 Birmingham or Galway Better for Families?

Birmingham 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.

Birmingham is 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.

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 Birmingham or Galway Better for Couples?

Birmingham is notable for romance. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Birmingham is a very popular place to visit for couples. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

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 Birmingham or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination 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.

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 Galway Better for Students?

Birmingham is an unbeatable place for students. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

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

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

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

Birmingham and Galway both offer good 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.

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

Is Birmingham or Galway a more walkable city?

Birmingham and Galway are superb when it comes to walkability.

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

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 Birmingham Worth Visiting? and Is Galway Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Galway or Birmingham?

How long in Birmingham or Galway?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Birmingham and Galway. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Birmingham than in Galway. Usually, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Birmingham, and 2-3 days is enough time in Galway.

Families should spend more time in Birmingham than Galway. 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 Galway. 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.

One day in Birmingham or Galway?

Many travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the destination of Birmingham. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

With museums and nightlife around the friendly city of Galway, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Birmingham or Galway?

Birmingham is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the live music, 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Galway, there's plenty to do. 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 Galway?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Birmingham. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Galway, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. 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 Galway?

Travelers enjoy the museums and theater when visiting the bustling destination of Birmingham. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Galway 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 Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Birmingham and Galway, we can see that Birmingham 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 Birmingham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Birmingham 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 Birmingham Expensive? and Is Galway Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Birmingham or Galway?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Birmingham 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 Birmingham or Galway?

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 Galway in the Summer?

Both Galway and Birmingham during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Birmingham for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Galway in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Birmingham is around the same temperature as Galway in the summer. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In the summer, Birmingham often gets more sunshine than Galway. Birmingham gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets less rain in July than Galway. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Galway in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Birmingham and Galway. Many visitors come to Birmingham in the autumn for the shopping scene and the music scene. Also, most visitors come to Galway for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Birmingham is around the same temperature as Galway. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Birmingham in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Galway averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Birmingham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Galway during autumn. Birmingham gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 96 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Galway receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Galway. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Birmingham or Galway in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Birmingham as well as Galway. Most visitors come to Birmingham for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Galway because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

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

In the winter, Birmingham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Galway. Birmingham gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Galway. Birmingham usually gets less rain in January than Galway. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Galway in the Spring?

Both Galway and Birmingham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Galway this time of year.

Birmingham is around the same temperature as Galway in the spring. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Galway during spring. Birmingham gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Galway. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Galway and Birmingham