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

Should you visit Birmingham or Kiel?

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 Kiel can help you decide which place is right for you.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a vibrant, fun-filled, and bustling city. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife.

Kiel

Kiel is a off-the-beaten-path, waterfront, and maritime city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Birmingham and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Birmingham or Kiel?

Both Kiel and Birmingham have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Birmingham is very popular for its museums, theatre productions, nightlife, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Kiel attracts visitors for its beaches and big city activities. Birmingham is famous for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere. Kiel is famous for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival.

How is Birmingham different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Birmingham is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Kiel 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Kiel. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

Is Birmingham or Kiel Better for Theater?

Birmingham is well known for its theatre productions. However, Kiel 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.

Kiel is not a theatre destination.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Birmingham and Kiel can be difficult as they are each nice 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 Kiel. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Is Birmingham or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

Birmingham is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Birmingham is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Kiel has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

Is Birmingham or Kiel Better for Music?

Birmingham is a must-visit destination for its live music scene. However, Kiel is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Birmingham 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.

Kiel is not a live music destination.

Is Birmingham or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is very good for its beaches. However, Birmingham is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Kiel to enjoy the beach. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Birmingham is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Birmingham or Kiel?

Birmingham is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Birmingham is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Kiel has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Birmingham or Kiel Better for Families?

Birmingham is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Birmingham is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Kiel offers lots of family activities. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

Is Birmingham or Kiel Better for Couples?

Birmingham is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

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.

Kiel is a good city for couples to visit. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Birmingham or Kiel Better for Students?

Birmingham is a must-visit destination for students. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

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.

It's common for students to visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

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

Birmingham is a popular place for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Birmingham, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Birmingham or Kiel a more walkable city?

Birmingham is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

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

Kiel is a somewhat walkable city. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Birmingham?

How long in Birmingham or Kiel?

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

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

One day in Birmingham or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the theater and nightlife when visiting the destination of Birmingham. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

With museums and nightlife around the off-the-beaten-path city of Kiel, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Kiel, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Birmingham or Kiel?

Birmingham is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the live music. 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Kiel, 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 Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the fun-filled destination of Birmingham. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Kiel, 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 Kiel?

The bustling city of Birmingham offers food and shopping. 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.

Kiel 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 Kiel, 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 Kiel Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Birmingham or Kiel?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Kiel. When comparing the sizes of Birmingham and Kiel, 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 Kiel?

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 Kiel in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Birmingham is around the same temperature as Kiel. Typically, the summer temperatures in Birmingham in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Kiel averages at about 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kiel. In the summer, Birmingham often gets less sunshine than Kiel. Birmingham gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets less rain in July than Kiel. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Kiel in the Autumn?

Both Kiel 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 Kiel this time of year.

In October, Birmingham is generally a little warmer than Kiel. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 11°C (52°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Birmingham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel during autumn. Birmingham gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Kiel. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Birmingham or Kiel in the Winter?

Both Kiel 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. Also, many travelers come to Kiel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Kiel. It's quite cold in Birmingham in the winter. Birmingham is much warmer than Kiel in the winter. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Kiel fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

In the winter, Birmingham often gets more sunshine than Kiel. Birmingham gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Kiel. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Kiel in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Birmingham is a little warmer than Kiel. Typically, the spring temperatures in Birmingham in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Kiel averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Kiel during spring. Birmingham gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Kiel. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kiel and Birmingham