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

Should you visit Birmingham or Lyon?

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

Birmingham

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

Lyon

Lyon is a quaint, authentic, and historic city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Birmingham and Lyon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Birmingham or Lyon?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Lyon than Birmingham. While Birmingham is larger than Lyon, Lyon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lyon is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Birmingham attracts visitors for its theatre productions and music. Lyon is more touristy than Birmingham and is popular for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town. It is also well known for The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Birmingham is famous for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere.

How is Birmingham different from Lyon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for its historical sights. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Travelers visit Lyon from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Birmingham can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

Is Birmingham or Lyon Better for Theater?

Birmingham is a well-known place for its theatre productions. However, Lyon is not a theatre destination.

Many visitors plan to see a show while visiting Birmingham. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Lyon is not a theatre destination.

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

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Lyon has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Known as "the Gastronomic Capital of the World" this city stands above the rest when it comes to Michelin star restaurants (there are 17!), fresh ingredients, and unique local flavors. Favorite local dishes include pâté en croûte, rosette de Lyon, and saucisson brioché.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in 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.

Is Birmingham or Lyon Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is excellent in both Birmingham and Lyon.

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.

Lyon has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The city has enough diverse neighborhoods that you'll find a scene that is great for everyone. There are dance clubs, cocktail bars, and wine bars that meet every personality and style.

Is Birmingham or Lyon Better for Music?

Birmingham is an amazing city to visit for its live music scene. However, Lyon 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.

Lyon is not a live music destination.

Is Birmingham or Lyon Better for its Old Town?

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town. However, Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Lyon offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.

Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Birmingham or Lyon?

If you're looking to go shopping, Birmingham and Lyon both offer plenty of excellent spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Lyon is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.

Is Birmingham or Lyon Better for Families?

You'll find excellent kid-friendly activities in either Birmingham or Lyon.

Birmingham is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Lyon is a very kid-friendly city. The city has many kid-friendly museums including Musée des Confluences and the Cinema and Miniature Museum. There are also playgrounds, patisseries, and river cruises that you can enjoy as a family. Puppet shows are also fun, but do note that they're usually in French. While the restaurants are amazing for adults, it can be tricky to find a kid-friendly option with early opening hours that are convenient for little ones.

Is Birmingham or Lyon Better for Couples?

Both Birmingham and Lyon are excellent destinations to visit as a couple.

Birmingham is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

Lyon is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.

Is Birmingham or Lyon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Lyon is very popular with the backpacker crowd. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.

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 Lyon Better for Students?

For students, both Birmingham and Lyon are terrific places to visit.

Students come from all over the world to visit Birmingham. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.

Lyon is a great destination for students. It is a very livable city with many fun cultural activities for students. There are many different entertainment options during the day, and during the evening there are plenty of places to hang out.

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

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Public transit in Lyon is top-notch. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.

Birmingham has a few public transit options. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Is Birmingham or Lyon a more walkable city?

Birmingham and Lyon are excellent when it comes to walkability.

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

Lyon is a very walkable city. The old town is particularly walkable, but the hills can make things a bit challenging. There are also a number of pedestrian streets around town.

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

Should I spend more time in Lyon or Birmingham?

How long in Birmingham or Lyon?

In either Birmingham or Lyon, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Lyon has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Lyon than Birmingham. In general, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Birmingham, and 2-5 days is enough time in Lyon.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lyon 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 Lyon.

One day in Birmingham or Lyon?

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.

When visiting Lyon, people usually allow for lots of time. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Birmingham or Lyon?

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.

When visiting Lyon, people usually allow for lots of time. 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 Lyon?

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.

Lyon, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Visiting the old town is also a must. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Birmingham or Lyon?

The historic 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.

Lyon 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 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Birmingham and Lyon, we can see that Birmingham is more expensive. And not only is Lyon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lyon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lyon 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 Lyon.

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

Which is Bigger, Birmingham or Lyon?

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

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 Lyon in the Summer?

Both Lyon and Birmingham during the summer are popular places to visit. The music scene and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Birmingham this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Lyon for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Birmingham is cooler than Lyon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Birmingham in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Lyon averages at about 22°C (71°F).

In Lyon, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Birmingham often gets less sunshine than Lyon. Birmingham gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 285 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Birmingham or Lyon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Birmingham and Lyon. Many travelers come to Birmingham for the shopping scene and the music scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Lyon in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Birmingham is generally cooler than Lyon. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 11°C (52°F), and Lyon fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Lyon during autumn. Birmingham gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Lyon. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Birmingham or Lyon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Birmingham as well as Lyon. Many visitors come to Birmingham in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Lyon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Lyon can be very cold during winter. Birmingham can get quite cold in the winter. Birmingham is around the same temperature as Lyon in the winter. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Lyon fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Birmingham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lyon. Birmingham gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 62 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets more rain in January than Lyon. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Lyon in the Spring?

Both Lyon and Birmingham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Lyon because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Birmingham is cooler than Lyon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Birmingham in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Lyon averages at about 11°C (53°F).

Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Lyon during spring. Birmingham gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 174 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Lyon. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Lyon and Birmingham