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

Should you visit Birmingham or Rome?

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 Rome 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.

Rome

Rome is a fun-filled, popular, and ancient city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Birmingham and Rome: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Birmingham or Rome?

You'll generally find more things to do in Rome than Birmingham. Rome is bigger than Birmingham, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Rome is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Birmingham is more popular for its theatre productions and quaint atmosphere. Rome is more touristy than Birmingham and is popular for its iconic archaeological sites such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, as well as its gelato, Italian cuisine, and strong religious roots. Also, Rome is famous for The Colosseum. Birmingham is well known for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere.

The Colosseum

How is Birmingham different from Rome?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Rome 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 Rome from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The historical sights around the city are among the most impressive in the world. Almost anywhere you look you'll find a notable landmark but some of the most famous include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum.

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 Rome Better for Theater?

Birmingham is a great destination for its shows and theatre. However, Rome 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.

Rome is not a theatre destination.

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

Rome 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.

Rome has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Homemade pasta, fresh sauces, and fine wine all make the food scene among the best. Also make sure you try the gelato.

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 Rome Better for Nightlife?

Rome is an amazing city to visit for nightlife. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

Rome has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. You'll find a huge concentration of bars and clubs in the Testaccio area. There are late night clubs with salsa dancing, merengue, and live DJ's spinning every type of music.

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

Is Birmingham or Rome Better for Music?

Birmingham and Rome are both destinations where visitors can find amazing live music.

Birmingham is known as a music capital around the world. 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.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Rome Popular music venues include Live Alcazar, Atlantico Live, and Beba do Samba.

Is the Shopping Better in Birmingham or Rome?

Rome is an amazing city to visit for shopping. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Rome. For the biggest brand names, head to Via del Corso, which is near the Spanish Steps. Popular items to buy include Italian ceramics, shoes, leather goods, and jewelry.

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.

Is Birmingham or Rome Better for Families?

You'll find superb kid-friendly activities in either Birmingham or Rome.

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.

Rome is a very kid-friendly city. What kid wouldn't be thrilled to be surrounded by pizza and spaghetti restaurants? In addition to kid-friendly food options, there are also a number of great activities that the whole family can enjoy including exploring the Colosseum, taking a gladiator class, and eating gelato.

Is Birmingham or Rome Better for Couples?

Both Birmingham and Rome are superb 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.

Rome is a very popular place to visit for couples. With many beautiful buildings, world class restaurants, and world renowned sights, this city makes a great romantic destination.

Is Birmingham or Rome Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rome is an amazing city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.

Many backpackers frequent Rome. Backpackers will find no shortage of hostels where they can stay, particularly near the main train station where accommodation is particularly cheap (but not always the best quality).

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 Rome Better for Students?

For students, both Birmingham and Rome are amazing 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.

Rome is a great destination for students. The city is a popular study abroad destination and you'll find plenty of international students here.

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

Rome 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 Rome is top-notch. There's a metro system, trams, and a comprehensive bus system that goes around the city.

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

Is Birmingham or Rome a more walkable city?

Rome is an amazing city to visit for its walkability. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its high level of walkability.

Rome is a very easy city to get around on foot. You'll find many of the most popular sights in a compact area that's easily explored on foot. Do watch out for traffic, which can be a bit chaotic at times.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Rome or Birmingham?

How long in Birmingham or Rome?

Both Birmingham and Rome have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Rome than in Birmingham. Usually, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Birmingham, and 3-7 days is enough time in Rome.

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

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

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

One day in Birmingham or Rome?

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 Rome, people usually allow for lots of time. 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 Rome?

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 Rome, people usually allow for lots of time. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Birmingham or Rome?

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the bustling 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.

Rome, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. 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 Rome?

The fun-filled 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.

Rome is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this city makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. 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 Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Birmingham or Rome?

Rome has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Birmingham. When comparing the sizes of Birmingham and Rome, 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 Rome?

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 Rome in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Birmingham as well as Rome. Many travelers come to Birmingham for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Rome in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Birmingham is generally cooler than Rome. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 17°C (63°F), and Rome fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rome. In the summer, Birmingham often gets less sunshine than Rome. Birmingham gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets more rain in July than Rome. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Rome in the Autumn?

Both Rome and Birmingham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Birmingham in the autumn for the shopping scene and the music scene. Also, most visitors come to Rome for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Birmingham is much colder than Rome in the autumn. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Rome fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Rome during autumn. Birmingham gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Rome. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Birmingham or Rome in the Winter?

Both Rome and Birmingham during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Birmingham for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Rome because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Birmingham can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Birmingham is much colder than Rome. Typically, the winter temperatures in Birmingham in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Rome averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Birmingham often gets less sunshine than Rome. Birmingham gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets less rain in January than Rome. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Rome in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Birmingham and Rome. Furthermore, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Rome this time of year.

In April, Birmingham is generally much colder than Rome. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 9°C (48°F), and Rome fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rome this time of the year. Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Rome during spring. Birmingham gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Rome. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rome and Birmingham