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

Should you visit Birmingham or Rouen?

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 Rouen 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.

Rouen

Rouen is a compact, impressive, and relaxing city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Birmingham and Rouen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Birmingham or Rouen?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Birmingham than Rouen. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Birmingham is very popular for its museums, theatre productions, nightlife, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Rouen attracts visitors for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Birmingham is famous for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere. It is also well known for Victoria Square. Rouen is famous for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture.

How is Birmingham different from Rouen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Birmingham is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

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 Rouen. You'll find the highest concentration of sights in the city's pedestrian zone. Highlights that you should check out include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, and Aître Saint-Maclou.

Is Birmingham or Rouen Better for Theater?

Birmingham is notable for its theatre productions. However, Rouen 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.

Rouen is not a theatre destination.

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

Rouen is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Rouen. There are many local specialties found in town. Make sure you try the Passe Crassane, which is a French pear. The town is also known for its cheese, chocolate, and pastries.

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 Rouen Better for Nightlife?

Birmingham is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Rouen. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

Is Birmingham or Rouen Better for Music?

Birmingham is a world-class destination for its live music scene. However, Rouen 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.

Rouen is not a live music destination.

Is Birmingham or Rouen Better for its Old Town?

Rouen is very good for its historic old town. However, Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Rouen is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Birmingham or Rouen?

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

Rouen has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Some of the city's best shopping is found along the Rue du Gros-Horloge in the old city center. You'll find independent boutiques and well as upscale vendors.

Is Birmingham or Rouen Better for Families?

Birmingham is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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.

Rouen is a family-friendly city. This beautiful city is filled with nice parks, free museums, and towers that offer views over the city. Kids will enjoy climbing the clocktower, eating pastries, or riding a bike around town.

Is Birmingham or Rouen Better for Couples?

Both Birmingham and Rouen are great 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.

Rouen is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful city makes a great retreat for couples who enjoy good food and nice architecture. There are many hidden gems around town that make this a favorite French city for many couples.

Is Birmingham or Rouen Better for Students?

Birmingham is a world-class destination for students. However, Rouen 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.

Rouen is not popular with students.

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

Rouen is great 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.

Visitors to Rouen can move around easily with public transportation. The city has two agencies that offer public transportation. Métro du Rouen is a tramway that runs north to south from Boulingrin in the north to Saint-Sever, where it branches off into two lines (one to Technopôle and one to Georges Braque). There are also buses and rail connections to town.

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

Is Birmingham or Rouen a more walkable city?

Birmingham and Rouen are great when it comes to walkability.

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

Rouen is a very walkable city. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Rouen or Birmingham?

How long in Birmingham or Rouen?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Birmingham or Rouen to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Birmingham than Rouen because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Birmingham, and 1-2 days is enough time in Rouen.

Families should spend more time in Birmingham than Rouen. 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 Rouen. 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 Rouen 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 Rouen?

In Birmingham, many people enjoy the nightlife and live music that this vibrant destination offers. Lots of people come for the live music. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

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

A weekend in Birmingham or Rouen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Birmingham. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

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

Birmingham is a fun place to experience. In Birmingham, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this destination offers. Lots of people come for the live music. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Rouen, 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 Rouen?

You'll find shopping and museums around the fun-filled destination of Birmingham. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the live music. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Rouen 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Birmingham or Rouen?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Rouen. When comparing the sizes of Birmingham and Rouen, 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 Rouen?

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 Rouen in the Summer?

Both Rouen and Birmingham during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Birmingham for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Rouen because of the family-friendly experiences.

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

In Rouen, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Birmingham often gets less sunshine than Rouen. Birmingham gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rouen receives 241 hours of full sun.

Birmingham usually gets less rain in July than Rouen. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Rouen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Birmingham and Rouen. The autumn months attract visitors to Birmingham because of the shopping scene and the music scene. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rouen this time of year.

In October, Birmingham is generally around the same temperature as Rouen. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 11°C (52°F), and Rouen fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

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

In October, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Rouen. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Birmingham or Rouen in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Birmingham as well as Rouen. 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 Rouen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Rouen. It's quite cold in Birmingham in the winter. Birmingham is cooler than Rouen in the winter. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Rouen fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

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

Birmingham usually gets more rain in January than Rouen. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Birmingham or Rouen in the Spring?

Both Rouen and Birmingham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Rouen in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Birmingham is around the same temperature as Rouen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Birmingham in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Rouen averages at about 9°C (48°F).

Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Rouen during spring. Birmingham gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Rouen receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Rouen. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Rouen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rouen and Birmingham