A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Canberra vs. Manchester for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Canberra or Manchester?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Canberra or Manchester? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Canberra

Canberra is a under-rated, cultural, and diverse city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Manchester

Manchester is a diverse, cultural, and vibrant city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Canberra and Manchester: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Canberra or Manchester?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Manchester than Canberra. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Manchester is very popular for its nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Canberra attracts visitors for its hiking. Manchester is more touristy than Canberra and is known for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club. It is also well known for The National Football Museum. Canberra is famous for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves.

How is Canberra different from Manchester?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Manchester and Canberra. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Canberra or Manchester?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Canberra and Manchester.

Canberra offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

Many visitors head to Manchester specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Head to the Science and Industry Museum, the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester Cathedral, or John Rylands Library & Manchester Central Library to see some of the cities most interesting sights.

Is the Food Better in Canberra or Manchester? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Canberra and Manchester.

Canberra has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

Dining out in Manchester is an experience not to be missed. You'll find a great food scene with diverse restaurant options that include international flavors, vegetarian options, and more. There are also many great places to try craft beer.

Is Canberra or Manchester Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Manchester has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The nightlife scene is diverse and high energy. Head to Deansgate or the Northern Quarter for some of the best nightlife venues. You'll also find a huge rave scene in town.

Canberra has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

Is Canberra or Manchester Better for Music?

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for its live music scene. However, Canberra is not a live music destination.

Whether you like big venues or smaller artists, Manchester has diverse options. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Canberra is not a live music destination.

Is Canberra or Manchester Better for Hiking?

Canberra is very good for hiking. However, Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Canberra. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Canberra or Manchester?

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Manchester is well-known for its shopping. From jewelry to boutique clothing outlets, there are many places to shop around town. Head to Manchester Arndale, Trafford Centre, or Market Street for some of the best shopping.

Many visitors go to Canberra to go shopping. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Is Canberra or Manchester Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Canberra or Manchester.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Canberra is very family-friendly. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

Manchester is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. You'll find a number of kid-friendly activities around town including the popular Legoland Discovery Center. Another fun activity is taking a behind the scenes CBBC interactive tour at MediaCityUK. Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the SeaLife Aquarium or the Chester Zoo and sports enthusiasts will not want to miss a visit to the National Football Museum or doing a tour of Old Trafford where you can also visit the Manchester United Museum.

Is Canberra or Manchester Better for Couples?

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Manchester makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples can enjoy a visit to a spa, a nice meal out, or simply wandering down the canal. For a unique experience, you can hit to slopes at Chill Factore.

Canberra is a good city for couples to visit. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

Is Canberra or Manchester Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Manchester is a popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Canberra is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Manchester. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

Canberra is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Despite being the capital city, few backpackers actually spend much time in town. There are some budget-friendly motels if you're stopping by.

Is Canberra or Manchester Better for Students?

Both Canberra and Manchester are great destinations for students.

Canberra is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

Manchester is very popular with students. There's a large number of students as well as a great music scene and tons of festivals that make this a great city to do your studies.

Is Canberra or Manchester Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Manchester has some very good public transit options. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

You'll find some public transit in Canberra, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

Is Canberra or Manchester a more walkable city?

Canberra and Manchester are nice when it comes to walkability.

Canberra is a somewhat walkable place. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

Manchester is a somewhat walkable city. Some neighborhoods are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Canberra Worth Visiting? and Is Manchester Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Manchester or Canberra?

How long in Canberra or Manchester?

It's fun to spend time in either Canberra or Manchester. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Manchester due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Canberra, and 2-4 days is enough time in Manchester.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Manchester than Canberra 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 Manchester.

One day in Canberra or Manchester?

With museums and nightlife around the cultural city of Canberra, 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.

Manchester is a big city with plenty to do. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Canberra or Manchester?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Canberra, 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.

Manchester is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Manchester, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Canberra or Manchester?

Canberra, 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.

Manchester is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Canberra or Manchester?

Canberra 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.

Manchester is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Canberra and Manchester, we can see that Manchester is more expensive. And not only is Canberra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Canberra is in Pacific and Manchester is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Canberra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Canberra 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 Manchester would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manchester than you might in Canberra.

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

Which is Bigger, Canberra or Manchester?

Manchester has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Canberra and Manchester, 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 Canberra or Manchester?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Canberra is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Manchester has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Canberra or Manchester in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Canberra and Manchester. The hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Canberra this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Manchester for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In January, Canberra is generally a little warmer than Manchesterin July. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 20°C (68°F), and Manchester fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

In January, Canberra usually receives more rain than Manchesterin July. Canberra gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Canberra or Manchester in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Canberra as well as Manchester. Many travelers come to Canberra for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. Additionally, many visitors come to Manchester in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Canberra is much warmer than Manchester in the autumn. The daily temperature in Canberra averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Manchester fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in October.

Canberra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Canberra usually gets more rain in April than Manchesterin October. Canberra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Canberra or Manchester in the Winter?

Both Manchester and Canberra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Canberra in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Manchester for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Manchester can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Canberra is much warmer than Manchester. Typically, the winter temperatures in Canberra in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Manchester averages at about 4°C (39°F)in January.

In July, Canberra usually receives less rain than Manchesterin January. Canberra gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Canberra or Manchester in the Spring?

Both Manchester and Canberra during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Canberra for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Manchester because of the activities around the city.

In October, Canberra is generally much warmer than Manchesterin April. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 15°C (60°F), and Manchester fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Canberra usually gets more rain in October than Manchesterin April. Canberra gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Manchester and Canberra