A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Connemara vs. Nantes for Food, Attractions, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Connemara or Nantes?

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

Should I visit Connemara or Nantes? 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.

Connemara

Connemara is a breathtaking, scenic, and natural region. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and museums.

Nantes

Nantes is a vibrant, welcoming, and friendly city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Connemara and Nantes: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Connemara or Nantes?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Nantes. Although Connemara and Nantes are popular destinations, Nantes has more sights and attractions for tourists. Nantes is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Connemara attracts visitors for its beaches and hiking. Nantes is more touristy than Connemara and is popular for its castles and historical landmarks, local wine, and beautiful parks and gardens. It is also well known for The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. Connemara is famous for its bog-filled landscape and its hidden coves.

How is Connemara different from Nantes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Connemara or Nantes?

Nantes is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Connemara is not as famous, but is still a good region to visit for its museums and history.

Nantes offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with historical monuments, particularly in the Bouffay District. Highlights include Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, Château des Ducs de Bretagne, and the Musée d'Arts de Nantes.

Connemara is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. While most people visit the region for the natural beauty, you will also find Kylemore Abbey, Ballynahinch Castle, and Clifden Castle nearby.

Is the Food Better in Connemara or Nantes? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Nantes is terrific for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Connemara is not as famous, but is still a good region to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Nantes is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The region lends itself to unique flavors with a great mix of seafood from the Atlantic, freshwater fish from the Loire, and dairy from the surrounding countryside. The region is also famous for its wine. Local dishes that you should try include Filet de Sandre au Beurre Blanc (fresh fish in butter sauce), Crepes Bretonnes (breakfast crepes), and Le Canard Nantais (duck with Muscadet wine).

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Connemara. The area has been influenced by the improving food scene in nearby regions. You'll find everything from fine dining restaurants to food trucks that use local ingredients and recipes. The area has no shortage of seafood, shellfish, and even Connemara lamb.

Is Connemara or Nantes Better for Nightlife?

Nantes is a well-known place for its evening party scene. However, Connemara is not a good region for nightlife.

Nantes offers plenty to do in the evening. The large student population heavily influences the nightlife scene. You'll find a young vibe with a lot of bars and clubs to choose from, particularly around Île de Nantes.

Connemara doesn't offer many options. You'll find some bars in the area but most people visit for the natural beauty, not the nightlife scene.

Is Connemara or Nantes Better for Beaches?

Connemara is a very popular place for the beach. However, Nantes is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Connemara. You'll find wide stretches of sandy beach as well as hidden coves that offer a peaceful retreat. Some of the best beaches in the area include Dog’s Bay Beach, Trá an Dóilín, and Glassilaun Beach.

Nantes is not a beach destination.

Is Connemara or Nantes Better for its Old Town?

Nantes is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Connemara does not have a historic old town.

Nantes offers a nice historic old town area. The city's old town is in the Bouffay District and it is filled with half-timbered houses and a maze of streets and shops.

Connemara does not have a historic old town.

Is Connemara or Nantes Better for Hiking?

Connemara is an unbeatable place for its hiking trails. However, Nantes is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Connemara draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The landscape is considered to be some of the most beautiful in all of Ireland and there are many walks and hikes that let you experience it. Some of the best hikes are The Cong and Clonbur Forest Trail, the Claddaghduff Quay to Omey Island Walk, and Mount Gable Walk.

Nantes is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Connemara or Nantes?

Nantes is a well-known place for its shopping areas. However, Connemara is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Nantes. There are impressive shopping streets, boutique stores, and grand shopping malls. Make sure you check out Rue Crébillon, Passage Pommeraye, and the shops around the Bouffay District. Talensac Market is also a historical covered market that you can explore.

Connemara is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Connemara or Nantes Better for Families?

Nantes is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. However, Connemara is not a good region for its kid-friendly activities.

Nantes is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. It's filled with gardens, museums, and theme parks, making it a great combination of fascinating activities for adults and kids alike. Some of the top kid-friendly activities include a visit to Machine of the Isle of Nantes (both a theme park and a museum), seeing a show at Le Lieu Unique, or experiencing Naudières Park (a smaller theme park). Kids will also enjoy seeing Goulaine Castle or wandering around Jardin Extraordinaire or the Botanical Gardens.

Connemara is not always a place people visit with their families. There are plenty of places to explore outdoors such as Connemara National Park as well as the nearby beaches. You'll also find several playgrounds in the area.

Is Connemara or Nantes Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Connemara and Nantes make for a very good place to visit.

Connemara is a very popular place to visit for couples. You'll find romantic hotels and beautiful walks through hidden coves and dramatic countryside. Couples will enjoy exploring castles and getting lost in the beauty.

Nantes makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There is a mix of both natural and historical beauty. Couples can enjoy a nice meal, stroll through one of the many parks and gardens, or even spend the day at the spa.

Is Connemara or Nantes Better for Students?

Nantes is a popular place for students. However, Connemara is not popular with students.

Nantes is a good city to visit for students. There's a decent sized student population and the city has a welcoming atmosphere. It's also easy to get around with public transportation.

Connemara is not popular with students.

Is Connemara or Nantes Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Nantes is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Connemara is not a good region for times when you don't have a car.

Nantes offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are both trams and buses throughout the city that are operated by TAN (Transport de l'Agglomeration Nantaise).

Public transit is quite limited in Connemara. There are a few buses in the area but you really need a private vehicle to get around to most places.

Is Connemara or Nantes a more walkable city?

Nantes is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. However, Connemara is not a good region for its walkability.

Nantes is a very walkable destination. The city is very walkable. Both locals and tourists alike choose to walk in Nantes.

Connemara is not a very walkable region. You really need a vehicle to experience everything that the region has to offer.

For even more information, also check out Is Connemara Worth Visiting? and Is Nantes Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Nantes or Connemara?

How long in Connemara or Nantes?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Connemara and Nantes. In our opinion, Nantes has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Nantes than Connemara. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Nantes than Connemara 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 Nantes.

One day in Connemara or Nantes?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Connemara. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Nantes. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Connemara or Nantes?

Connemara is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historical destination of Nantes. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Connemara or Nantes?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Connemara. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the welcoming city of Nantes. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the food. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Connemara or Nantes?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the breathtaking destination of Connemara. This region offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Nantes is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Ireland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Ireland, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

When comparing the travel costs between Connemara and Nantes, we can see that Connemara 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 Connemara Expensive? and Is Nantes Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Connemara or Nantes?

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 Connemara or Nantes in the Summer?

Both Nantes and Connemara during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Connemara for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Nantes in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Connemara is cooler than Nantes in the summer. The daily temperature in Connemara averages around 16°C (60°F) in July, and Nantes fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

In Nantes, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Connemara often gets less sunshine than Nantes. Connemara gets 142 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 267 hours of full sun.

Connemara usually gets more rain in July than Nantes. Connemara gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Connemara or Nantes in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Connemara and Nantes. Many visitors come to Connemara in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Nantes for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Connemara is cooler than Nantes. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Connemara in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Nantes averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Connemara usually receives less sunshine than Nantes during autumn. Connemara gets 96 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Connemara gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Connemara usually receives more rain than Nantes. Connemara gets 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Connemara or Nantes in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Connemara as well as Nantes. Most visitors come to Connemara for the museums and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Nantes because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Connemara is generally around the same temperature as Nantes. Daily temperatures in Connemara average around 6°C (42°F), and Nantes fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Connemara often gets less sunshine than Nantes. Connemara gets 59 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 72 hours of full sun.

Connemara receives a lot of rain in the winter. Connemara usually gets more rain in January than Nantes. Connemara gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Connemara or Nantes in the Spring?

Both Nantes and Connemara are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Connemara because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Nantes this time of year.

Connemara is cooler than Nantes in the spring. The daily temperature in Connemara averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Nantes fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Connemara usually receives less sunshine than Nantes during spring. Connemara gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Connemara usually receives around the same amount of rain as Nantes. Connemara gets 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nantes and Connemara