A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Dundee vs. Belfast for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Dundee or Belfast?

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

Should I visit Dundee or Belfast? 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.

Dundee

Dundee is a coastal, cultural, and historic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and museums.

Belfast

Belfast is a affordable, under-rated, and authentic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife and shopping.

Dundee and Belfast: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dundee or Belfast?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Dundee than Belfast. While Belfast is larger than Dundee, Dundee has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Dundee is more popular for its museums & sights and food, while Belfast is known for its shopping. Belfast is more touristy than Dundee and is known for being the birthplace of the Titanic and the location of the era of the "Troubles". Dundee is popular for its maritime and manufacturing history as well as its focus on design. It is also home to Discovery Point and RRS Discovery.

How is Dundee different from Belfast?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dundee or Belfast?

Dundee is a nice place to visit for its sights and museums. However, Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

Dundee is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. On the waterfront you'll find a couple of nautical museums such as RRS Discovery, and HM Frigate Unicorn. Other museums and sights include V&A Dundee, Tay Rail Bridge, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, and Glamis Castle.

Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Dundee or Belfast? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dundee is a nice place to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Belfast is not a good city for its restaurants.

Dundee offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are a few local dishes that the city is known for. These include Dundee Cake, Dundee marmalade, and Angus beef.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Belfast. While many restaurants have moved towards more modern cuisines, there are still places that hold tight to the traditions of the area. Traditional dishes include pasties, full Irish breakfasts, and oysters.

Is Dundee or Belfast Better for Nightlife?

Both Dundee and Belfast are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Dundee. The vibrant student population heavily influences the city's nightlife. There are a number of clubs and bars where you can hang out late into the night.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Belfast. The city has a number of bars and clubs with local DJs or musicians.

Is the Shopping Better in Dundee or Belfast?

Belfast is a popular place for shopping. However, Dundee is not a good city for its shopping opportunities.

Belfast is a great destination for shopping. The main shopping areas in the city are Victoria Square Shopping Centre and CastleCourt.

If you're looking to go shopping, Dundee has some nice offerings. There are shopping centers and a few independent shops that are worth checking out. Head to Overgate Shopping Centre for the standard brands or Dundee's Farmer's Market for some local produce.

Is Dundee or Belfast Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Dundee or Belfast.

Dundee is a family-friendly place to visit. Head to the Dundee Science Center or check out Discovery Point. There's also the Dundee Treasure Trail as well as climbing walls and other outdoor activities for when the weather's nice.

Belfast is a family-friendly city. The city has several great kid-friendly museums, a zoo, and a few indoor or outdoor activity centers where you can let kids play and explore.

Is Dundee or Belfast Better for Couples?

Most people don't think of either Dundee or Belfast as a couple's destination.

Dundee is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The coastal city has some nice outdoor spaces and interesting restaurants that couples can enjoy.

Most people don't think of Belfast as a couple's destination. There are gardens and parks to explore, several nice hotels with spas, and an Observatory on the 23rd floor of the Grand Central Hotel.

Is Dundee or Belfast Better for Students?

Dundee and Belfast are both good destinations for students and younger travelers.

Dundee is a good city to visit for students. Its affordability and authenticity make this a nice option for students. It's also a very safe city.

Plenty of students visit Belfast. The city's affordability has made it a popular option for international students headed to the area.

Is Dundee or Belfast Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Dundee is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Belfast is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Dundee has a few public transit options. The city has a public bus system.

Public transit is mostly limited in Belfast. There is a bus service in the city.

Is Dundee or Belfast a more walkable city?

Dundee and Belfast both are good when exploring on foot.

Dundee is somewhat walkable. There are a number of walks through the town.

Belfast is a somewhat walkable place.

For even more information, also check out Is Dundee Worth Visiting? and Is Belfast Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Belfast or Dundee?

How long in Dundee or Belfast?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Dundee and Belfast. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Belfast than in Dundee. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Dundee, and 1-3 days is enough time in Belfast.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Belfast than Dundee 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 Belfast.

One day in Dundee or Belfast?

In Dundee, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Belfast. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Dundee or Belfast?

In Dundee, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Dundee has to offer.

Belfast is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Dundee or Belfast?

Dundee is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Belfast. 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.

A week in Dundee or Belfast?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Dundee. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Dundee. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the under-rated destination of Belfast. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dundee and Belfast, we can see that Dundee is more expensive. And not only is Belfast much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Belfast would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belfast 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 Dundee would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dundee than you might in Belfast.

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

Which is Bigger, Dundee or Belfast?

Belfast has a larger population, and is about 81% larger than the population of Dundee. When comparing the sizes of Dundee and Belfast, 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 Dundee or Belfast?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Dundee or Belfast in the Summer?

Both Belfast and Dundee are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Dundee for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Belfast in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Dundee is around the same temperature as Belfast in the summer. The daily temperature in Dundee averages around 14°C (58°F) in July, and Belfast fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

Dundee usually receives more sunshine than Belfast during summer. Dundee gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Belfast receives 151 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Dundee usually receives less rain than Belfast. Dundee gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Dundee or Belfast in the Autumn?

Both Belfast and Dundee during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Dundee in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Belfast for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Dundee is around the same temperature as Belfast. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dundee in October average around 10°C (49°F), and Belfast averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In the autumn, Dundee often gets more sunshine than Belfast. Dundee gets 100 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belfast receives 92 hours of full sun.

Dundee usually gets less rain in October than Belfast. Dundee gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dundee or Belfast in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Dundee and Belfast. Most visitors come to Dundee for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Belfast because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

The weather in Belfast can be very cold. Dundee can be very cold during winter. In January, Dundee is generally cooler than Belfast. Daily temperatures in Dundee average around 3°C (38°F), and Belfast fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

Dundee usually receives more sunshine than Belfast during winter. Dundee gets 58 hours of sunny skies, while Belfast receives 50 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Dundee usually receives less rain than Belfast. Dundee gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Dundee or Belfast in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Dundee as well as Belfast. The spring months attract visitors to Dundee because of the activities around the city. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Belfast this time of year.

Dundee is cooler than Belfast in the spring. The daily temperature in Dundee averages around 7°C (45°F) in April, and Belfast fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the spring, Dundee often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Belfast. Dundee gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belfast receives 150 hours of full sun.

Dundee usually gets less rain in April than Belfast. Dundee gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Belfast and Dundee