A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Dundee vs. Birmingham for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Dundee or Birmingham?

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

Should I visit Dundee or Birmingham? 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. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and museums.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a bustling, historic, and vibrant city. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food.

Dundee and Birmingham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dundee or Birmingham?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Birmingham than Dundee, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Birmingham is more popular for its museums, theatre productions, nightlife, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Dundee is known for its big city activities. Birmingham is more touristy than Dundee and is popular for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere. It is also home to Victoria Square. Dundee is popular for its maritime and manufacturing history as well as its focus on design.

How is Dundee different from Birmingham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Birmingham is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Dundee 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.

Dundee offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

Is Dundee or Birmingham Better for Theater?

Birmingham is a well-known place for theatre. However, Dundee 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.

Dundee is not a theatre destination.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Dundee and Birmingham can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

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.

Birmingham has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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 Dundee or Birmingham Better for Nightlife?

Birmingham is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Birmingham offers plenty to do in the evening. 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 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.

Is Dundee or Birmingham Better for Music?

Birmingham is an amazing city to visit for live music. However, Dundee is not a live music destination.

Birmingham is a world class music destination. 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.

Dundee is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Dundee or Birmingham?

Birmingham is a well-known place for shopping. However, Dundee is not a good city for its shopping opportunities.

Birmingham is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

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 Birmingham Better for Families?

Birmingham is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Birmingham is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Dundee is a family-friendly city. 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.

Is Dundee or Birmingham Better for Couples?

Birmingham is a well-known place for romance. However, Dundee is not a good city for its romantic activities.

Birmingham is a very popular place to visit for couples. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

Most people don't think of Dundee as a couple's destination. The coastal city has some nice outdoor spaces and interesting restaurants that couples can enjoy.

Is Dundee or Birmingham Better for Students?

Birmingham is an amazing city to visit for students. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

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.

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

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

Both Dundee and Birmingham offer good public transit options.

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

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

Is Dundee or Birmingham a more walkable city?

Birmingham is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

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

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

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

Should I spend more time in Birmingham or Dundee?

How long in Dundee or Birmingham?

In either Dundee or Birmingham, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Birmingham than Dundee because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Dundee, and 1-5 days is enough time in Birmingham.

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

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

One day in Dundee or Birmingham?

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

Many travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the destination of Birmingham. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Dundee or Birmingham?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Dundee, 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.

Birmingham is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the live music, 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.

Five days in Dundee or Birmingham?

Dundee, 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Birmingham. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Dundee or Birmingham?

Dundee 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.

Travelers enjoy the museums and theater when visiting the historic destination of Birmingham. 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 Birmingham, we can see that Dundee is more expensive. And not only is Birmingham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Birmingham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Birmingham 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 Birmingham.

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

Which is Bigger, Dundee or Birmingham?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Dundee. When comparing the sizes of Dundee and Birmingham, 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 Birmingham?

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 Dundee or Birmingham in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dundee as well as Birmingham. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Dundee this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Birmingham for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.

Dundee is cooler than Birmingham in the summer. The daily temperature in Dundee averages around 14°C (58°F) in July, and Birmingham fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the summer, Dundee often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Birmingham. Dundee gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Birmingham receives 196 hours of full sun.

Dundee usually gets more rain in July than Birmingham. Dundee gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dundee or Birmingham in the Autumn?

Both Birmingham and Dundee are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Dundee for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Birmingham in the autumn for the shopping scene and the music scene.

In the autumn, Dundee is cooler than Birmingham. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dundee in October average around 10°C (49°F), and Birmingham averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Dundee usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Birmingham during autumn. Dundee gets 100 hours of sunny skies, while Birmingham receives 103 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dundee usually receives more rain than Birmingham. Dundee gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dundee or Birmingham in the Winter?

Both Birmingham and Dundee during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Dundee in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Birmingham for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.

Birmingham can be very cold during winter. Dundee can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Dundee is generally around the same temperature as Birmingham. Daily temperatures in Dundee average around 3°C (38°F), and Birmingham fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

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

Dundee usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Birmingham. Dundee gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dundee or Birmingham in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dundee and Birmingham. Most visitors come to Dundee for the activities around the city during these months.

Dundee is cooler than Birmingham in the spring. The daily temperature in Dundee averages around 7°C (45°F) in April, and Birmingham fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Dundee usually receives more sunshine than Birmingham during spring. Dundee gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Birmingham receives 136 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dundee usually receives less rain than Birmingham. Dundee gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Birmingham and Dundee