Which place is cheaper, Galway or Edinburgh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Edinburgh and Galway can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Edinburgh is a ancient, charming, and character-filled city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and shopping.
Galway is a cultural, historical, and vibrant city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Edinburgh than Galway. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Edinburgh is very popular for its museums, theatre productions, music, historical sights, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Galway attracts visitors for its food. Edinburgh is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its medieval Old Town, the Royal Mile, and its influence on the Harry Potter series. It is also well known for The Edinburgh Castle. Galway is famous for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Galway and Edinburgh. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Edinburgh is an unbeatable place for its sights and museums. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.
Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Edinburgh that are not to be missed. The most famous sights include the Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the National Museum of Scotland. There are also kid-friendly museums like Camera Obscura.
Galway offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Popular landmarks and sights in town include Eyre Square, St. Nicholas' Church, the Galway Cathedral, and the Galway City Museum.
Edinburgh is notable for theatre. However, Galway is not a theatre destination.
Edinburgh attracts a wide-range of world-class performances. It's fun to see a live performance or attend one of the festivals in town.
Galway is not a theatre destination.
Galway is a city with good options for its restaurants. However, Edinburgh is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.
Galway has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.
Edinburgh may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The city has some unique but famous dishes to try including haggis and black pudding. For slightly less intimidating options, check out the cullen skink, porridge, or smoked salmon. There are many fish and chips shops to choose from as well as a diversity of ethnic restaurants including Indian, Thai, and Ethiopian.
The great nightlife scene is relatively similar in Edinburgh and Galway.
Edinburgh has a large number of nightlife venues. With so many students, the nightlife stays very active. There are a wide range of bars and clubs to choose from as well as some of the country's oldest pubs. Tourists tend to frequent the Old Town area, but you'll find more locals if you head to the student and university areas.
Galway is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The nightlife scene is among the best in Ireland. The city embraces the friendly Irish hospitality and there are laid back pubs and bars around town as well as a few trendy nightclubs.
Edinburgh is an unbeatable place for live music. However, Galway is not a live music destination.
Edinburgh is a world class music destination. In addition to a wide range of live music venues, there are also a number of music festivals held in town.
Galway is not a live music destination.
Edinburgh is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. However, Galway does not have a historic old town.
With a famous historical old-town, Edinburgh offers plenty to see. The city's Old Town attracts international visitors who come to see the Edinburgh Castle, the quaint streets, and the many shops and cafes. The Royal Mile is a popular area with pubs and souvenir shops. It connects the castle to the Scottish Parliament.
Galway does not have a historic old town.
Edinburgh is notable for shopping. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.
Edinburgh is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Head to Princes Street in the New Town to visit department stores and other name brand shops. Nearby George Street has more boutique style shops and less crowds. In the Old Town, Victoria Street is filled with Harry Potter shops and tourist stores where you can pick up a kilt or Edinburgh sweatshirt.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Galway. You'll find shopping both in the city center as well as at suburban shopping malls. For some of the best shopping head to The Latin Quarter, The Westend or the outdoor market which is found in Church lane by St Nicholas' Church.
Edinburgh is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.
Edinburgh is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy wandering down Victoria Street and popping in the Harry Potter shops. There are also a number of fascinating Harry Potter tours that take you through notable landmarks where J.K. Rowling was inspired to write these popular stories. You'll even visit Tom Riddle's gravesite. Other highlights that families will enjoy include Edinburgh Castle and the Edinburgh Dungeon, which is best for older kids or kids that enjoy a good scare. Younger kids will enjoy a trip the illusions museum, Camera Obscura, which also offers one of the best views of the city.
Galway is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy the National Aquarium Galway or simply wandering around the Latin Quarter. About 15 minutes outside of the city is the Wildlands Adventure Park which has ziplines, ropes courses, and other adrenaline filled activities. Brigit's Garden is another fun place to let kids stretch their legs.
Edinburgh is notable for romance. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.
Edinburgh is a very popular place to visit for couples. With its castle and the Royal Mile, there are many romantic places to explore as a couple. There are also good restaurants and some nice hotels. Whether you're interested in history, food, or fun, this city makes for a great couples trip.
Galway makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are nice restaurants, beautiful walks, and a few parks to explore. There are also several romantic places just outside of town that make for a great day trip.
Edinburgh is an unbeatable place for backpackers. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
Edinburgh is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. The city has some good hostels and an active nightlife, so it's not hard to find other travelers to hang out with. It's a well visited city with many areas that attracted younger travelers or students.
Many backpackers visit Galway. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.
Edinburgh is notable for students. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.
Students come from all over to stay in Edinburgh. This multicultural city is popular with international students because of its excellent research and academic centers as well as its unique history.
Plenty of students visit Galway. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.
Visitors will find nice public transit in both Edinburgh and Galway.
Edinburgh has some public transit options. Buses are the best way to get into town from the outer edges if you don't have a car.
You'll find some public transit in Galway, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are two bus companies in Galway, Bus Eireann and City Direct.
Edinburgh is an unbeatable place for its walkability. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.
It is easy to get around Edinburgh on foot. The Old Town in particular is fun to walk around
Galway is a very walkable city. If you stay in central Galway, the area is generally compact and walkable.
For even more information, also check out Is Edinburgh Worth Visiting? and Is Galway Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Edinburgh and Galway. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Edinburgh than in Galway. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Edinburgh, and 2-3 days is enough time in Galway.
Families should spend more time in Edinburgh than Galway. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Edinburgh, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Edinburgh than Galway. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Edinburgh that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Edinburgh than Galway 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 Edinburgh.
Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the quaint destination of Edinburgh. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Galway. 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.
Edinburgh 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.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the lively destination of Galway. 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.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Edinburgh. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural city of Galway. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the gothic destination of Edinburgh. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
Galway 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Edinburgh is £142, while the average daily cost in Galway is £112. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Edinburgh and Galway in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Edinburgh or Galway? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Galway:
Prices for flights to both Galway and Edinburgh change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some typical examples of dining costs in Galway are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Galway.
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Galway are as follows:
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Galway:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Edinburgh and Galway, we can see that Edinburgh is more expensive. And not only is Galway much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Galway would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Galway 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 Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh than you might in Galway.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Edinburgh Expensive? and Is Galway Expensive?.
Edinburgh has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Edinburgh and Galway, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Edinburgh as well as Galway. The summer months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Galway this time of year.
In July, Edinburgh is generally around the same temperature as Galway. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 14°C (58°F), and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In the summer, Edinburgh often gets more sunshine than Galway. Edinburgh gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun.
Edinburgh usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Galway. Edinburgh gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Galway and Edinburgh are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Galway for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Edinburgh is cooler than Galway in the autumn. The daily temperature in Edinburgh averages around 10°C (49°F) in October, and Galway fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Edinburgh usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Galway during autumn. Edinburgh gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 96 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Galway. In October, Edinburgh usually receives less rain than Galway. Edinburgh gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Galway and Edinburgh during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Edinburgh for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Galway in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Edinburgh. In the winter, Edinburgh is much colder than Galway. Typically, the winter temperatures in Edinburgh in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Galway averages at about 6°C (42°F).
In the winter, Edinburgh often gets less sunshine than Galway. Edinburgh gets 48 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun.
Galway gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Edinburgh usually gets less rain in January than Galway. Edinburgh gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Edinburgh and Galway. Many visitors come to Edinburgh in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Galway for the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Edinburgh is generally cooler than Galway. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 7°C (45°F), and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Galway during spring. Edinburgh gets 132 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Edinburgh usually receives less rain than Galway. Edinburgh gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Edinburgh | Galway | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
May | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Jul | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
Aug | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
Oct | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
Nov | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |