A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Faro vs. Galway for Nightlife, Backpackers, Food, and Families

Should you visit Faro or Galway?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Galway, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Faro

Faro is a popular, busy, and active resort town. It's also known for nightlife, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Galway

Galway is a friendly, cultural, and historical city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Faro and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Galway?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Galway. Although Faro and Galway are both popular with visitors, Galway has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Galway is more popular for its museums, food, and big city activities, while Faro is known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and historical sights. Faro is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its historical sights and rich culture. Galway is popular for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music. It is also home to The Galway Market.

How is Faro different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Faro or Galway?

Galway is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

Galway is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular landmarks and sights in town include Eyre Square, St. Nicholas' Church, the Galway Cathedral, and the Galway City Museum.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Faro or Galway? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Galway is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Faro is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Galway. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Faro. It has become a major tourist town, so you have to get a bit creative to find a more traditional restaurant. Look for fresh seafood like cod, monkfish, or shellfish if you want some local flavors.

Is Faro or Galway Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is high quality in both Faro and Galway.

Many people head to Faro for the nightlife scene. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

Galway has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

Is Faro or Galway Better for Resorts?

Faro is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Galway is not a resort destination.

Faro is a world class resort vacation destination. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Galway is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Galway Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a resort town with good options for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Galway is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Faro. There are both snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities in the area. It's possible to snorkel off of several beaches or arrange a scuba diving excursion with a local dive shop.

Galway is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Galway Better for Beaches?

Faro is a resort town with good options for its beaches. However, Galway is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Faro. The most popular beach in the area is Faro Beach. It can get crowded during the summer months but if you walk a bit you can often get away from the crowds. To reach the beach you'll need a car or you can take the bus as the beach is about 10 km away.

Galway is not a beach destination.

Is Faro or Galway Better for its Old Town?

Faro is a resort town with good options for its historic old town. However, Galway does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Faro to see the historical old town. You'll find historic buildings and cobblestone streets in the old town. It's a nice place to explore, grab a bite to eat, and do a little shopping.

Galway does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Galway?

If you're looking to go shopping, Faro and Galway both offer plenty of good spots.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Faro. The town isn't as big as some others, so it's shopping scene isn't as comprehensive, but you will find the major brands as well as souvenir shops to peruse when you need a break from the beach.

Galway offers some nice shopping areas. 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.

Is Faro or Galway Better for Families?

Galway is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Faro is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Galway offers lots of family activities. 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.

Faro is not the most family-friendly destination. There are some nice nature reserves in the area so kids who love wildlife will enjoy a visit.

Is Faro or Galway Better for Couples?

Faro and Galway are both good to visit as a couple.

Faro is a nice destination for couples. With the beautiful natural areas and historic old town, this seaport makes a nice couples vacation.

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.

Is Faro or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for backpackers.

Galway is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

Faro is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. The are some good hostels in the area, but it's a bit tricky to get around without a car.

Is Faro or Galway Better for Students?

Galway is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Faro is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Galway. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.

Faro is not popular with students.

Is Faro or Galway Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Faro and Galway both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Faro offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

Galway has a few public transit options. There are two bus companies in Galway, Bus Eireann and City Direct.

Is Faro or Galway a more walkable city?

Galway is great for its walkability. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its high level of walkability.

Galway is very walkable. If you stay in central Galway, the area is generally compact and walkable.

Faro is a somewhat walkable place. The city's old town is particularly walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Faro Worth Visiting? and Is Galway Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Galway or Faro?

How long in Faro or Galway?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Faro and Galway. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Faro than in Galway. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Faro, and 2-3 days is enough time in Galway.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Galway than Faro 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 Galway.

One day in Faro or Galway?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the destination of Faro. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Galway. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Faro or Galway?

Faro 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.

Galway is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Faro or Galway?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Faro. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Galway. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Faro or Galway?

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the active destination of Faro. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The friendly city of Galway offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

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

Which is Bigger, Faro or Galway?

Galway has a larger population, and is about 71% larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro 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.

When is the best time to visit Faro or Galway?

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 Faro or Galway in the Summer?

Both Galway and Faro during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Galway for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Faro is much warmer than Galway in the summer. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Faro. In the summer, Faro often gets more sunshine than Galway. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in July than Galway. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Galway in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Galway. Many travelers come to Faro for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Galway in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Faro is much warmer than Galway. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Faro in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Galway averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Galway during autumn. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 96 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Galway receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Faro usually receives less rain than Galway. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Faro or Galway in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Faro as well as Galway. Many visitors come to Faro in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Galway for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In January, Faro is generally much warmer than Galway. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 12°C (54°F), and Galway fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Faro often gets more sunshine than Galway. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Galway. Faro usually gets less rain in January than Galway. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Galway in the Spring?

Both Galway and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Faro for the beaches during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Galway because of the activities around the city.

Faro is much warmer than Galway in the spring. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Galway during spring. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Faro usually receives less rain than Galway. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Galway and Faro