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

Should you visit Faro or Manchester?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Manchester, 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. Other reasons to visit include shopping, nightlife, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Manchester

Manchester is a vibrant, dynamic, and diverse city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and live music.

Faro and Manchester: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Manchester?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Manchester. Although Faro and Manchester are both popular with visitors, Manchester has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Manchester is more popular for its museums, food, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Faro is known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and historical sights. Faro is more touristy than Manchester and is known for its historical sights and rich culture. Manchester is popular for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club. It is also home to The National Football Museum.

How is Faro different from Manchester?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Manchester is great for its historical sights. However, Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Manchester can be an interesting and educational experience. Head to the Science and Industry Museum, the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester Cathedral, or John Rylands Library & Manchester Central Library to see some of the cities most interesting sights.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Manchester is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Faro is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Manchester. You'll find a great food scene with diverse restaurant options that include international flavors, vegetarian options, and more. There are also many great places to try craft beer.

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 Manchester Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is excellent in both Faro and Manchester.

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.

Manchester has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The nightlife scene is diverse and high energy. Head to Deansgate or the Northern Quarter for some of the best nightlife venues. You'll also find a huge rave scene in town.

Is Faro or Manchester Better for Music?

Manchester is great for live music. However, Faro is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Manchester draws a good crowd. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Faro is not a live music destination.

Is Faro or Manchester Better for Resorts?

Faro is very popular for its luxury resorts. However, Manchester is not a resort destination.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Faro is a perfect choice. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Manchester is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Manchester Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is very good for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Manchester is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving 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.

Manchester is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Manchester Better for Beaches?

Faro is very good for its beaches. However, Manchester is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Faro to enjoy the beach. 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.

Manchester is not a beach destination.

Is Faro or Manchester Better for its Old Town?

Faro is very good for its historic old town. However, Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Faro is a good destination for visiting its 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.

Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Manchester?

Manchester is great for shopping. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Manchester. From jewelry to boutique clothing outlets, there are many places to shop around town. Head to Manchester Arndale, Trafford Centre, or Market Street for some of the best shopping.

Faro offers some nice shopping areas. 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.

Is Faro or Manchester Better for Families?

Manchester is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Faro is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Manchester is a very family-friendly destination. You'll find a number of kid-friendly activities around town including the popular Legoland Discovery Center. Another fun activity is taking a behind the scenes CBBC interactive tour at MediaCityUK. Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the SeaLife Aquarium or the Chester Zoo and sports enthusiasts will not want to miss a visit to the National Football Museum or doing a tour of Old Trafford where you can also visit the Manchester United Museum.

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 Manchester Better for Couples?

Manchester is great for romance. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its romantic activities.

Manchester is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples can enjoy a visit to a spa, a nice meal out, or simply wandering down the canal. For a unique experience, you can hit to slopes at Chill Factore.

Faro makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With the beautiful natural areas and historic old town, this seaport makes a nice couples vacation.

Is Faro or Manchester Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Faro and Manchester are good places to visit.

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

Manchester is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

Is Faro or Manchester Better for Students?

Manchester is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Faro is not popular with students.

Manchester is a great city to visit as a student. There's a large number of students as well as a great music scene and tons of festivals that make this a great city to do your studies.

Faro is not popular with students.

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

Manchester is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its public transit.

Public transit in Manchester is fairly effecient and thorough. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

Faro has a few public transit options. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

Is Faro or Manchester a more walkable city?

Faro and Manchester are good when it comes to walkability.

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

Manchester is a somewhat walkable place. Some neighborhoods are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Manchester or Faro?

How long in Faro or Manchester?

It's fun to spend time in either Faro or Manchester. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Faro due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Faro, and 2-4 days is enough time in Manchester.

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

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

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

One day in Faro or Manchester?

With shopping and nightlife around the popular resort town of Faro, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Manchester is a big city destination where you can fill many days. 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 Manchester?

With nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling around the destination of Faro, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this resort town.

Manchester 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 Manchester?

Faro, a popular resort town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this resort town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find food and shopping around the vibrant big city of Manchester. 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 Manchester?

Faro 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.

The cultural city of Manchester offers shopping and museums. 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 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Faro or Manchester?

Manchester has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Manchester, 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 Manchester?

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 Faro or Manchester in the Summer?

Both Manchester and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Faro for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Manchester because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Faro is much warmer than Manchester in the summer. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Manchester fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Manchester during summer. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies, while Manchester receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Faro usually receives less rain than Manchester. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Faro or Manchester in the Autumn?

Both Manchester and Faro during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Faro because of the shopping scene. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Manchester this time of year.

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

It's quite sunny in Faro. In the autumn, Faro often gets more sunshine than Manchester. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manchester receives 97 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in October than Manchester. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Manchester in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Manchester. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Manchester for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Manchester. In January, Faro is generally much warmer than Manchester. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 12°C (54°F), and Manchester fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

Faro usually receives more sunshine than Manchester during winter. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Manchester receives 53 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Faro usually receives more rain than Manchester. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Faro or Manchester in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Faro as well as Manchester. Many travelers come to Faro for the beaches. Also, many visitors come to Manchester in the spring for the activities around the city.

Faro is much warmer than Manchester in the spring. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Manchester fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In the spring, Faro often gets more sunshine than Manchester. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manchester receives 144 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in April than Manchester. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Manchester and Faro