A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Galway vs. Carcassonne for Attractions, Food, Backpackers, and Families

Should you visit Galway or Carcassonne?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Galway and Carcassonne 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.

Galway

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

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a medieval, historical, and fairytale town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for food and museums.

Galway and Carcassonne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Galway or Carcassonne?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Galway. Although Galway and Carcassonne are both popular with visitors, Galway has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Galway is more popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Carcassonne is known for its museums, food, historical sights, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Carcassonne is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its medieval history, walled fortifications, and well-known castle. 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 Galway different from Carcassonne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Carcassonne is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Carcassonne. The town is filled with medieval sights including the Château Comtal, the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and the Carcassonne Cathedral.

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.

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

Carcassonne is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Carcassonne makes for a great culinary experience. There are a number of local restaurants that serve regional specialties such as cassoulet. You can spend a few hours exploring the castle and then grab a delicious bite to eat.

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.

Is Galway or Carcassonne Better for Nightlife?

Galway is a very popular place for nightlife. However, Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Galway has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Galway or Carcassonne Better for its Old Town?

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

Many visitors go to Carcassonne to see the historical old town. The medieval walled city is seeped in history and filled with atmosphere. Cars are not allowed in town.

Galway does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Galway or Carcassonne?

Galway is a good destination for shopping. However, Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in 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.

Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Galway or Carcassonne Better for Families?

Both Galway and Carcassonne are good to visit with kids.

Galway is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Carcassonne is a family-friendly city. Kids who love castles will enjoy wandering the maze of rooms and getting lost in the medieval atmosphere.

Is Galway or Carcassonne Better for Couples?

Both Galway and Carcassonne are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Galway is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Carcassonne makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a medieval city with an impressive castle and walled fortifications. It's a uniquely European sight that is great for couples who enjoy history.

Is Galway or Carcassonne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Galway and Carcassonne are very good destinations for backpackers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Galway. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

Many backpackers visit Carcassonne. There are interesting hostels in the area including a converted 17th century convent.

Is Galway or Carcassonne Better for Students?

Galway is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Carcassonne is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Galway. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.

Carcassonne is not popular with students.

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

Both Galway and Carcassonne offer good public transit options.

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

Carcassonne has some public transit options. You can reach the town by train from Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, or Bordeaux and many people visit the town as a day trip.

Is Galway or Carcassonne a more walkable city?

Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne on foot. Cars aren't allowed in the medieval city so it's best to explore on foot.

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 Galway Worth Visiting? and Is Carcassonne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Carcassonne or Galway?

How long in Galway or Carcassonne?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Galway or Carcassonne to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Galway than Carcassonne because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Galway, and 1-2 days is enough time in Carcassonne.

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

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

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

One day in Galway or Carcassonne?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant city of Galway. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

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

A weekend in Galway or Carcassonne?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the cultural destination of Galway. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Carcassonne 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 Galway or Carcassonne?

The cultural city of Galway offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Carcassonne. 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 Galway or Carcassonne?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Galway. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the medieval destination of Carcassonne. This town 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 Budget Tours to Ireland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, and The Best Historical Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Galway or Carcassonne?

Galway has a larger population, and is about 43% larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Galway and Carcassonne, 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 Galway or Carcassonne?

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 Galway or Carcassonne in the Summer?

Both Carcassonne and Galway during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Galway this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Carcassonne for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Galway is much colder than Carcassonne in the summer. The daily temperature in Galway averages around 16°C (60°F) in July, and Carcassonne fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Carcassonne, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Galway often gets less sunshine than Carcassonne. Galway gets 142 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 275 hours of full sun.

Galway usually gets more rain in July than Carcassonne. Galway gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Galway or Carcassonne in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Galway and Carcassonne. Many travelers come to Galway for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Carcassonne in the autumn for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Galway is cooler than Carcassonne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Galway in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Carcassonne averages at about 17°C (62°F).

Galway usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during autumn. Galway gets 96 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 161 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Galway gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Galway usually receives more rain than Carcassonne. Galway gets 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Galway or Carcassonne in the Winter?

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

In January, Galway is generally much colder than Carcassonne. Daily temperatures in Galway average around 6°C (42°F), and Carcassonne fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Galway often gets less sunshine than Carcassonne. Galway gets 59 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 88 hours of full sun.

Galway receives a lot of rain in the winter. Galway usually gets more rain in January than Carcassonne. Galway gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Galway or Carcassonne in the Spring?

Both Carcassonne and Galway are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Galway for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Galway is much colder than Carcassonne in the spring. The daily temperature in Galway averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Carcassonne fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

Galway usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during spring. Galway gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Galway usually receives around the same amount of rain as Carcassonne. Galway gets 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Carcassonne and Galway