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

Should you visit Galway or Honfleur?

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 Honfleur 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 lively, friendly, and cultural city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Honfleur

Honfleur is a peaceful, serene, and picturesque city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and museums.

Galway and Honfleur: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Galway or Honfleur?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Galway. Although Galway and Honfleur 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 Honfleur is known for its food, beaches, and impressive beauty. Honfleur is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its influence over Impressionist art, its stunning harbor, and its beautiful buildings. 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 Honfleur?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Galway and Honfleur have good landmarks and museums for visitors.

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.

Honfleur offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Some of the most notable sights around the town include Saint Catherine's Church, Le Vieux Bassin, Notre-Dame de Grace, and the Normandy Bridge.

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

Honfleur is an unbeatable place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Many restaurants in Honfleur have been singled out for their culinary prowess. Located on the coast of Normandy along the English Channel, seafood is a defining element for most dishes here. Foodies flock to this town for its Michelin starred restaurants as well as its local cafes and quaint eateries. For land-lovers, there's a popular local cider-braised pork that you must-try. And for dessert make sure you try the Tarte Tatin.

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 Honfleur Better for Nightlife?

Galway is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. Also, Honfleur is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Galway has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

Honfleur has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Restaurants come to life at night when music flows out onto the streets. The town is not known for its partying, but that doesn't mean that it's a sleepy place that shuts down when the sun sets.

Is Galway or Honfleur Better for Beaches?

Honfleur is a moderate city for its beaches. However, Galway is not a beach destination.

Honfleur is a good spot to see the beach. The town sits by the estuary of the Seine and there are two beaches not far from town. Butin Beach is the closest to town and the most popular, but Vasouy Beach is more relaxed and natural.

Galway is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Galway or Honfleur?

Galway is very good for shopping. However, Honfleur is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Honfleur has some nice offerings. It's a charming town with boutique shops, chocolate shops, and the standard tourist places that sell souvenirs and t-shirts.

Is Galway or Honfleur Better for Families?

Both Galway and Honfleur 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.

Honfleur is a family-friendly city. Located on the coast of Normandy, the town has boat rides, quirky museums, and Vieux Bassin, which is a beautiful and lively harbor. For kids who need to stretch their legs, there are many parks and outdoor spaces to enjoy.

Is Galway or Honfleur Better for Couples?

Honfleur is notable for romance. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Honfleur is a very popular place to visit for couples. It has, arguably, one of the area's most beautiful harbors. There are also many great seafood restaurants, relaxing gardens, and spas that are perfect for couples.

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 Galway or Honfleur Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Honfleur is lacking in options 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.

Honfleur is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. You'll likely have more luck looking for an apartment than a hostel, so if you're looking for a place to stay with a social setting, you may be out of luck.

Is Galway or Honfleur Better for Students?

Galway is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Honfleur 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.

Honfleur is not popular with students.

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

Galway is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Honfleur is lacking in options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is generally limited in Honfleur. HO Buses travel from the outskirts or town into the center and are used mainly by locals. If you plan to head into Normandy to see the countryside, you'll want to have a car.

Is Galway or Honfleur a more walkable city?

Galway and Honfleur both are superb when exploring on foot.

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

Honfleur is a very walkable city. The city center is compact and easy to explore on foot. There are also many coastal walks leading out of town.

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

Should I spend more time in Honfleur or Galway?

How long in Galway or Honfleur?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Galway and Honfleur. In our opinion, Galway has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Galway than Honfleur. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Galway, and 1-3 days is enough time in Honfleur.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Galway than Honfleur 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 Galway or Honfleur?

The city of Galway offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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

A weekend in Galway or Honfleur?

Galway is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Galway, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Honfleur is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, 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 Galway or Honfleur?

Galway is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Honfleur. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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 Honfleur?

Galway is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the serene destination of Honfleur. 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 Budget Tours to Ireland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Galway or Honfleur?

Galway has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Honfleur. When comparing the sizes of Galway and Honfleur, 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.