A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Galway vs. Le Mans for Nightlife, Backpackers, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Galway or Le Mans?

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 Le Mans 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 museums, nightlife, and food.

Le Mans

Le Mans is a small, historic, and quaint town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's also known for nightlife and museums.

Galway and Le Mans: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Galway or Le Mans?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Galway than Le Mans. While Le Mans is larger than Galway, Galway has more sights and attractions for tourists. Galway is more popular for its food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Le Mans is known for its small town charm. Galway is popular for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music. It is also home to The Galway Market. Le Mans is popular for being the location of the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is one of the world's greatest sports-car races.

How is Galway different from Le Mans?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Galway and Le Mans 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.

Le Mans offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's most famous as the location of the 24 hour car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and on some days it's possible to visit the race track which has a museum with simulators and other activities. Around town you'll find museums and activities affiliated with the racing culture, and there's also a cathedral as well as several nice museums relating to the automotive industry among other things.

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

Galway is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Le Mans 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 Le Mans. It's not known for its food scene, but there is one dish in particular that you should try. The local specialty is les rillettes de porc, which is a pork paté.

Is Galway or Le Mans Better for Nightlife?

Galway is great for nightlife. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for nightlife and partying.

Many people head to Galway for the nightlife scene. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Le Mans. You'll find bars and clubs in the city center around Saint-Nicolas Quarter, rue des Ponts-neufs, Place de la Sirène and around the Republic Square.

Is the Shopping Better in Galway or Le Mans?

Galway is very good for shopping. However, Le Mans 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.

Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Galway or Le Mans Better for Families?

Both Galway and Le Mans 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.

Le Mans is a family-friendly city. Make sure you visit on a day when Le Mans Karting International and the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum is open to visitors. Families can ride on high speed go-carts and train like professionals with special game simulators. This is a popular destination for adults and kids alike. The town also has indoor play areas, waterparks, and beautiful parks to explore.

Is Galway or Le Mans Better for Couples?

Both Galway and Le Mans 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.

Le Mans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a small town, but racing enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum.

Is Galway or Le Mans Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Le Mans. While there aren't many hostels specifically designed for backpackers, it is possible to find affordable accommodation at most times.

Is Galway or Le Mans Better for Students?

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

Le Mans is not popular with students.

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

Both Galway and Le Mans offer good public transit options.

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

Le Mans has some public transit options. There is a tram service around town that provides access to many places including the race track via the T1 line (Antarès-Stade Marie Marvingt and exit at the East Entrance).

Is Galway or Le Mans a more walkable city?

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

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

Le Mans is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the town are walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Le Mans or Galway?

How long in Galway or Le Mans?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Galway than Le Mans 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 Le Mans?

In Galway, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

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

A weekend in Galway or Le Mans?

In Galway, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Galway has to offer.

Le Mans 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 Le Mans?

Galway is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Le Mans. 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 Le Mans?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Galway. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Galway. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and museums when visiting the small destination of Le Mans. 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 Adventure Tours to France, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Galway and Le Mans, we can see that Galway is more expensive. And not only is Le Mans much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Le Mans would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Le Mans 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 Le Mans.

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

Which is Bigger, Galway or Le Mans?

Le Mans has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Galway and Le Mans, 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 Le Mans?

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 Le Mans in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Galway as well as Le Mans. Many visitors come to Galway in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Le Mans for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Galway is cooler than Le Mans in the summer. The daily temperature in Galway averages around 16°C (60°F) in July, and Le Mans fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Le Mans. In the summer, Galway often gets less sunshine than Le Mans. Galway gets 142 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 231 hours of full sun.

Galway usually gets more rain in July than Le Mans. Galway gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Galway or Le Mans in the Autumn?

Both Le Mans and Galway are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Galway for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Le Mans because of the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Galway is cooler than Le Mans. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Galway in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Le Mans averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Galway usually receives less sunshine than Le Mans during autumn. Galway gets 96 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Galway. In October, Galway usually receives more rain than Le Mans. Galway gets 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Galway or Le Mans in the Winter?

Both Le Mans and Galway during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Galway because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Le Mans this time of year.

It's quite cold in Le Mans in the winter. In January, Galway is generally a little warmer than Le Mans. Daily temperatures in Galway average around 6°C (42°F), and Le Mans fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Galway often gets more sunshine than Le Mans. Galway gets 59 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 54 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Galway. Galway usually gets more rain in January than Le Mans. Galway gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Galway or Le Mans in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Galway and Le Mans. The activities around the city are the main draw to Galway this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Le Mans for the small town charm.

Galway is cooler than Le Mans in the spring. The daily temperature in Galway averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Le Mans fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Galway usually receives less sunshine than Le Mans during spring. Galway gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 168 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Galway usually receives around the same amount of rain as Le Mans. Galway gets 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Le Mans and Galway