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

Should you visit Graz or Galway?

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

Should I visit Graz or Galway? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Graz

Graz is a cultural, historical, and beautiful city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Galway

Galway is a vibrant, lively, and friendly city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Graz and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Graz or Galway?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Graz than Galway. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Graz is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Galway attracts visitors for its big city activities. Graz is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture. It is also well known for The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower. Galway is famous for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music.

How is Graz different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Graz 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 Graz. The old town is among the largest in Europe and it's filled with sights and museums. The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower are among the most iconic sights but other highlights include the GrazMuseum, the Mohren Apotheke's Theriak Museum, a Gothic Franciscan Church, and the Robert Stolz Museum.

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 Graz or Galway? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Graz 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, Graz makes for a great culinary experience. There's a huge focus on sustainable dining in town, so you'll find many restaurants that use a farm to table approach. Local ingredients are heavily valued and it's fun to sample the many local flavors. Backhendl is a classic fried chicken dish that you must try.

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 Graz or Galway Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is excellent in both Graz and Galway.

Many people head to Graz for the nightlife scene. The large student population means that there's an active nightlife scene that is diverse and fun. There's a wide variety of bars and pubs with almost any music genre you could want. There are also dance clubs for those who are looking for a party.

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 Graz or Galway Better for its Old Town?

Graz is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. However, Galway does not have a historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Graz offers plenty to see. The medieval city center is very well preserved and one of the largest in Europe. The city has a lot of hidden charm and quaint streets to explore.

Galway does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Graz or Galway?

Graz is notable for shopping. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Graz is an extremely popular place for shoppers. You'll find a lot of shopping around both Jakominiplatz and Hauptplatz Squares. There are also a number of shopping streets in town including Herrengasse which is filled with shops, restaurants, and more.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Is Graz or Galway Better for Families?

Graz is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Graz is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the fairytale train and there's also a 4D cinema that is fun for the whole family. In Schlossberg Hill, families should check out The Slide, which is the largest underground slide in the world. Other highlights include a Children's Museum, a Folklife Museum, and a Natural History Museum.

Galway is a family-friendly city. 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.

Is Graz or Galway Better for Couples?

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

Graz is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's filled with culture, history, and amazing food. Couples will appreciate the romantic old town and the many world class sights around town.

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 Graz or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Many backpackers visit Galway. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

Graz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

Is Graz or Galway Better for Students?

Graz is notable for students. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Students come from all over to stay in Graz. It's long been an education center in Austria and students make up a significant portion of the population. It's also a chill city with a relaxed and student-friendly vibe.

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

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

Graz is notable for its public transit. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Graz. There are buses and trams that travel around the town.

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

Is Graz or Galway a more walkable city?

Graz 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 Graz on foot. You'll find everything you'd want to see in the old town, which is large, but still compact enough 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 Graz Worth Visiting? and Is Galway Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Galway or Graz?

How long in Graz or Galway?

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

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

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

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

One day in Graz or Galway?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Graz. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Graz or Galway?

Graz 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 Graz or Galway?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Graz. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historical 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 Graz or Galway?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Graz. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The cultural 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 Christmas Market Tours in Austria, The Best Bicycle Tours in Austria, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Graz or Galway?

Graz has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Graz 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 Graz 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 Graz or Galway in the Summer?

Both Galway and Graz during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Graz in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Galway for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Graz is generally a little warmer than Galway. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 23°C (73°F), and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Graz. In the summer, Graz often gets more sunshine than Galway. Graz gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Graz. Graz usually gets more rain in July than Galway. Graz gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Galway in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Graz and Galway. Most visitors come to Graz for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Galway because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Graz is a little warmer than Galway in the autumn. The daily temperature in Graz averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Galway fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Graz usually receives more sunshine than Galway during autumn. Graz gets 139 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, Graz usually receives less rain than Galway. Graz gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Graz or Galway in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Graz as well as Galway. The winter months attract visitors to Graz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Galway this time of year.

The weather in Graz can be very cold. In the winter, Graz is much colder than Galway. Typically, the winter temperatures in Graz in January average around 1°C (34°F), and Galway averages at about 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Graz often gets more sunshine than Galway. Graz gets 95 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Galway. Graz usually gets less rain in January than Galway. Graz gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Galway in the Spring?

Both Galway and Graz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Graz this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Galway for the activities around the city.

In April, Graz is generally a little warmer than Galway. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 13°C (55°F), and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Graz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Galway during spring. Graz gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.

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

Typical Weather for Galway and Graz