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

Should you visit Helsinki or Galway?

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

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

Helsinki

Helsinki is a nature-focused, coastal, and environmentally conscious city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Galway

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

Helsinki and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Helsinki or Galway?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Galway than Helsinki. While Helsinki is larger than Galway, Galway has more sights and attractions for tourists. Galway is very popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Helsinki attracts visitors for its museums, shopping, and impressive beauty. Helsinki is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its rich culture that includes traditional elements as well as an active subculture scene. Galway is famous for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music. It is also well known for The Galway Market.

How is Helsinki different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Helsinki 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 Helsinki. Many of the city's sights and attractions center around nature and the water. Major hightlights of the city include the Fortress of Sveaborg, Seurasaari open-Air Museum, and Temppeliaukio Rock Church. The city is also home to The National Museum of Finland.

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 Helsinki or Galway? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Helsinki and Galway both to be nice destinations.

Helsinki has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Food in town is all about local flavors and simple ingredients. The dishes let the flavor speak for itself without fancy cooking techniques or complex flavor combinations. Many of the restaurants are locally sourced with traditional ingredients. You'll find a lot of seafood, herring, grilled sausages, pancakes, and desserts.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Galway area. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

Is Helsinki or Galway Better for Nightlife?

Galway is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

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.

Helsinki has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is at its best on weekends when the city center comes to life with parties, dance clubs, and student activities. Many of the best clubs and bars are concentrated in the city center. Weekends are a bit calmer and things quiet down a lot.

Is the Shopping Better in Helsinki or Galway?

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

Helsinki is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city is great for shopping, with many brands focused on sustainability. There are local boutiques as well as name brands. Flea markets and vintage shops are also popular.

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 Helsinki or Galway Better for Families?

Helsinki 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.

Helsinki is a very family-friendly place to visit. The coastal setting offers many activities that kids and adults alike will enjoy. This capital city has a calm atmosphere with plenty of parkland to explore. The shoreline is dotted by islands where you'll also find a zoo and a fort. Kids will also enjoy exploring the islands by boat.

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 Helsinki or Galway Better for Couples?

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

Helsinki is a very popular place to visit for couples. The city's many parks offer the perfect setting for a picnic or a walk. There are also botanical gardens, evening boat rides, and saunas that will help you enjoy a romantic trip away.

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 Helsinki or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

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

Plenty of backpackers visit Helsinki. With its active nightlife scene, vibrant atmosphere, and inclusive personality, this city is a fun place for backpackers, but you should expect to pay a premium for the experience. Many backpackers avoid the city because they have heard how expensive it is. There are a few hostels around that will help you keep costs a bit more manageable.

Is Helsinki or Galway Better for Students?

Helsinki 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 Helsinki. The city has an active student life with plenty of culture and nature. It's active nightlife scene and beautiful natural areas make it a wonderful place to study.

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

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

Helsinki 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 Helsinki. Transit options include bus, tram, metro, commuter train and ferry services.

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

Is Helsinki or Galway a more walkable city?

Galway is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

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

Helsinki is a somewhat walkable city. Many neighborhoods are easy to explore on foot. The air is also clean and the setting is refreshing.

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

Should I spend more time in Galway or Helsinki?

How long in Helsinki or Galway?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Helsinki and Galway. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Helsinki than in Galway. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Helsinki, and 2-3 days is enough time in Galway.

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

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

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

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Helsinki. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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.

A weekend in Helsinki or Galway?

Helsinki 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 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.

Five days in Helsinki or Galway?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Helsinki. 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.

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.

A week in Helsinki or Galway?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the waterfront destination of Helsinki. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

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

Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Galway?

Helsinki has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki 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 Helsinki 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 Helsinki or Galway in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Galway. The summer months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Galway this time of year.

In July, Helsinki is generally around the same temperature as Galway. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 17°C (62°F), and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Helsinki this time of the year. In the summer, Helsinki often gets more sunshine than Galway. Helsinki gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun.

Helsinki usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Galway. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Helsinki or Galway in the Autumn?

Both Galway and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Galway for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Helsinki is much colder than Galway in the autumn. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and Galway fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Helsinki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Galway during autumn. Helsinki gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 96 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Galway. In October, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Galway. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Helsinki or Galway in the Winter?

Both Galway and Helsinki during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Helsinki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Galway in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Helsinki. In the winter, Helsinki is much colder than Galway. Typically, the winter temperatures in Helsinki in January average around -6°C (21°F), and Galway averages at about 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Helsinki often gets less sunshine than Galway. Helsinki gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun.

Galway gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Helsinki usually gets less rain in January than Galway. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Helsinki or Galway in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Galway. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Galway for the activities around the city during these months.

Helsinki can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Helsinki is generally much colder than Galway. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 3°C (37°F), and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Helsinki usually receives more sunshine than Galway during spring. Helsinki gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Galway. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Galway and Helsinki