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

Should you visit Heraklion 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 Heraklion 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.

Heraklion

Heraklion is a historic, vibrant, and accessible city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

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.

Heraklion and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heraklion or Galway?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Heraklion than Galway. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Heraklion is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its archeological sights, local Cretan restaurants, and its vibrant nightlife scene. It is also well known for The Palace of Knossos. Galway is famous for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music.

How is Heraklion different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Heraklion 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 Heraklion. The city is filled with historical sights and archeological ruins. The impressive Palace of Knossos is a must-see, but also make sure you visit the Koules Fortress, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Natural History Museum of Crete.

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 Heraklion or Galway? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Heraklion 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, Heraklion makes for a great culinary experience. The city is home to countless Cretan restaurants that range in style and budget. There are fine dining restaurants as well as local dives with casual street food. The restaurants reflect the island's multi-cultural past with many styles and flavors available.

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 Heraklion or Galway Better for Nightlife?

The great nightlife scene is relatively similar in Heraklion and Galway.

Heraklion has a large number of nightlife venues. The city has some of the best nightlife on the island of Crete. There are many all-night clubs as well as bars that stay open until 2 or 3 in the morning. In particular, there are many British tourists hanging out at the clubs and bars.

Galway is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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 Heraklion or Galway Better for Beaches?

Heraklion is notable for its beaches. However, Galway is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Heraklion attract visitors from all over. You'll find world-class beaches just outside of town, if you're willing to explore a little. Agia Pelagia Beach is about half an hour away and Limanakia Beach is also not a bad day trip. If you want to stay closer to town, head to nearby Amnissos Beach.

Galway is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Heraklion or Galway?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Heraklion and Galway.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Heraklion. There are a number of unique shops around town that sell everything from traditional pottery to homemade jewelry.

Many visitors go to Galway to go shopping. 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 Heraklion or Galway Better for Families?

Both Heraklion and Galway are nice to visit with kids.

Heraklion is a family-friendly city. In town you'll find many historical and educational sights such as the Palace of Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Koules Venetian fortress. Kids will also enjoy walking the Venetian Walls that are in town. If you're willing to head a bit outside of town, in about half an hour you can reach the Cretaquarium, Dinosauria Park, or Acqua Plus Water Park.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Galway. 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 Heraklion or Galway Better for Couples?

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

Heraklion is a very popular place to visit for couples. Most couples head outside of town to other parts of the island, but those who linger in town for a while will enjoy world-class museums and fascinating archeological sights.

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 Heraklion or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Heraklion and Galway are both great destinations for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Heraklion. The city is filled with budget-friendly hostels that often have a social atmosphere and a fun vibe.

Galway is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

Is Heraklion or Galway Better for Students?

Galway is a city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Heraklion 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.

Heraklion is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Heraklion and Galway.

Heraklion has some public transit options. KTEL buses travel both within town and to nearby villages.

You'll find some public transit in Galway, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are two bus companies in Galway, Bus Eireann and City Direct.

Is Heraklion or Galway a more walkable city?

Heraklion and Galway are great when it comes to walkability.

Heraklion is a very walkable city. Many parts of the town are walkable and doing a walking tour is a great way to see many of the city's sights.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Galway or Heraklion?

How long in Heraklion or Galway?

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

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

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

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

One day in Heraklion or Galway?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Heraklion. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Galway. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Heraklion or Galway?

Heraklion 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Galway. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Heraklion or Galway?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Heraklion. Most people come for the beaches. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant city of Galway. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Heraklion or Galway?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Heraklion. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Galway is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Heraklion or Galway?

Heraklion has a larger population, and is about 94% larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Heraklion 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 Heraklion 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 Heraklion or Galway in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Heraklion as well as Galway. The summer months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the beaches, the city activities, and 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, Heraklion is generally much warmer than Galway. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 25°C (78°F), and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Heraklion this time of the year. In the summer, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Galway. Heraklion gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun.

Heraklion usually gets less rain in July than Galway. Heraklion gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heraklion or Galway in the Autumn?

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

Heraklion is much warmer than Galway in the autumn. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Galway fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Galway during autumn. Heraklion gets 199 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, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Galway. Heraklion gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Heraklion or Galway in the Winter?

Both Galway and Heraklion during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Heraklion 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.

In the winter, Heraklion is much warmer than Galway. Typically, the winter temperatures in Heraklion in January average around 12°C (54°F), and Galway averages at about 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Galway. Heraklion gets 121 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. Heraklion usually gets less rain in January than Galway. Heraklion gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heraklion or Galway in the Spring?

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

In April, Heraklion is generally much warmer than Galway. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 16°C (61°F), and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In Heraklion, it's very sunny this time of the year. Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Galway during spring. Heraklion gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Galway. Heraklion gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Galway and Heraklion