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

Should you visit Howth or Le Mans?

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

Should I visit Howth or Le Mans? 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.

Howth

Howth is a coastal, beautiful, and picturesque fishing village. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Other reasons to visit include museums, food, and beaches.

Le Mans

Le Mans is a historic, quaint, and small town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. And you can't forget about the nightlife and museums.

Howth and Le Mans: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Howth or Le Mans?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Howth. Although Howth and Le Mans are popular destinations, Howth has more sights and attractions for tourists. Howth is very popular for its food, beaches, and hiking, while Le Mans attracts visitors for its nightlife. Howth is more touristy than Le Mans and is popular for its scenic coastline, charming character, and its accessibility to Dublin. It is also well known for The Baily Lighthouse. Le Mans is famous 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 Howth different from Le Mans?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Howth or Le Mans?

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Howth and Le Mans.

Howth offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The surrounding coastline is the main draw to this picturesque town but there is also a nice harbor, pier, and lighthouse that you can visit.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Le Mans. 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 Howth or Le Mans? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Howth 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 Howth. There are seafood restaurants and a few pubs where you can enjoy some fresh food and the local ambiance.

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 Howth or Le Mans Better for Nightlife?

Le Mans is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Howth is not particularly known for its evening party scene.

Le Mans has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

Howth doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a few pubs around town but if you're looking for a real nightlife scene then your best bet is to head into Dublin.

Is Howth or Le Mans Better for Beaches?

Howth is great for its beaches. However, Le Mans is not a beach destination.

Howth is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. Many people head to this coastal town specifically to hang out on the beach. There's also the Howth Cliff Path which is fun to explore. Some of the top beaches in the area include Red Rock Beach, Claremont Beach, and Balscadden Bay Beach. The beaches can be rocky and rough so make sure you understand the water conditions before heading to the beach.

Le Mans is not a beach destination.

Is Howth or Le Mans Better for Hiking?

Howth is great for hiking. However, Le Mans is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Howth for the hiking trails. The best way to experience Howth is to explore the The Howth Cliff Walk. There are several versions of the hike that cater to different experience and skill levels.

Le Mans is not a hiking destination.

Is Howth or Le Mans Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Howth or Le Mans.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Howth. It has a beach where kids can run around. There are also playgrounds, a lighthouse, and a pier to explore.

Le Mans offers lots of family activities. 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 Howth or Le Mans Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Howth and Le Mans make for a nice place to visit.

Howth makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The small fishing village has some great seafood restaurants and a beach where couples can pass the time.

Le Mans is a good fishing village for couples to visit. It's a small town, but racing enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum.

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

Le Mans is a popular place for backpackers. However, Howth is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Le Mans. While there aren't many hostels specifically designed for backpackers, it is possible to find affordable accommodation at most times.

Howth is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. It a small village outside of Dublin so most backpackers don't make it this way.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Howth and Le Mans.

You'll find some public transit in Howth, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. It's easy to reach the town from Dublin by DART.

While Le Mans offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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 Howth or Le Mans a more walkable city?

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

Howth is very walkable. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot. There are also many walks through the cliffs.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Le Mans or Howth?

How long in Howth or Le Mans?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Howth and Le Mans. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Le Mans than in Howth. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Howth, and 1-3 days is enough time in Le Mans.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Le Mans than Howth 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 Le Mans.

One day in Howth or Le Mans?

In Howth, you'll find food and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This fishing village offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

In Le Mans, many people enjoy the nightlife and museums that this quaint destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Howth or Le Mans?

In Howth, you'll find museums and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Howth has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Le Mans. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Howth or Le Mans?

Howth is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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.

Le Mans is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and museums when visiting the destination of Le Mans. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Howth or Le Mans?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Howth. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Howth. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Le Mans. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Ireland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Ireland, The Best Adventure Tours to France, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Howth and Le Mans, we can see that Howth 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 Howth would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Howth 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 Howth Expensive? and Is Le Mans Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Howth 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 Howth or Le Mans in the Summer?

Both Le Mans and Howth during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Howth this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Le Mans for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Howth is generally cooler than Le Mans. Daily temperatures in Howth average around 16°C (60°F), and Le Mans fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Le Mans, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Howth often gets less sunshine than Le Mans. Howth gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 231 hours of full sun.

Howth usually gets more rain in July than Le Mans. Howth gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Howth or Le Mans in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Howth and Le Mans. Many travelers come to Howth for the hiking trails and the small town atmosphere. Also, many visitors come to Le Mans in the autumn for the small town atmosphere.

Howth is cooler than Le Mans in the autumn. The daily temperature in Howth averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Le Mans fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Howth usually receives less sunshine than Le Mans during autumn. Howth gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Howth usually receives around the same amount of rain as Le Mans. Howth gets 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Howth or Le Mans in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Howth as well as Le Mans. Many visitors come to Howth in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Le Mans for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Le Mans can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Howth is a little warmer than Le Mans. Typically, the winter temperatures in Howth in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Le Mans averages at about 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Howth often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Le Mans. Howth gets 56 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 54 hours of full sun.

Howth usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Le Mans. Howth gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Howth or Le Mans in the Spring?

Both Le Mans and Howth are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Howth for the beaches and the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Le Mans because of the small town charm.

In April, Howth is generally cooler than Le Mans. Daily temperatures in Howth average around 8°C (47°F), and Le Mans fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Howth usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Le Mans during spring. Howth gets 157 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 168 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Howth usually receives around the same amount of rain as Le Mans. Howth gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Le Mans and Howth