A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Inverness vs. Dublin for Nightlife, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Inverness or Dublin?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Inverness and Dublin can help you decide which place is right for you.

Inverness

Inverness is a local, historic, and cultural city. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Dublin

Dublin is a friendly, welcoming, and fun city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Inverness and Dublin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Inverness or Dublin?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Dublin than Inverness, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Dublin is better known for its nightlife, music, historical sights, and big city activities, while Inverness is more popular for its food and small town charm. Inverness is well known for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness. Dublin is well known for its friendly and social nightlife, its local pubs, and its role as the birthplace of Guinness. Also, Dublin is famous for The Guinness Storehouse.

How is Inverness different from Dublin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Inverness or Dublin?

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Inverness and Dublin.

Many visitors head to Inverness specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. As a city rich in culture and heritage, you'll find a number of sights and museums in town. Check out the Highland House of Fraser, Culloden Moor, and Clava Cairns.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Dublin can be an interesting and educational experience. There are a number of museums around town including the National Museum of Ireland, the Little Museum of Dublin, and the National Gallery of Ireland.

Is the Food Better in Inverness or Dublin? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Inverness is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Dublin is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Inverness. The city makes a great spot to fill your belly after a few days exploring the Scottish Highlands. You'll find local restaurants that serve up regional specialties, and when the weather's nice, there are some spots with outdoor seating.

Dublin is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Seafood has become popular around town, but you can also try traditional favorites like stew, pancakes, or coddle.

Is Inverness or Dublin Better for Nightlife?

Dublin is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Dublin is a must-see party destination. Temple Bar is where you'll find the greatest concentration of pubs and nightlife. The city is among the friendliest and most welcoming, and this is seen even in the vibe around town at night.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Inverness. Nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind with this town, but there are actually lots of distilleries in the area and there's a surprising number of high quality bars and pubs that make for a fun evening.

Is Inverness or Dublin Better for Music?

Dublin is a well-known place for its live music scene. However, Inverness is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Dublin is very popular with diverse venues. The best places to hear live music around town are the back street pubs that feature local groups.

Inverness is not a live music destination.

Is Inverness or Dublin Better for its Old Town?

Dublin is a well-known place for its old town. However, Inverness does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Dublin. On the south side of the River Liffey are three different historic parts to the city. The Medieval Quarter is the oldest. To the east is Temple Bar, and further east is the Georgian Quarter.

Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Inverness or Dublin?

Both Inverness and Dublin are excellent shopping destinations.

Inverness is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The town is at the cultural heart of the Scottish Highlands you'll find plenty of local shops where you can pick up local products. Make sure you check out the Inverness Victorian Market.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Dublin. Head to Grafton Street to see a number of brand name and local shops. It's a pedestrian street that is fun to wander around.

Is Inverness or Dublin Better for Families?

Dublin is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Dublin is a very kid-friendly city. Explore the waterways with the viking splash, learn about the vikings at the museum Dublina, or visit any of the other kid-friendly museums around town, or see a show at The Gaiety.

Inverness is a family-friendly city. The city has some parks and activities that are great for kids. Make sure you explore Inverness Castle and the Inverness Mystery Treasure Trail.

Is Inverness or Dublin Better for Couples?

Dublin is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Dublin is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's laid-back vibe and countless pubs make it a fun weekend getaway for couples.

Inverness is a good city for couples to visit. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.

Is Inverness or Dublin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Dublin is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Inverness is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Dublin is a great city to visit for backpackers. There are a number of popular backpacker hostels around town. The pub scene is also popular with the young crowd.

Inverness is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There a some hostels and student hotels, but this isn't one of the major backpacker spots in the UK.

Is Inverness or Dublin Better for Students?

Dublin is very good for students. However, Inverness is not popular with students.

Dublin is a good city to visit for students. While student accommodation can be a bit expensive in town, the nightlife and social aspect of living in the city center makes it well worth it.

Inverness is not popular with students.

Is Inverness or Dublin Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Dublin is very good for its public transit. However, Inverness is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Dublin has a few public transit options. There is a comprehensive bus system around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Inverness. There are local buses that pass through the town.

Is Inverness or Dublin a more walkable city?

Dublin is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Dublin on foot. Because it is so compact and flat, it is easy to explore the city center on foot.

Inverness is a very walkable destination. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Inverness Worth Visiting? and Is Dublin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dublin or Inverness?

How long in Inverness or Dublin?

In either Inverness or Dublin, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Dublin than Inverness because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Inverness, and 2-5 days is enough time in Dublin.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Dublin than Inverness 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 Dublin.

One day in Inverness or Dublin?

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

You'll find nightlife and live music around the city of Dublin. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Inverness or Dublin?

Inverness 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 live music and food around the welcoming destination of Dublin. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Inverness or Dublin?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Inverness. 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 food and shopping around the laid-back city of Dublin. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Inverness or Dublin?

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

Dublin is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Walking Tours in Ireland, and The Best Luxury Tours to Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Inverness or Dublin?

Dublin has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Inverness and Dublin, 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 Inverness or Dublin?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Inverness or Dublin in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Inverness and Dublin. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Inverness this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Dublin for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Inverness is around the same temperature as Dublin in the summer. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 14°C (58°F) in July, and Dublin fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Dublin during summer. Inverness gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Dublin receives 166 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Inverness usually receives more rain than Dublin. Inverness gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Inverness or Dublin in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Inverness as well as Dublin. Many travelers come to Inverness for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Additionally, many visitors come to Dublin in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In the autumn, Inverness is cooler than Dublin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Inverness in October average around 9°C (49°F), and Dublin averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Dublin. Inverness gets 84 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dublin receives 97 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in October than Dublin. Inverness gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Dublin in the Winter?

Both Dublin and Inverness are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Inverness in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Dublin for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Inverness can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Inverness is generally much colder than Dublin. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 3°C (38°F), and Dublin fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Dublin during winter. Inverness gets 42 hours of sunny skies, while Dublin receives 56 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Inverness usually receives less rain than Dublin. Inverness gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Inverness or Dublin in the Spring?

Both Dublin and Inverness during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Inverness for the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Dublin because of the activities around the city.

Inverness is cooler than Dublin in the spring. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Dublin fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the spring, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Dublin. Inverness gets 136 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dublin receives 157 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in April than Dublin. Inverness gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Dublin and Inverness