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

Should you visit Inverness or Galway?

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 Galway can help you decide which place is right for you.

Inverness

Inverness is a cultural, traditional, and local city. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Galway

Galway is a lively, friendly, and cultural city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Inverness and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Inverness or Galway?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Galway. Although Inverness and Galway are popular destinations, Galway has more sights and attractions for tourists. Galway is very popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Inverness attracts visitors for its museums, food, shopping, and small town charm. Inverness is more touristy than Galway and is known for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness. 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 Inverness different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Galway 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 Galway?

Inverness 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 Inverness. 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.

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 Inverness or Galway? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Inverness 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, Inverness makes for a great culinary experience. 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.

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 Inverness or Galway Better for Nightlife?

Galway is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Galway offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.

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 the Shopping Better in Inverness or Galway?

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

Inverness is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

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 Inverness or Galway Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Inverness or Galway.

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

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 Inverness or Galway Better for Couples?

Both Inverness and Galway are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Inverness makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.

Galway is a good city for couples to visit. 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 Inverness or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

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

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 Galway Better for Students?

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

Galway is a good city to visit for students. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.

Inverness is not popular with students.

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

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

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

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

Is Inverness or Galway a more walkable city?

Inverness and Galway both are superb when exploring on foot.

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

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 Inverness Worth Visiting? and Is Galway Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Galway or Inverness?

How long in Inverness or Galway?

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

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

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

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

One day in Inverness or Galway?

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 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 Inverness or Galway?

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 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 Inverness or Galway?

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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural 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 Inverness or Galway?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the traditional 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.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Inverness and Galway, we can see that Inverness 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 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 Galway.

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

Which is Bigger, Inverness or Galway?

Galway has a larger population, and is about 73% larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Inverness 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 Inverness or Galway?

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 Galway in the Summer?

Both Galway and Inverness are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Inverness for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Galway in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Inverness is generally cooler than Galway. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 14°C (58°F), and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Inverness usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Galway during summer. Inverness gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Inverness usually receives around the same amount of rain as Galway. Inverness gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Inverness or Galway in the Autumn?

Both Galway and Inverness during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Inverness in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, most visitors come to Galway for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Inverness is cooler than Galway in the autumn. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 9°C (49°F) in October, and Galway fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Galway. Inverness gets 84 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 96 hours of full sun.

Galway gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Inverness usually gets less rain in October than Galway. Inverness gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Galway in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Inverness and Galway. Most visitors come to Inverness for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Galway because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Inverness can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Inverness is much colder than Galway. Typically, the winter temperatures in Inverness in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Galway averages at about 6°C (42°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Galway during winter. Inverness gets 42 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun in the winter.

Galway receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Inverness usually receives less rain than Galway. Inverness gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Inverness or Galway in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Inverness as well as Galway. The spring months attract visitors to Inverness because of the small town charm. Additionally, the activities around the city are the main draw to Galway this time of year.

In April, Inverness is generally cooler than Galway. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 7°C (44°F), and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the spring, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Galway. Inverness gets 136 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in April than Galway. Inverness gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Galway and Inverness