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

Should you visit Inverness or Le Mans?

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 Le Mans can help you decide which place is right for you.

Inverness

Inverness is a historic, cultural, and traditional city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Le Mans

Le Mans is a historic, quaint, and small town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. And you can't forget about the nightlife and museums.

Inverness and Le Mans: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Popular for food and cuisine
  • Active nightlife
  • Fun shopping
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Home to Loch Ness
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for food


Is there more to do in Inverness or Le Mans?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Inverness. Although Inverness and Le Mans are popular destinations, Inverness has more sights and attractions for tourists. Inverness is more touristy than Le Mans and is popular for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness. It is also well known for Loch Ness. 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 Inverness different from Le Mans?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Inverness
Le Mans

Inverness is great for its historical sights. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

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.

Le Mans offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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 Inverness or Le Mans? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Inverness
Le Mans

Inverness is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Le Mans is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in 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.

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 Inverness or Le Mans Better for Nightlife?

Inverness
Le Mans

Both Inverness and Le Mans are nice when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Le Mans. 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Inverness or Le Mans?

Inverness
Le Mans

Inverness is great for shopping. However, Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Inverness. 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.

Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.


Is Inverness or Le Mans Better for Families?

Inverness
Le Mans

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

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.

Le Mans is a family-friendly city. 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 Inverness or Le Mans Better for Couples?

Inverness
Le Mans

Both Inverness and Le Mans 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.

Le Mans is a good city 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 Inverness or Le Mans Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Inverness
Le Mans

Le Mans is very good for backpackers. However, Inverness is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

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

Inverness
Le Mans

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

Le Mans has a few public transit options. 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).

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

Is Inverness or Le Mans a more walkable city?

Inverness
Le Mans

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

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

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

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

Should I spend more time in Le Mans or Inverness?

How long in Inverness or Le Mans?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Inverness and Le Mans. In our opinion, Inverness has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Inverness than Le Mans. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Inverness than Le Mans. 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 Le Mans. 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 Le Mans 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 Le Mans.


  • How many days in Inverness or Le Mans? Ideal Length of Stay
    Inverness 1-3 
    Le Mans 1-3

One day in Inverness or Le Mans?

In Inverness, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

You'll find nightlife and museums around the town of Le Mans. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Le Mans has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.


A weekend in Inverness or Le Mans?

In Inverness, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Inverness has to offer.

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

Five days in Inverness or Le Mans?

Inverness is a great place to explore. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and museums when visiting the historic town of Le Mans. 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 Le Mans?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Inverness. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Inverness. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Le Mans 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 Adventure Tours to France, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in France.


Which place is cheaper, Le Mans or Inverness?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Inverness is £168, while the average daily cost in Le Mans is £71. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Inverness and Le Mans in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Inverness £91
    Le Mans £32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Inverness £182
    Le Mans £64
Compare Hotels in Inverness and Le Mans

Looking for a hotel in Inverness or Le Mans? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Inverness


Hotels in Le Mans


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Inverness Hotel Prices and Le Mans Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Inverness £33
    Le Mans £26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Inverness

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Inverness:

  • Inverness to Glasgow Direct transfer: $781
  • Inverness to Edinburgh Direct transfer: $781
  • Inverness to Isle of Skye Direct transfer: $623
  • Inverness to Fort William Direct transfer: $374
  • Inverness Private Transfer to Aviemore: $229
  • Transfers / Tour from , inverness, Edinburgh ,Glasgow ,Aberdeen : $184
  • Inverness Airport to Glenshee Ski Resort - Round-Trip Transfer: $131
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Inverness INV to Inverness City by luxury vehicle: $105
  • Inverness Airport (INV) to Glenshee Ski Resort - Arrival Transfer: $66
  • Inverness Airport (INV) to Lecht Ski Resort - Arrival Transfer: $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Inverness or Le Mans?

Prices for flights to both Le Mans and Inverness change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Inverness £49
    Le Mans £23

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Inverness £44
    Le Mans £13

Tours and Activities in Inverness

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Inverness are as follows:

  • 1-Day Moray Coast Tour with Speyside Whisky from Inverness: $97
  • 2-Day Tour to Isle of Skye, The Fairy Pools & Highland Castles: $191
  • 2-Hour Private Celtic Handfasting Ceremony Experience: $108
  • 25 Shot Clay Pigeon Shooting Experience: $63
  • Applecross, Loch Carron & Wild Highlands Tour from Inverness: $69
  • Cawdor Castle, Inverness, Culloden, Outlander and Loch Ness Tour: $164
  • Chauffeur driven sightseeing Edinburgh to & from Inverness: $1,000
  • Clan Tour - Castle ,Whisky and History Tour: $172
  • Craigs Luxury Speyside Private Whisky Tour: $686
  • Day tour to Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools from Inverness: $126
  • From Cairngorms National Park and Whisky Tour: $76
  • From Glen Affric, Culloden and Clava Cairns Tour: $73

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Inverness £23
    Le Mans £10

Sample the Local Flavors in Inverness

Also in Inverness, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • From Invergordon Port Dunrobin Castle, Clynelish Distillery Tour : $203
  • Speyside Distillery Tour From Inverness: $1,124


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

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


Which is Bigger, Inverness or Le Mans?

Le Mans has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Inverness and Le Mans, 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 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 Inverness or Le Mans in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Inverness as well as Le Mans. The summer months attract visitors to Inverness because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Le Mans this time of year.

In July, Inverness is generally cooler than Le Mans. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 14°C (58°F), and Le Mans fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Le Mans. In the summer, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Le Mans. Inverness gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 231 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets more rain in July than Le Mans. Inverness gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Inverness 14°C (58°F) 
    Le Mans 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Inverness or Le Mans in the Autumn?

Both Le Mans and Inverness are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Inverness this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Le Mans for the small town atmosphere.

Inverness is cooler than Le Mans in the autumn. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 9°C (49°F) in October, and Le Mans fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Le Mans during autumn. Inverness gets 84 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Inverness usually receives less rain than Le Mans. Inverness gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Inverness 9°C (49°F) 
    Le Mans 13°C (55°F)

Should I visit Inverness or Le Mans in the Winter?

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

Le Mans can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Inverness. In the winter, Inverness is cooler than Le Mans. Typically, the winter temperatures in Inverness in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Le Mans averages at about 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Le Mans. Inverness gets 42 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 54 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in January than Le Mans. Inverness gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Inverness 3°C (38°F) 
    Le Mans 5°C (40°F)

Should I visit Inverness or Le Mans in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Inverness and Le Mans. Many visitors come to Inverness in the spring for the small town charm. Furthermore, most visitors come to Le Mans for the small town charm during these months.

In April, Inverness is generally cooler than Le Mans. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 7°C (44°F), and Le Mans fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Le Mans during spring. Inverness gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 168 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Inverness usually receives less rain than Le Mans. Inverness gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Inverness 7°C (44°F) 
    Le Mans 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Le Mans and Inverness

Inverness Le Mans
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (38°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 5°C (40°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Feb 3°C (38°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 5°C (42°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 8°C (46°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Apr 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 10°C (50°F) 50 mm (2 in)
May 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 14°C (56°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Jun 13°C (55°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 17°C (62°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jul 14°C (58°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Aug 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 19°C (65°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 16°C (61°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Oct 9°C (49°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 13°C (55°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 5°C (42°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 8°C (46°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Dec 4°C (39°F) 52 mm (2 in) 5°C (42°F) 75 mm (3 in)