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

Should you visit Kiel or Galway?

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

Should I visit Kiel or Galway? 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.

Kiel

Kiel is a waterfront, maritime, and authentic 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 vibrant, lively, and friendly 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.

Kiel and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kiel or Galway?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Kiel than Galway. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Kiel is very popular for its beaches, while Galway attracts visitors for its nightlife. Kiel is more touristy than Galway and is known for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also well known for The Kiel Castle. Galway is famous for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music.

How is Kiel different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Kiel and Galway.

Kiel offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

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

Both Kiel and Galway offer a number of nice restaurants to choose from.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Kiel. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Galway is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

Is Kiel or Galway Better for Nightlife?

Galway is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

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.

If you're looking for night time activities Kiel has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

Is Kiel or Galway Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a city with good options for its beaches. However, Galway is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Kiel. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Galway is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kiel or Galway?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Galway and Kiel.

Kiel offers some nice shopping areas. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Galway has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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 Kiel or Galway Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Kiel or Galway.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Kiel. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

Galway offers lots of family activities. 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 Kiel or Galway Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Kiel and Galway make for a nice place to visit.

Kiel makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

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 Kiel or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is well known for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known 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.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is Kiel or Galway Better for Students?

Kiel and Galway are nice places to visit for students.

Kiel is popular with students. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

It's common for students to visit Galway. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.

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

Galway is a popular place for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Kiel or Galway a more walkable city?

Galway is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

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

Kiel is a somewhat walkable city. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Galway or Kiel?

How long in Kiel or Galway?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Galway than Kiel 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 Kiel or Galway?

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

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Galway. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Kiel or Galway?

Kiel 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.

Galway is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Kiel or Galway?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kiel. 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 museums and nightlife around the lively destination of Galway. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Kiel or Galway?

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

The historical city of Galway offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

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

When comparing the travel costs between Kiel and Galway, we can see that Kiel is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Kiel or Galway?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Kiel 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 Kiel 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 Kiel or Galway in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiel and Galway. Many visitors come to Kiel in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Galway for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Kiel is generally around the same temperature as Galway. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 16°C (61°F), and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In Kiel, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kiel usually receives more sunshine than Galway during summer. Kiel gets 219 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Kiel usually receives more rain than Galway. Kiel gets 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Kiel or Galway in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Kiel as well as Galway. Most visitors come to Kiel for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Galway because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Kiel is cooler than Galway in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kiel averages around 10°C (50°F) in October, and Galway fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Kiel often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Galway. Kiel gets 102 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 96 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Galway. Kiel usually gets less rain in October than Galway. Kiel gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Galway in the Winter?

Both Galway and Kiel are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Kiel because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Galway this time of year.

The weather in Kiel can be very cold. In the winter, Kiel is much colder than Galway. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kiel in January average around 0°C (33°F), and Galway averages at about 6°C (42°F).

Kiel usually receives less sunshine than Galway during winter. Kiel gets 39 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Galway. In January, Kiel usually receives less rain than Galway. Kiel gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Kiel or Galway in the Spring?

Both Galway and Kiel during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Kiel this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Galway for the activities around the city.

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

In the spring, Kiel often gets more sunshine than Galway. Kiel gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Galway. Kiel gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Galway and Kiel