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

Should you visit Kiel or Limerick?

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

Should I visit Kiel or Limerick? 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 off-the-beaten-path, waterfront, and maritime city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Limerick

Limerick is a outdoorsy, fun-filled, and historic city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Kiel and Limerick: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kiel or Limerick?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kiel than Limerick, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Kiel is more popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Limerick is known for its impressive beauty. Kiel is popular for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also home to The Kiel Castle. Limerick is popular for its castle, old town, and outdoor activities.

How is Kiel different from Limerick?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Kiel and Limerick.

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 Limerick. The town is famous for King John's Castle as well as St. Mary's Cathedral, and St. John's Square and Cathedral.

Is the Food Better in Kiel or Limerick? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Kiel and Limerick offer a number of good 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)

Limerick is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find a mix of traditional Irish restaurants and more modern international cuisine. Local specialties to try include Limerick Ham, Cahill's Whiskey Cheese, and Walnut Cheddar.

Is Kiel or Limerick Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Kiel and Limerick.

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

If you're looking for night time activities Limerick has a few options to choose from. It's a student town so much of the nightlife scene centers around the student population. There are lively pubs and clubs around town so it's not hard to have a fun night out.

Is Kiel or Limerick Better for Beaches?

Kiel is very good for the beach. However, Limerick is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Kiel to enjoy the beach. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Limerick is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kiel or Limerick?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Limerick 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.

Limerick has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find a mix of brand name chains and independent boutiques in the city center. There are several major shopping streets in town including O'Connell Street, and the pedestrian streets of Bedford Row and Cruises Street.

Is Kiel or Limerick Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Kiel or Limerick.

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.

Limerick offers lots of family activities. Families will enjoy visiting King John's Castle but for kids who need a break from the sightseeing, there are kid-friendly activities around town like Curraghchase Forest Park and the Peoples Park. Families should also check out the Dreamland Fun Center. Museums like Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum are also fun for the whole family.

Is Kiel or Limerick Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Kiel and Limerick make for a good 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.

Limerick is a good city for couples to visit. There are river cruises, kayaking, and nature to explore. Head to the Curraghchase Forest Park or any of the many beautiful parks around town. Couples can combine history with nature and enjoy a nice, romantic trip through Limerick.

Is Kiel or Limerick Better for Students?

Kiel and Limerick are good 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 Limerick. The city has a nice student scene with plenty of areas to explore.

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

Limerick 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 Limerick, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a city bus service that travels around town.

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

Is Kiel or Limerick a more walkable city?

Kiel and Limerick both are good when exploring on foot.

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

Limerick is a somewhat walkable city. There are compact and walkable parts to the city that can be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Limerick or Kiel?

How long in Kiel or Limerick?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Kiel or Limerick to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Kiel than Limerick because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Kiel, and 1-2 days is enough time in Limerick.

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

One day in Kiel or Limerick?

The city of Kiel offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Limerick. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Kiel or Limerick?

Kiel is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Kiel, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Limerick 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 Limerick?

Kiel is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the outdoorsy destination of Limerick. 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 Limerick?

Kiel is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

The outdoorsy city of Limerick 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 2-Week Tours from Dublin, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Kiel or Limerick?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Limerick. When comparing the sizes of Kiel and Limerick, 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 Limerick?

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 Kiel or Limerick in the Summer?

Both Limerick and Kiel during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kiel this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Limerick for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Kiel is around the same temperature as Limerick. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kiel in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Limerick averages at about 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Kiel. In the summer, Kiel often gets more sunshine than Limerick. Kiel gets 219 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Limerick receives 142 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets more rain in July than Limerick. Kiel gets 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Limerick receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Limerick in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiel and Limerick. Many travelers come to Kiel for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Limerick in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Kiel is generally cooler than Limerick. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 10°C (50°F), and Limerick fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Kiel usually receives more sunshine than Limerick during autumn. Kiel gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Limerick receives 82 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kiel usually receives less rain than Limerick. Kiel gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Limerick receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kiel or Limerick in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kiel as well as Limerick. Many visitors come to Kiel in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Limerick for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Kiel can get quite cold in the winter. Kiel is much colder than Limerick in the winter. The daily temperature in Kiel averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and Limerick fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Kiel often gets less sunshine than Limerick. Kiel gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Limerick receives 49 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets less rain in January than Limerick. Kiel gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Limerick receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Limerick in the Spring?

Both Limerick and Kiel are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Kiel for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Limerick because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Kiel is cooler than Limerick. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kiel in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Limerick averages at about 9°C (48°F).

Kiel usually receives more sunshine than Limerick during spring. Kiel gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Limerick receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kiel usually receives less rain than Limerick. Kiel gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Limerick receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Limerick and Kiel