A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kos vs. Birmingham for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Kos or Birmingham?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kos and Birmingham can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Kos

Kos is a vibrant, beautiful, and ancient island. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a historic, vibrant, and fun-filled city. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and theater.

Kos and Birmingham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kos or Birmingham?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Kos. Although Kos and Birmingham are both popular with visitors, Kos has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Kos is more popular for its museums, food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Birmingham is known for its theatre productions, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere. Kos is popular for its sandy beaches and crystal clear blue water. It is also home to Asklepieion Archeological Site. Birmingham is popular for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere.

How is Kos different from Birmingham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kos or Birmingham?

Kos is an amazing island to visit for its historical sights. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Travelers visit Kos from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The small island is packed with archaeological sites and interesting history. Famous places worth visiting include the ruins of Asklepion, the ancient Agora, Roman Odeon, Neratzia Castle, and so many more!

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Birmingham can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Theater?

Birmingham is an excellent place to visit for theatre. However, Kos is not a theatre destination.

Birmingham attracts a wide-range of world-class performances. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Kos is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Kos or Birmingham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Kos is an amazing island to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Kos has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. The cuisine relies heavily on locally harvested ingredients with many dishes featuring cheese, seafood, vegetables, olive oil, and potatoes. The dishes are influenced by Italian and Turkish cuisines and common dishes include moussaka, souvlaki and tzatziki. Popular seafood options are prawns, squid, lobster and octopus. A great way to enjoy a sampling of local dishes is to visit an ouzeri, which is a Greek taverna that serves mezza style meals with small dishes that you can share.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Birmingham. Food reviews are mixed around town. The city has its share of award-winning restaurants, but there are also popular dishes that are more of an acquired taste. Local flavors include pork scratching, Birmingham soup, and brummie bacon cakes.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Nightlife?

Both Kos and Birmingham have superb vibes after the sun sets.

Kos has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. For such a small island you'll find a huge party scene during the peak summer months. There are almost nightly parties, beach raves, and late night clubs throughout the summer months. The bars and clubs are mostly concentrated around a couple of streets in the center of Kos Town, but Kardamena is also a lively party area. It's popular with British tourists who head here for the all-night clubs.

The people in Birmingham know how to have a good time. With tons of students and young people looking to party, there is plenty to do in the evening. You'll find no shortage of pubs, clubs, and music venues around town.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Music?

Birmingham is very popular for live music. However, Kos is not a live music destination.

Birmingham is known as a music capital around the world. The city has long been a haven for musical creativity, and its influence over the global music scene is apparent. Popular music venues around town include Ghetto Golf, Digbeth Dining Club, and the Sunflower Lounge.

Kos is not a live music destination.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Resorts?

Kos is very good for its luxury resorts. However, Birmingham is not a resort destination.

Kos has a handful of resorts to choose from. It's a smaller island and there aren't as many resorts here as there are on some of the larger Greek islands. Some of the best resort areas include Lamp and Psalidi to the northwest, Tigaki on the west coast (a good option for families), as well as Mastihari and Marmari which both have relaxed atmospheres. The younger crowd often hangs out around Kardemena on the east coast.

Birmingham is not a resort destination.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Kos is an amazing island to visit for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Birmingham is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

The scuba diving and snorkeling in Kos is not to be missed. There are countless snorkeling sports around the island where you can immerse yourself in the undersea world. Popular snorkeling areas include Camel Beach and Limnionas Beach. Make sure you understand the water conditions before heading into the water.

Birmingham is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Beaches?

Kos is an amazing island to visit for its beaches. However, Birmingham is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, Kos is a very popular vacation destination. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches, many of which are sandy with various shades of color. There are touristy beaches with plenty of amenities as well as less frequented beaches that offer a quieter and more remote atmosphere. Some of the most visited beaches on the island include Agios Stefanos, Kardamena, Kefalos and Lambi while some of the more peaceful areas are Cavo Paradiso and Helona Beach.

Birmingham is not a beach destination.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Hiking?

Kos is very good for hiking. However, Birmingham is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Kos. This is a great walking island with a number of easy walks or hikes that take you along the coastline or through interesting landscapes.

Birmingham is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kos or Birmingham?

Birmingham is an excellent place to visit for shopping. Also, Kos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Birmingham. The city offers everything from large department stores to smaller local shops. There are several good shopping streets around town as well as large markets and even a jewelry quarter.

Kos offers some nice shopping areas. There are a number of traditional items that you can pick up while you're in town. Fun souvenirs include jewelry, leather items, and perfumes.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Families?

Birmingham is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Kos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Birmingham is a very family-friendly destination. The city has put effort into making sure there are plenty of family-friendly activities around. You can visit a chocolate factory, explore an aquarium, enjoy an animal safari, or explore one of the hands-on museums.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Kos. It's comparable to other Greek islands when it comes to kids' activities. Kos Town can get a bit lively at night so if you want to avoid the party crowds, then those areas are easily avoided. Popular activities include exploring ancient ruins, going to the Kos Archaeological Museum, visiting The Castle of the Knights, and of course, hanging out at the beach. One of the best family-friendly resort areas is Tigaki along the west coast.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Couples?

Both Kos and Birmingham are superb destinations for a couple's getaway.

Kos makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This small island offers beautiful beaches and plenty of ancient ruins to explore. Kos Town is where you'll find the liveliest atmosphere but for some of the best resorts you'll want to stay in one of the resort suburbs like Lampi or Psalidi.

Couples visit Birmingham frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Kos is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.

Kos is very popular with the backpacker crowd. It's a small island but has a few hostels and a variety of apartments available for rent. Despite its small size, there are areas where you'll want to have a car if you wish to explore, but if you stay in town you'll find getting around fairly easy. The island attracts its share of young travelers and you'll find plenty of people to hang out with.

Birmingham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there's at least one affordable hostel in town.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Students?

Birmingham is very popular for its student-friendly activities. However, Kos is not popular with students.

Birmingham is a very popular city for students. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.

Kos is not popular with students.

Is Kos or Birmingham Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Kos is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Visitors to Kos can move around easily with public transportation. Buses connect many of the tourist destinations including beaches, cultural sights, are resort areas.

Birmingham has a few public transit options. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Is Kos or Birmingham a more walkable city?

Kos and Birmingham are superb when it comes to walkability.

Kos is very walkable. It's small size means it's possible to explore parts of the island on foot or bicycle. There are some beautiful walks on the island, but some areas will require a car or bus.

Birmingham is a very walkable island. Many parts of the city are very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Kos Worth Visiting? and Is Birmingham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Birmingham or Kos?

How long in Kos or Birmingham?

In either Kos or Birmingham, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Kos has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Kos than Birmingham. In general, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Kos, and 1-5 days is enough time in Birmingham.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kos than Birmingham 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 Kos.

One day in Kos or Birmingham?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the party-hard island of Kos, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums and theater around the vibrant destination of Birmingham, there's plenty to do. One of the main draws to the area is the live music. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A weekend in Kos or Birmingham?

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Kos, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this island.

Many people visit Birmingham for a weekend. With theater and nightlife around the vibrant city of Birmingham, there's plenty to do. One of the main draws to the area is the live music. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Kos or Birmingham?

Kos, a popular island, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this island. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

With nightlife and live music around the destination of Birmingham, there's plenty to do. Many people spend five days here. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the live music. Because of this, five days is usually enough time for a trip here.

A week in Kos or Birmingham?

Kos is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Birmingham, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Athens, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom.

When comparing the travel costs between Kos and Birmingham, we can see that Birmingham 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 Kos Expensive? and Is Birmingham Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kos or Birmingham?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Kos. When comparing the sizes of Kos and Birmingham, 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.