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

Should you visit Linz or Galway?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Linz and Galway 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.

Linz

Linz is a historic, beautiful, and cultural town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

Galway

Galway is a cultural, historical, and vibrant 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.

Linz and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Linz or Galway?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Galway than Linz. While Linz is larger than Galway, Galway has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Galway is very popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Linz attracts visitors for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Linz is more touristy than Galway and is known for its Baroque architecture, modern art museums, and great pastries. 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 Linz different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Linz 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 Linz. The city has a lot of history which can be experienced with visits to The Castle of Linz, St. Martin's Church, and the New Cathedral. There are also several modern museums such as Ars Electronica Center, the OK Center, and the Lentos Art Museum.

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 Linz or Galway? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Linz and Galway both to be nice destinations.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Linz. You'll find an endless supply of bakeries around town that serve cakes, tarts, and biscuits. A trip to Linz isn't complete without a sampling of the local pastries.

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 Linz or Galway Better for Nightlife?

Galway is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. However, Linz is not a good town 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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Linz. The town isn't exactly a party place, but you'll find a good theater and some live music venues that are worth checking out.

Is Linz or Galway Better for its Old Town?

Linz is a town with good options for its historic old town. However, Galway does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Linz to see the historical old town. The old town is filled with Baroque architecture and a market square. There are a number of interesting buildings and great cafes in the area.

Galway does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Linz or Galway?

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

Linz is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are a number of shopping streets around town, but the most popular is Landstraße. You'll find all kinds of retail stores with everything from clothing to furniture available.

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 Linz or Galway Better for Families?

Both Linz and Galway are nice to visit with kids.

Linz is a family-friendly place to visit. Pöstlingberg Adventure World is a highlight for kids. You can take the tram up the mountain and see the views, visit the Grottenbahn, or explore the zoo. Kids will also appreciate the Ars Electronica Center, which is a futuristic museum in town as well as the The Linz Castle Museum.

Galway is a family-friendly town. 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 Linz or Galway Better for Couples?

Linz is notable for romance. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Linz is a very popular place to visit for couples. The city is filled with beautiful baroque architecture. There's a lively main square and many great restaurants that couples will appreciate. There are also shopping areas and museums to explore.

Galway makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 Linz or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Linz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Linz. Backpackers will find more budget hotels than hostels in town, so it can be a bit challenging to meet other travelers. Even so, this is a beautiful city that is well worth a visit.

Is Linz or Galway Better for Students?

Galway is a city with good options for students. However, Linz 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.

Linz is not popular with students.

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

Both Linz and Galway offer nice public transit options.

Linz has a few public transit options. There are buses and streetcars that travel throughout the town.

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

Is Linz or Galway a more walkable city?

Linz and Galway both are great when exploring on foot.

Linz is a very walkable town. The tourist areas are easy to explore 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 Linz Worth Visiting? and Is Galway Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Galway or Linz?

How long in Linz or Galway?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Linz and Galway. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Galway than in Linz. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Linz, and 2-3 days is enough time in Galway.

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

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

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

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Linz. 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 Linz or Galway?

Linz 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 Linz or Galway?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Linz. 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 friendly 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 Linz or Galway?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Linz. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The friendly 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 in Austria, The Best 10-Day Tours in Austria, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

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

Which is Bigger, Linz or Galway?

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

Both Galway and Linz are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Linz because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Galway this time of year.

In July, Linz is generally a little warmer than Galway. Daily temperatures in Linz average around 20°C (68°F), and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Linz. Linz usually receives more sunshine than Galway during summer. Linz gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Linz usually receives more rain than Galway. Linz gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Linz or Galway in the Autumn?

Both Galway and Linz during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Linz this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Galway for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Linz is around the same temperature as Galway in the autumn. The daily temperature in Linz averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Galway fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Linz often gets more sunshine than Galway. Linz gets 129 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. Linz usually gets less rain in October than Galway. Linz gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Linz or Galway in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Linz and Galway. Many travelers come to Linz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Galway in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Linz. In the winter, Linz is much colder than Galway. Typically, the winter temperatures in Linz in January average around -0°C (31°F), and Galway averages at about 6°C (42°F).

Linz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Galway during winter. Linz gets 57 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, Linz usually receives less rain than Galway. Linz gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Linz or Galway in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Linz as well as Galway. Many visitors come to Linz in the spring for the natural beauty. Additionally, most visitors come to Galway for the activities around the city during these months.

In April, Linz is generally a little warmer than Galway. Daily temperatures in Linz average around 11°C (51°F), and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the spring, Linz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Galway. Linz gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun.

Linz usually gets more rain in April than Galway. Linz gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Galway and Linz