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

Should you visit Mainz 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 Mainz 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.

Mainz

Mainz is a peaceful, historic, and quaint 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. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Mainz and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mainz or Galway?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Galway than Mainz. While Mainz is larger than Galway, Galway has more sights and attractions for tourists. Galway is more popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Mainz is known for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Mainz is more touristy than Galway and is popular for its quaint old town, Roman heritage, and beautiful town squares. Galway is popular for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music. It is also home to The Galway Market.

How is Mainz different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the good sights and museums in either Mainz or Galway.

Mainz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's an old university town with a number of historical sights. Check out the Church of St. Stephan, Mainz Cathedral, the Gutenberg Museum, and the Museum of Ancient Seafaring.

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 Mainz or Galway? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Mainz is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Mainz makes for a great culinary experience. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes that serve local food. There are also wine taverns where you can sample the local wines and dine of regional specialties.

Galway has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

Is Mainz or Galway Better for Nightlife?

Galway is a very popular place for nightlife. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

Galway has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Mainz. It's a sleepy little town, so even locals often head to bigger cities for better nightlife.

Is Mainz or Galway Better for its Old Town?

Mainz is notable for its historic old town. However, Galway does not have a historic old town.

Mainz is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. Filled with beautiful squares and cobblestone streets, this is a nice old town in a pleasant city.

Galway does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Mainz or Galway?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Mainz and Galway.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Mainz. Head to the boulevard of Am Brand near the cathedral for some of the town's best shopping. There are shops that line the street and it's a nice area to walk around.

Galway offers some nice shopping areas. 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 Mainz or Galway Better for Families?

Galway is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.

Galway is a family-friendly city. 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.

Mainz doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Kids will enjoy the Gutenburg Museum and the outdoor spaces where they can run around. There's also a nice old town that everyone will have fun exploring.

Is Mainz or Galway Better for Couples?

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

Mainz is a very popular place to visit for couples. Located on the Rhine River, this scenic setting is popular for river cruises. The town is nice to explore on its own, or you can hop around and take in several of the German river towns. You can also sit at outdoor cafes and sip local wine.

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 Mainz or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Galway is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Mainz. The town is popular with river cruises but you'll also find a hostel or two where budget travelers can save some money and meet other backpackers.

Is Mainz or Galway Better for Students?

Mainz is notable for students. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Students come from all over to stay in Mainz. It's a university town with a pleasant atmosphere and a beautiful setting.

Plenty of students visit Galway. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.

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

Mainz is notable for its public transit. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Mainz. There are regional trains that make it easy to use Mainz as a base to explore the area, or you could visit Mainz as a day trip from another nearby town.

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

Is Mainz or Galway a more walkable city?

Mainz is an unbeatable place for its walkability. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Mainz on foot. The town is easily explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Galway or Mainz?

How long in Mainz or Galway?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Mainz and Galway. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Mainz than in Galway. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Mainz, and 2-3 days is enough time in Galway.

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

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

One day in Mainz or Galway?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Mainz. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Galway, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this vibrant destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Mainz or Galway?

Mainz 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Galway. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Mainz or Galway?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mainz. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Galway is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Galway. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Mainz or Galway?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the peaceful destination of Mainz. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the friendly destination of Galway. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

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

Which is Bigger, Mainz or Galway?

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

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 Mainz or Galway in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Mainz as well as Galway. The summer months attract visitors to Mainz 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.

Mainz is a little warmer than Galway in the summer. The daily temperature in Mainz averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mainz this time of the year. In the summer, Mainz often gets more sunshine than Galway. Mainz gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun.

Mainz usually gets more rain in July than Galway. Mainz gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mainz or Galway in the Autumn?

Both Galway and Mainz are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Mainz this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Galway for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Mainz is around the same temperature as Galway. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mainz in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Galway averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Mainz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Galway during autumn. Mainz gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 96 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Galway. In October, Mainz usually receives less rain than Galway. Mainz gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mainz or Galway in the Winter?

Both Galway and Mainz during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Mainz 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 Mainz. In January, Mainz is generally much colder than Galway. Daily temperatures in Mainz average around 2°C (35°F), and Galway fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Mainz often gets less sunshine than Galway. Mainz gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun.

Galway gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mainz usually gets less rain in January than Galway. Mainz gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mainz or Galway in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mainz and Galway. Many visitors come to Mainz in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Galway for the activities around the city during these months.

Mainz is a little warmer than Galway in the spring. The daily temperature in Mainz averages around 11°C (51°F) in April, and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Mainz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Galway during spring. Mainz gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mainz usually receives around the same amount of rain as Galway. Mainz gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Galway and Mainz