A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Manchester vs. Belfast for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Manchester or Belfast?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Manchester and Belfast can help you decide which place is right for you.

Manchester

Manchester is a dynamic, diverse, and cultural city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for museums, nightlife, and live music.

Belfast

Belfast is a affordable, under-rated, and authentic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife and shopping.

Manchester and Belfast: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Belfast?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Manchester than Belfast, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Manchester is popular for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club. It is also home to The National Football Museum. Belfast is popular for being the birthplace of the Titanic and the location of the era of the "Troubles".

How is Manchester different from Belfast?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Manchester or Belfast?

Manchester is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Manchester can be an interesting and educational experience. Head to the Science and Industry Museum, the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester Cathedral, or John Rylands Library & Manchester Central Library to see some of the cities most interesting sights.

Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Manchester or Belfast? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Manchester is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Belfast is not a good city for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Manchester makes for a great culinary experience. You'll find a great food scene with diverse restaurant options that include international flavors, vegetarian options, and more. There are also many great places to try craft beer.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Belfast. While many restaurants have moved towards more modern cuisines, there are still places that hold tight to the traditions of the area. Traditional dishes include pasties, full Irish breakfasts, and oysters.

Is Manchester or Belfast Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Manchester offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife scene is diverse and high energy. Head to Deansgate or the Northern Quarter for some of the best nightlife venues. You'll also find a huge rave scene in town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Belfast. The city has a number of bars and clubs with local DJs or musicians.

Is Manchester or Belfast Better for Music?

Manchester is a well-known place for live music. However, Belfast is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Manchester is very popular with diverse venues. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Belfast is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Belfast?

Manchester is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Manchester is an extremely popular place for shoppers. From jewelry to boutique clothing outlets, there are many places to shop around town. Head to Manchester Arndale, Trafford Centre, or Market Street for some of the best shopping.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Belfast. The main shopping areas in the city are Victoria Square Shopping Centre and CastleCourt.

Is Manchester or Belfast Better for Families?

Manchester is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Manchester is a very family-friendly place to visit. You'll find a number of kid-friendly activities around town including the popular Legoland Discovery Center. Another fun activity is taking a behind the scenes CBBC interactive tour at MediaCityUK. Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the SeaLife Aquarium or the Chester Zoo and sports enthusiasts will not want to miss a visit to the National Football Museum or doing a tour of Old Trafford where you can also visit the Manchester United Museum.

Belfast is a family-friendly city. The city has several great kid-friendly museums, a zoo, and a few indoor or outdoor activity centers where you can let kids play and explore.

Is Manchester or Belfast Better for Couples?

Manchester is a well-known place for romance. However, Belfast is not a good city for its romantic activities.

Manchester is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples can enjoy a visit to a spa, a nice meal out, or simply wandering down the canal. For a unique experience, you can hit to slopes at Chill Factore.

Most people don't think of Belfast as a couple's destination. There are gardens and parks to explore, several nice hotels with spas, and an Observatory on the 23rd floor of the Grand Central Hotel.

Is Manchester or Belfast Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Manchester is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Belfast is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Manchester. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

Belfast is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a reasonably affordable destination with a few hostels to choose from, but most backpackers don't make their way to this city.

Is Manchester or Belfast Better for Students?

Manchester is a well-known place for students. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Manchester is a great city to visit as a student. There's a large number of students as well as a great music scene and tons of festivals that make this a great city to do your studies.

Plenty of students visit Belfast. The city's affordability has made it a popular option for international students headed to the area.

Is Manchester or Belfast Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Manchester is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Belfast is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Manchester. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

Public transit is mostly limited in Belfast. There is a bus service in the city.

Is Manchester or Belfast a more walkable city?

Manchester and Belfast are good when it comes to walkability.

Manchester is somewhat walkable. Some neighborhoods are more walkable than others.

Belfast is a somewhat walkable place.

For even more information, also check out Is Manchester Worth Visiting? and Is Belfast Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Belfast or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Belfast?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Manchester and Belfast. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Manchester than in Belfast. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Manchester, and 1-3 days is enough time in Belfast.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Manchester than Belfast 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 Manchester.

One day in Manchester or Belfast?

Because Manchester is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With shopping and nightlife around the authentic city of Belfast, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Belfast, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Manchester or Belfast?

Because Manchester is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Manchester has to offer.

With nightlife and shopping around the destination of Belfast, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Manchester or Belfast?

Manchester is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Belfast, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Manchester or Belfast?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Manchester. Many people enjoy the live music and food when visiting Manchester. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Belfast 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United Kingdom, and The Best Historical Tours in United Kingdom.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Belfast?

Manchester has a larger population, and is about 44% larger than the population of Belfast. When comparing the sizes of Manchester and Belfast, 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 Manchester or Belfast?

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 Manchester or Belfast in the Summer?

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

Manchester is around the same temperature as Belfast in the summer. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 16°C (62°F) in July, and Belfast fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In the summer, Manchester often gets more sunshine than Belfast. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belfast receives 151 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Belfast. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Belfast in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Belfast. Many travelers come to Manchester for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Belfast in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Manchester is a little warmer than Belfast. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manchester in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Belfast averages at about 9°C (48°F).

Manchester usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Belfast during autumn. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Belfast receives 92 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Manchester usually receives less rain than Belfast. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Manchester or Belfast in the Winter?

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

Belfast can be very cold during winter. Manchester can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Manchester is generally around the same temperature as Belfast. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 4°C (39°F), and Belfast fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Manchester often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Belfast. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belfast receives 50 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets less rain in January than Belfast. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Belfast in the Spring?

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

Manchester is around the same temperature as Belfast in the spring. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Belfast fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Manchester usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Belfast during spring. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Belfast receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Manchester usually receives around the same amount of rain as Belfast. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Belfast and Manchester