A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manchester vs. Bergen for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Manchester or Bergen?

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 Bergen can help you decide which place is right for you.

Manchester

Manchester is a dynamic, diverse, and cultural city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, and museums.

Bergen

Bergen is a friendly, laid back, and nostalgic city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Manchester and Bergen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Bergen?

You'll generally find more things to do in Manchester than Bergen. Manchester is bigger than Bergen, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Manchester is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Bergen is more popular for its historical sights and small town charm. Manchester is well known for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club. Also, Manchester is famous for The National Football Museum. Bergen is well known for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

How is Manchester different from Bergen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Manchester is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Manchester offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Bergen is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are some interesting local museums such as the Hanseatic Museum, the Edvard Grieg Museum, and the KODE Museums.

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

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

Dining out in Manchester is an experience not to be missed. 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.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bergen. The city's economy has long been centered around the fish trade and even today you'll find cod, shellfish, trout, and salmon on most menus. Sheep and mutton are also popular. Desserts and coffee are also a big part of the local culture.

Is Manchester or Bergen Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is notable for its evening party scene. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Manchester has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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 Bergen. It's a small city without a huge nightlife district, but there are bars and clubs in Bryggen and Old Bulls Plass. The city has enough students to keep things lively and fun.

Is Manchester or Bergen Better for Music?

Manchester is notable for its music scene. However, Bergen is not a live music destination.

If you love music, you'll find something to enjoy in Manchester. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Bergen is not a live music destination.

Is Manchester or Bergen Better for its Old Town?

Bergen is very good for its historic old town. However, Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Bergen is a good destination for visiting its old town. The wooden buildings and compact streets have a quaint and nostalgic atmosphere.

Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Bergen?

If you're looking to go shopping, Manchester and Bergen both offer plenty of great spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Manchester. 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.

Bergen is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city center is filled with specialty boutiques as well as larger department stores. Shopping has long been a large part of the economy and you'll enjoy exploring the diversity of retail options.

Is Manchester or Bergen Better for Families?

You'll find great kid-friendly activities in either Manchester or Bergen.

Manchester is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Bergen is a very kid-friendly city. There are some interesting educational opportunities for kids including the Bergen Aquarium, VilVite Science Centre, and Experience Bryggen. Other fun activities include Vannkanten Waterworld and the Fløibanen Funicular.

Is Manchester or Bergen Better for Couples?

Both Manchester and Bergen are great destinations to visit as a couple.

Manchester is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. 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.

Bergen is a very popular place to visit for couples. There are many romantic activities near town like swimming in the fjords and walking through the parks. There are also spas and music concerts to enjoy.

Is Manchester or Bergen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Manchester and Bergen are notable places to visit.

Manchester is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

It's common for backpackers to visit Bergen. There are a few hostels and guesthouses around town where backpackers can meet other travelers.

Is Manchester or Bergen Better for Students?

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

Manchester is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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 Bergen. It's a very student-friendly city with many activities and a laid back atmosphere. The university facilities are spread out around town and the locals are welcoming and helpful.

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

Manchester and Bergen both offer great public transit to get you around.

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

Public transit in Bergen can get you to some places easily. For the areas that are outside of the city center, you can take a local bus or the light rail to access them. These services are operated by Skyss.

Is Manchester or Bergen a more walkable city?

Bergen is great for its walkability. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its high level of walkability.

Bergen is very walkable. The city center is flat and compact enough that it's fun to explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bergen or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Bergen?

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

Couples should spend more time in Manchester than Bergen. 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 Bergen 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 Bergen?

Manchester is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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

A weekend in Manchester or Bergen?

Manchester 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Bergen, 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 Bergen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Manchester. 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.

Bergen, 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 Bergen?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the vibrant big city of Manchester. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Bergen 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 10-Day Tours in Norway, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manchester and Bergen, we can see that Manchester is more expensive. And not only is Bergen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bergen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bergen 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 Bergen.

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Bergen?

Manchester has a larger population, and is about 85% larger than the population of Bergen. When comparing the sizes of Manchester and Bergen, 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 Bergen?

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 Bergen in the Summer?

Both Bergen and Manchester during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Manchester for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Bergen because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Manchester is generally a little warmer than Bergen. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 16°C (62°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Bergen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Manchester usually gets less rain in July than Bergen. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Bergen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Bergen. The autumn months attract visitors to Manchester because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Bergen this time of year.

Manchester is a little warmer than Bergen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Bergen fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Bergen receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Manchester usually receives less rain than Bergen. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Manchester or Bergen in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Bergen. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Manchester this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bergen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bergen. It's quite cold in Manchester in the winter. In the winter, Manchester is much warmer than Bergen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manchester in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Bergen averages at about 2°C (35°F).

It's quite rainy in Bergen. Manchester usually gets less rain in January than Bergen. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Bergen in the Spring?

Both Bergen and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Manchester for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Bergen in the spring for the small town charm.

In April, Manchester is generally a little warmer than Bergen. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 8°C (46°F), and Bergen fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bergen. In April, Manchester usually receives less rain than Bergen. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bergen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bergen and Manchester