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

Should you visit Manchester or Connemara?

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 Connemara 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.

Connemara

Connemara is a dramatic, breathtaking, and scenic region. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, food, and beaches.

Manchester and Connemara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Connemara?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Manchester than Connemara, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Manchester is better known for its museums, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Connemara is more popular for its beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Manchester is more touristy than Connemara and is popular 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. Connemara is well known for its bog-filled landscape and its hidden coves.

How is Manchester different from Connemara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Manchester is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Connemara is not as famous, but is still a good region 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.

Connemara is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. While most people visit the region for the natural beauty, you will also find Kylemore Abbey, Ballynahinch Castle, and Clifden Castle nearby.

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

Both Manchester and Connemara offer great local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Manchester. 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.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Connemara. The area has been influenced by the improving food scene in nearby regions. You'll find everything from fine dining restaurants to food trucks that use local ingredients and recipes. The area has no shortage of seafood, shellfish, and even Connemara lamb.

Is Manchester or Connemara Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is a well-known place for its evening party scene. However, Connemara is not a good region for nightlife.

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.

Connemara doesn't offer many options. You'll find some bars in the area but most people visit for the natural beauty, not the nightlife scene.

Is Manchester or Connemara Better for Music?

Manchester is a well-known place for its music scene. However, Connemara 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.

Connemara is not a live music destination.

Is Manchester or Connemara Better for Beaches?

Connemara is great for its beaches. However, Manchester is not a beach destination.

Connemara is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. You'll find wide stretches of sandy beach as well as hidden coves that offer a peaceful retreat. Some of the best beaches in the area include Dog’s Bay Beach, Trá an Dóilín, and Glassilaun Beach.

Manchester is not a beach destination.

Is Manchester or Connemara Better for Hiking?

Connemara is very popular for hiking. However, Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Many people visit Connemara specifically for its hiking. The landscape is considered to be some of the most beautiful in all of Ireland and there are many walks and hikes that let you experience it. Some of the best hikes are The Cong and Clonbur Forest Trail, the Claddaghduff Quay to Omey Island Walk, and Mount Gable Walk.

Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Connemara?

Manchester is a well-known place for its shopping areas. However, Connemara is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in 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.

Connemara is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Manchester or Connemara Better for Families?

Manchester is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. However, Connemara is not a good region for its kid-friendly activities.

Manchester is known to be 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.

Connemara is not always a place people visit with their families. There are plenty of places to explore outdoors such as Connemara National Park as well as the nearby beaches. You'll also find several playgrounds in the area.

Is Manchester or Connemara Better for Couples?

Both Manchester and Connemara 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.

Connemara is a very popular place to visit for couples. You'll find romantic hotels and beautiful walks through hidden coves and dramatic countryside. Couples will enjoy exploring castles and getting lost in the beauty.

Is Manchester or Connemara Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Manchester is a popular place for backpackers. However, Connemara is not a good region for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Manchester. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

Connemara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While there is a hostel in the area, you really need a car to explore the area in depth. This turns off a lot of backpackers.

Is Manchester or Connemara Better for Students?

Manchester is a well-known place for students. However, Connemara is not popular with students.

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.

Connemara is not popular with students.

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

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

Manchester offers a very effecient public transportation network. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

Public transit is quite limited in Connemara. There are a few buses in the area but you really need a private vehicle to get around to most places.

Is Manchester or Connemara a more walkable city?

Manchester is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Connemara is not a good region for its walkability.

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

Connemara is not a very walkable city. You really need a vehicle to experience everything that the region has to offer.

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

Should I spend more time in Connemara or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Connemara?

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

Families should spend more time in Manchester than Connemara. 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 Connemara. 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 Connemara 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 Connemara?

People visit Manchester because there is so much to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

With museums and food around the breathtaking region of Connemara, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Manchester or Connemara?

People visit Manchester because there is so much to do. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

With food and museums around the destination of Connemara, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this region.

Five days in Manchester or Connemara?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the diverse city of Manchester. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Connemara, a popular region, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 Connemara?

Manchester is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Connemara is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. 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 Ireland, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Ireland.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Manchester or Connemara?

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 Connemara in the Summer?

Both Connemara 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. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Connemara because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Manchester is generally around the same temperature as Connemara. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 16°C (62°F), and Connemara fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In the summer, Manchester often gets more sunshine than Connemara. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Connemara receives 142 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in July than Connemara. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Connemara receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Connemara in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Connemara. The autumn months attract visitors to Manchester because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Connemara this time of year.

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

Manchester usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Connemara during autumn. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Connemara receives 96 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Connemara receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Manchester usually receives less rain than Connemara. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Connemara receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Manchester or Connemara in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Manchester in the winter. In the winter, Manchester is cooler than Connemara. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manchester in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Connemara averages at about 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Connemara. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Connemara receives 59 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Connemara. Manchester usually gets less rain in January than Connemara. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Connemara receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Connemara in the Spring?

Both Connemara 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 Connemara in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Manchester is generally cooler than Connemara. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 8°C (46°F), and Connemara fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Manchester usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Connemara during spring. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Connemara receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Manchester usually receives around the same amount of rain as Connemara. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Connemara receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Connemara and Manchester