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

Should you visit Manchester or Dublin?

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

Manchester

Manchester is a cultural, vibrant, and dynamic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Dublin

Dublin is a laid-back, friendly, and welcoming city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Manchester and Dublin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Dublin?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Dublin than Manchester. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Dublin is very popular for its nightlife and historical sights, while Manchester attracts visitors for its food and big city activities. Dublin is more touristy than Manchester and is popular for its friendly and social nightlife, its local pubs, and its role as the birthplace of Guinness. It is also well known for The Guinness Storehouse. Manchester is famous for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club.

How is Manchester different from Dublin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Spend time exploring the excellent sights and museums in either Manchester or Dublin.

Many visitors head to Manchester specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Dublin can be an interesting and educational experience. There are a number of museums around town including the National Museum of Ireland, the Little Museum of Dublin, and the National Gallery of Ireland.

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

Manchester is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Dublin is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit 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.

Dublin is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Seafood has become popular around town, but you can also try traditional favorites like stew, pancakes, or coddle.

Is Manchester or Dublin Better for Nightlife?

Dublin is very popular for nightlife. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

Dublin is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. Temple Bar is where you'll find the greatest concentration of pubs and nightlife. The city is among the friendliest and most welcoming, and this is seen even in the vibe around town at night.

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.

Is Manchester or Dublin Better for Music?

Manchester and Dublin are both destinations where visitors can find excellent live music.

The music scene in Manchester draws a good crowd. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

If you love music, you'll find something to enjoy in Dublin. The best places to hear live music around town are the back street pubs that feature local groups.

Is Manchester or Dublin Better for its Old Town?

Dublin is great for its historic old town. However, Manchester does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Dublin. On the south side of the River Liffey are three different historic parts to the city. The Medieval Quarter is the oldest. To the east is Temple Bar, and further east is the Georgian Quarter.

Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Dublin?

If you're looking to go shopping, Manchester and Dublin both offer plenty of excellent 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.

Dublin is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Head to Grafton Street to see a number of brand name and local shops. It's a pedestrian street that is fun to wander around.

Is Manchester or Dublin Better for Families?

You'll find excellent kid-friendly activities in either Manchester or Dublin.

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.

Dublin is a very kid-friendly city. Explore the waterways with the viking splash, learn about the vikings at the museum Dublina, or visit any of the other kid-friendly museums around town, or see a show at The Gaiety.

Is Manchester or Dublin Better for Couples?

Both Manchester and Dublin are excellent 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.

Dublin is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's laid-back vibe and countless pubs make it a fun weekend getaway for couples.

Is Manchester or Dublin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Dublin is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Dublin is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are a number of popular backpacker hostels around town. The pub scene is also popular with the young crowd.

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

Is Manchester or Dublin Better for Students?

Manchester is a great destination for students. Also, Dublin is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

It's common for students to visit Dublin. While student accommodation can be a bit expensive in town, the nightlife and social aspect of living in the city center makes it well worth it.

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

Manchester is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Dublin is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Manchester can get you around easily. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

While Dublin offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a comprehensive bus system around town.

Is Manchester or Dublin a more walkable city?

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

Dublin is a very easy city to get around on foot. Because it is so compact and flat, it is easy to explore the city center 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 Dublin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dublin or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Dublin?

In either Manchester or Dublin, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Dublin than Manchester because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Manchester, and 2-5 days is enough time in Dublin.

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

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

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

One day in Manchester or Dublin?

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 live music and food around the friendly city of Dublin, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the nightlife. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Manchester or Dublin?

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 food and shopping around the destination of Dublin, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the nightlife. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Manchester or Dublin?

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.

Dublin, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Visiting the old town is also a must. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Manchester or Dublin?

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.

Dublin is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the nightlife. 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 Walking Tours in Ireland, and The Best Luxury Tours to Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Dublin?

Dublin has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Manchester. When comparing the sizes of Manchester and Dublin, 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 Dublin?

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 Dublin in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Dublin. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Manchester this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Dublin for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Manchester is around the same temperature as Dublin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Manchester in July average around 16°C (62°F), and Dublin averages at about 16°C (60°F).

In the summer, Manchester often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dublin. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dublin receives 166 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in July than Dublin. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Dublin in the Autumn?

Both Dublin and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Manchester for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to Dublin in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In October, Manchester is generally around the same temperature as Dublin. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 11°C (52°F), and Dublin fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

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

In October, Manchester usually receives more rain than Dublin. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Manchester or Dublin in the Winter?

Both Dublin and Manchester during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Manchester in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Dublin for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Manchester can get quite cold in the winter. Manchester is much colder than Dublin in the winter. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Dublin fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Manchester often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dublin. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dublin receives 56 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Dublin. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Dublin in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Dublin. Most visitors come to Manchester for the activities around the city during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Dublin because of the activities around the city.

In the spring, Manchester is around the same temperature as Dublin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Manchester in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Dublin averages at about 8°C (47°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Dublin during spring. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Dublin receives 157 hours of full sun in the spring.

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

Typical Weather for Dublin and Manchester