A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Manchester vs. Dundee for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Manchester or Dundee?

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 Dundee 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 food, shopping, and museums.

Dundee

Dundee is a coastal, cultural, and historic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and museums.

Manchester and Dundee: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Dundee?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Manchester than Dundee, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Manchester is more touristy than Dundee and 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. Dundee is popular for its maritime and manufacturing history as well as its focus on design.

How is Manchester different from Dundee?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Manchester is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Dundee 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.

Dundee offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. On the waterfront you'll find a couple of nautical museums such as RRS Discovery, and HM Frigate Unicorn. Other museums and sights include V&A Dundee, Tay Rail Bridge, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, and Glamis Castle.

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

Manchester is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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.

Dundee has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a few local dishes that the city is known for. These include Dundee Cake, Dundee marmalade, and Angus beef.

Is Manchester or Dundee Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Dundee 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 Dundee. The vibrant student population heavily influences the city's nightlife. There are a number of clubs and bars where you can hang out late into the night.

Is Manchester or Dundee Better for Music?

Manchester is a well-known place for live music. However, Dundee 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.

Dundee is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Dundee?

Manchester is a well-known place for shopping. However, Dundee is not a good city 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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Dundee has some nice offerings. There are shopping centers and a few independent shops that are worth checking out. Head to Overgate Shopping Centre for the standard brands or Dundee's Farmer's Market for some local produce.

Is Manchester or Dundee Better for Families?

Manchester is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Dundee 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.

Dundee is a family-friendly city. Head to the Dundee Science Center or check out Discovery Point. There's also the Dundee Treasure Trail as well as climbing walls and other outdoor activities for when the weather's nice.

Is Manchester or Dundee Better for Couples?

Manchester is a well-known place for romance. However, Dundee 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 Dundee as a couple's destination. The coastal city has some nice outdoor spaces and interesting restaurants that couples can enjoy.

Is Manchester or Dundee Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Manchester is a popular place for backpackers. However, Dundee is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

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

Dundee is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Manchester or Dundee Better for Students?

Manchester is a well-known place for students. Also, Dundee 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 Dundee. Its affordability and authenticity make this a nice option for students. It's also a very safe city.

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

Manchester is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Manchester can move around easily with public transportation. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

Dundee has some public transit options. The city has a public bus system.

Is Manchester or Dundee a more walkable city?

Manchester and Dundee are good when it comes to walkability.

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

Dundee is a somewhat walkable place. There are a number of walks through the town.

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

Should I spend more time in Dundee or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Dundee?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Manchester or Dundee to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Manchester than Dundee because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Manchester, and 1-2 days is enough time in Dundee.

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

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 cultural city of Dundee, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Dundee, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Manchester or Dundee?

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 Dundee, 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 Dundee?

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.

Dundee, 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 Dundee?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the diverse 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.

Dundee 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 Dundee, we can see that Dundee is more expensive. And not only is Manchester much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Manchester would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manchester 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 Dundee would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dundee than you might in Manchester.

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Dundee?

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

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 Dundee in the Summer?

Both Dundee 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 Dundee because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Manchester is a little warmer than Dundee in the summer. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 16°C (62°F) in July, and Dundee fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

In the summer, Manchester often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dundee. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dundee receives 184 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in July than Dundee. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Dundee receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Dundee in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Manchester is a little warmer than Dundee. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manchester in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Dundee averages at about 10°C (49°F).

Manchester usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Dundee during autumn. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Dundee receives 100 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Manchester usually receives more rain than Dundee. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Dundee receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Manchester or Dundee in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Dundee. It's quite cold in Manchester in the winter. In January, Manchester is generally a little warmer than Dundee. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 4°C (39°F), and Dundee fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Dundee. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dundee receives 58 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Dundee. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Dundee receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Dundee in the Spring?

Both Dundee 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 Dundee in the spring for the activities around the city.

Manchester is a little warmer than Dundee in the spring. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Dundee fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Manchester usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Dundee during spring. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Dundee receives 155 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Manchester usually receives more rain than Dundee. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Dundee receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Dundee and Manchester