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

Should you visit Manchester or Galway?

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 Galway 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 nightlife, live music, and food.

Galway

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

Manchester and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Galway?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Manchester than Galway, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Manchester is more touristy than Galway 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. Galway is popular for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music.

How is Manchester different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Manchester. 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.

Galway offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Popular landmarks and sights in town include Eyre Square, St. Nicholas' Church, the Galway Cathedral, and the Galway City Museum.

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

Manchester is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Galway 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.

Galway has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

Is Manchester or Galway Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is superb in both Manchester and Galway.

Many people head to Manchester for the nightlife scene. 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.

Galway has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The nightlife scene is among the best in Ireland. The city embraces the friendly Irish hospitality and there are laid back pubs and bars around town as well as a few trendy nightclubs.

Is Manchester or Galway Better for Music?

Manchester is notable for live music. However, Galway 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.

Galway is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Galway?

Manchester is notable for shopping. Also, Galway 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 Galway. You'll find shopping both in the city center as well as at suburban shopping malls. For some of the best shopping head to The Latin Quarter, The Westend or the outdoor market which is found in Church lane by St Nicholas' Church.

Is Manchester or Galway Better for Families?

Manchester is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Galway 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.

Galway is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy the National Aquarium Galway or simply wandering around the Latin Quarter. About 15 minutes outside of the city is the Wildlands Adventure Park which has ziplines, ropes courses, and other adrenaline filled activities. Brigit's Garden is another fun place to let kids stretch their legs.

Is Manchester or Galway Better for Couples?

Manchester is notable for romance. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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.

Galway makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are nice restaurants, beautiful walks, and a few parks to explore. There are also several romantic places just outside of town that make for a great day trip.

Is Manchester or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Galway is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other 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.

Is Manchester or Galway Better for Students?

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

Students come from all over to stay in Manchester. 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 Galway. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.

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

Manchester is notable for its public transit. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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.

Galway has some public transit options. There are two bus companies in Galway, Bus Eireann and City Direct.

Is Manchester or Galway a more walkable city?

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

Galway is very walkable. If you stay in central Galway, the area is generally compact and walkable.

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 Galway Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Galway or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Galway?

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

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

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 historical city of Galway, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Manchester or Galway?

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 Galway, 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 Galway?

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.

Galway, 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 Galway?

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.

Galway 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 Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Galway?

Manchester has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Manchester and Galway, 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 Galway?

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 Galway in the Summer?

Both Galway and Manchester during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Manchester for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Galway in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Manchester is around the same temperature as Galway in the summer. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 16°C (62°F) in July, and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

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

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

Should I visit Manchester or Galway in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Galway. Many visitors come to Manchester in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, most visitors come to Galway for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Manchester is around the same temperature as Galway. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manchester in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Galway averages at about 11°C (52°F).

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

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

Should I visit Manchester or Galway in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Galway. Most visitors come to Manchester for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Galway because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Manchester can be very cold during winter. In January, Manchester is generally cooler than Galway. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 4°C (39°F), and Galway fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

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

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

Should I visit Manchester or Galway in the Spring?

Both Galway and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Manchester because of the activities around the city. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Galway this time of year.

Manchester is cooler than Galway in the spring. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

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

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

Typical Weather for Galway and Manchester