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

Should you visit Manchester or Geneva?

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

Manchester

Manchester is a cultural, vibrant, and dynamic city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for live music, food, and shopping.

Geneva

Geneva is a classy, diverse, and international city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Manchester and Geneva: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Geneva?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Manchester than Geneva, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Manchester is more popular for its nightlife and music, while Geneva is known for its historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Manchester 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. Geneva is popular for its role as a global hub for the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization.

How is Manchester different from Geneva?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Spend time exploring the high quality sights and museums in either Manchester or Geneva.

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 Geneva can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights and landmarks include the spectacular Water Jet, St Pierre Cathedral, and the Palais des Nations. There are also impressive art and history museums in the city.

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

Both Manchester and Geneva offer high quality 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 Geneva. The city has an amazing mix of traditional Swiss restaurants as well as diverse ethnic options. Traditional dishes include fondue and raclette, both of which involve the decadent Swiss cheese.

Is Manchester or Geneva Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is a great destination for nightlife. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

The people in Manchester know how to have a good time. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Geneva has a few options to choose from. During the day the city is all business, but at night the professionals, interns, students, and NGO workers all come together to enjoy a drink at a bar or dance at one of the city's diverse clubs.

Is Manchester or Geneva Better for Music?

Manchester is a great destination for live music. However, Geneva is not a live music destination.

Manchester has become a hotbed of musicians and artists. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Geneva is not a live music destination.

Is Manchester or Geneva Better for its Old Town?

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

Geneva is a good destination for visiting its old town. The Old Town offers a number of charming streets where you can wander as well as historical buildings including St. Pierre Cathedral.

Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Geneva?

Geneva is very popular for shopping. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Geneva. Famous for its posh shops and luxury brands, this city is a popular shopping destination. From chic boutiques to deluxe toy stores, you'll find something for everyone. In particular, the city is known for its Swiss watches, Swiss Army knives, chocolate, and wine.

Manchester is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Is Manchester or Geneva Better for Families?

Manchester is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

Geneva offers lots of family activities. This diverse city has a number of chocolate shops, toy stores, and parks where kids can play. They'll be impressed by the Water Jet and there are few places where you can swim in the lake when the weather is warm.

Is Manchester or Geneva Better for Couples?

Manchester is a great destination for romance. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Manchester frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

Geneva makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Wandering Old Town, sampling Swiss chocolate, and enjoying one of the many ethnic restaurants around town all make for great date activities. Fondue in a traditional restaurant is also a not to be missed experience.

Is Manchester or Geneva Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Manchester is a good destination for backpackers. However, Geneva is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Geneva is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city is often overlooked by backpackers as it is pretty expensive. Many hotels cater to the business traveler crowd, but there are a few hostels to choose from.

Is Manchester or Geneva Better for Students?

For students, both Manchester and Geneva are high quality places to visit.

Manchester is very popular with students. 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.

Geneva is a great city to visit as a student. The University of Geneva attracts many international students and the city is quite diverse. It feels like a mixing bowl of cultures, so students will feel very welcomed and comfortable here.

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

Geneva is very popular for times when you don't have a car. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Geneva has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. The very comprehensive system includes trams, buses, and boats.

Public transit in Manchester can get you to some places easily. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

Is Manchester or Geneva a more walkable city?

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

Geneva is very walkable. Most areas where visitors spend their time can be easily explored 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 Geneva Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Geneva or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Geneva?

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

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

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 diverse city of Geneva, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the shopping. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Geneva, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Manchester or Geneva?

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 big city destination of Geneva, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the shopping. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Manchester or Geneva?

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.

Geneva, 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 Geneva?

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

Geneva is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the shopping. 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, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, and The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland.

When comparing the travel costs between Manchester and Geneva, we can see that Manchester is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Geneva?

Manchester has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Manchester and Geneva, 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 Geneva?

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 Geneva in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Geneva. Many visitors come to Manchester in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Geneva for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Manchester is cooler than Geneva in the summer. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 16°C (62°F) in July, and Geneva fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Geneva. In the summer, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Geneva. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Geneva receives 285 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Geneva. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Geneva in the Autumn?

Both Geneva and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Manchester for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Geneva because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Manchester is cooler than Geneva. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manchester in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Geneva averages at about 14°C (56°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Geneva during autumn. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Geneva receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Manchester usually receives around the same amount of rain as Geneva. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Manchester or Geneva in the Winter?

Both Geneva and Manchester during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Manchester because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Geneva this time of year.

It's quite cold in Geneva in the winter. The weather in Manchester can be very cold. In January, Manchester is generally around the same temperature as Geneva. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 4°C (39°F), and Geneva fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Geneva. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Geneva receives 62 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in January than Geneva. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Geneva in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Geneva. The activities around the city are the main draw to Manchester this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Geneva for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Manchester is cooler than Geneva in the spring. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Geneva fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Geneva during spring. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Geneva receives 174 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Manchester usually receives less rain than Geneva. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Geneva and Manchester