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

Should you visit Manchester or Genoa?

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

Manchester

Manchester is a vibrant, dynamic, and diverse city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Genoa

Genoa is a energetic, historic, and vibrant port city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Manchester and Genoa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Genoa?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Manchester than Genoa. While Genoa is larger than Manchester, Manchester has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Manchester is better known for its nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Genoa is more popular for its beaches, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Genoa is more touristy than Manchester and is known for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Manchester is well known 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.

How is Manchester different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Genoa can be an interesting and educational experience. The city has a long history and it is filled with monuments, palaces, and museums. Popular places to visit include the Via Garibaldi Palaces, the aquarium (one of the largest in Europe), the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and Santi Ambrogio.

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

Both Manchester and Genoa offer excellent 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 Genoa. The city's maritime roots have influenced its cuisine and you'll find seafood in many local dishes. Other classic Genoese flavors include pesto, anchovies, fried squid, and focaccia and cheese.

Is Manchester or Genoa Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is great for its evening party scene. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for nightlife.

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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Genoa. The city lights up at night and it's fun to experience the activity and energy. There's a nice evening atmosphere with many people out and about. You can grab drinks in Piazza Lavagna or see live music in Porto Antico. There are also many bars and clubs around town.

Is Manchester or Genoa Better for Music?

Manchester is great for its music scene. However, Genoa is not a live music destination.

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.

Genoa is not a live music destination.

Is Manchester or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Genoa is adequate for its beaches. However, Manchester is not a beach destination.

Genoa is a good spot to see the beach. While many people head to other nearby towns to enjoy the beach, you will also find a beach just ten minutes from the old town by bus. Boccadasse is one of the closest beaches to town. It's also possible to do a day trip to other more famous beaches in the area, but you need to be prepared to travel a bit farther.

Manchester is not a beach destination.

Is Manchester or Genoa Better for its Old Town?

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

Genoa is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old town is large and complex, with many different time periods represented in the architecture and development style.

Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Genoa?

Manchester is great for its shopping areas. Also, Genoa is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas 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.

Genoa is a great destination for shopping. You can pick up a number of different souvenirs around town including baskets, t-shirts, and local pesto. Popular shopping areas include Galleria Mazzini, Via Roma, and Via XX Settembr.

Is Manchester or Genoa Better for Families?

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

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.

Genoa is a very kid-friendly city. The city is home to the second biggest aquarium in Europe as well as the Galata Maritime Museum and the Nazario Sauro Submarine. In the port there's also Vascello Nettuno, which was a pirate ship that was used in the filming of the movie 'Pirates' by Roman Polanski. Other fun kid-friendly attractions include La Biosfera, The Children's Museum, and the Bigo Lift.

Is Manchester or Genoa Better for Couples?

Both Manchester and Genoa 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.

Genoa is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's a beautiful port city with charming neighborhoods and some great restaurants. Couples will enjoy exploring this beautiful city and visiting its palaces and cathedrals.

Is Manchester or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Genoa is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are a number of affordable hostels in the area, and while this isn't the top backpacker destination in Italy, it is a nice place to spend some time.

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 Genoa Better for Students?

For students, both Manchester and Genoa are excellent 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.

Genoa is a great city to visit as a student. It's a popular study abroad destination so you'll find a number of international students in the area. The city is also well connected for exploring the region.

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

Manchester and Genoa both offer excellent public transit to get you around.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Manchester. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

Public transit in Genoa can get you to some places easily. There's a wide range of different public transit options that are all operated by AMT. The system includes buses, an underground (one line), funiculars (two), lifts (ten), a boat, cogwheel and narrow gauge railways.

Is Manchester or Genoa a more walkable city?

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

Genoa is very walkable. The old town, where most tourists spend the majority of their time, is easy to explore 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 Genoa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Genoa or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Genoa?

It's fun to spend time in either Manchester or Genoa. In our opinion, Genoa has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Genoa than Manchester. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Genoa 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 Genoa.

One day in Manchester or Genoa?

Each neighborhood in Manchester has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

With museums and nightlife around the energetic port city of Genoa, 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 Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Manchester. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Genoa, 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 port city.

Five days in Manchester or Genoa?

Manchester is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the big city destination of Manchester. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Genoa, a popular port 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 Genoa?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the diverse big city of Manchester. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Genoa 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Manchester. When comparing the sizes of Manchester and Genoa, 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 Genoa?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Manchester or Genoa in the Summer?

Both Genoa and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. 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 Genoa for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Manchester is generally much colder than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 16°C (62°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).

It's quite sunny in Genoa. Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during summer. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Manchester usually receives more rain than Genoa. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Manchester or Genoa in the Autumn?

Both Genoa and Manchester during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Manchester for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to Genoa in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Manchester is much colder than Genoa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Genoa fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In the autumn, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets less rain in October than Genoa. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Genoa in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Genoa. Many visitors come to Manchester in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Genoa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Manchester can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Manchester is much colder than Genoa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manchester in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Genoa averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during winter. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Manchester usually receives around the same amount of rain as Genoa. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Manchester or Genoa in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Genoa. Most visitors come to Manchester for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Genoa because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Manchester is generally much colder than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 8°C (46°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

In the spring, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets less rain in April than Genoa. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Manchester