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

Should you visit Manchester or La Rochelle?

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 La Rochelle can help you decide which place is right for you.

Manchester

Manchester is a vibrant, dynamic, and diverse city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a quaint, charming, and peaceful coastal town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Manchester and La Rochelle: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or La Rochelle?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Manchester than La Rochelle. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Manchester is very popular for its nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while La Rochelle attracts visitors for its food, beaches, historical sights, hiking, and small town charm. Manchester is famous for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club. It is also well known for The National Football Museum. La Rochelle is famous for its medieval towers, maritime history, and beautiful setting.

How is Manchester different from La Rochelle?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Spend time exploring the great sights and museums in either Manchester or La Rochelle.

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 La Rochelle can be an interesting and educational experience. Filled with history, the town itself is like a living museum. Within town there are many sights such as the Vieux Port, La Rochelle Aquarium, Musée d'Histoire Naturelle, and Musée du Nouveau Monde de La Rochelle.

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

La Rochelle is very popular for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

La Rochelle has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. It may be small, but its filled with delicious cafes, bistros, and local restaurants. Seafood is the obvious choice in this coastal town and many visitors head to Vieux Port to eat, as many restaurants there offer waterfront views. If you want something a little less touristy, head to the St. Nicolas District, which was the town's former fishing district. Rue de la Fourche is also a charming road with many places to grab a bite or a drink. Or head to Rue St Jean-du-Perot, which is just off the old port.

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.

Is Manchester or La Rochelle Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is great for nightlife and partying. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its evening party scene.

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 La Rochelle. While it's known as a peaceful, seaside town, you'll still find wine bars, pubs, and even a club or two around town.

Is Manchester or La Rochelle Better for Music?

Manchester is great for its live music scene. However, La Rochelle 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.

La Rochelle is not a live music destination.

Is Manchester or La Rochelle Better for Beaches?

La Rochelle is very good for its beaches. However, Manchester is not a beach destination.

Many people head to La Rochelle to enjoy the beach. There are three main beaches in town that each attract a crowd on warm summer days. Plage de la Concurrence, Plage Chef de Baie, and Plage des Minimes are the closest beaches to La Rochelle, and they are popular for sunbathing and water sports. They have a mix of sand, pebbles, and cliffside views that attract locals and tourists alike.

Manchester is not a beach destination.

Is Manchester or La Rochelle Better for its Old Town?

La Rochelle is very popular for its historic old town. However, Manchester does not have a historic old town.

La Rochelle has a world-famous historical area. The old town is filled with wandering cobblestone streets, charming squares, and cafes that spill into the street.

Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Is Manchester or La Rochelle Better for Hiking?

La Rochelle is very good for hiking. However, Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting La Rochelle. There are many coastal walks just outside of town that take you along the scenic coastline. It's beautiful to stroll through the countryside and pass through many quaint villages.

Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or La Rochelle?

Manchester is great for its shopping opportunities. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its shopping areas.

Manchester is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Many visitors go to La Rochelle to go shopping. The old town is filled with boutique shops as well as some name brands. Another fun place to visit is Les Halles, which is an indoor market with fresh produce, seafood, and many local cheeses.

Is Manchester or La Rochelle Better for Families?

Manchester is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Manchester is very family-friendly. 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.

La Rochelle is a family-friendly place to visit. It's a coastal town with a port that you can explore. There's also an aquarium and many great seafood restaurants. A nice day trip is to go to l'Ile de Ré, which has nice beaches, some with playgrounds.

Is Manchester or La Rochelle Better for Couples?

La Rochelle is very popular for romance. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.

For those traveling as a couple, La Rochelle has plenty to offer. This beautiful coastal town is seeped in history. There are beautiful squares, romantic parks, and cobblestone streets that you can wander down. It's also nice to take a coastal walk before grabbing dinner at a local seafood restaurant.

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.

Is Manchester or La Rochelle Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Manchester and La Rochelle are nice places to visit.

Manchester is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

It's common for backpackers to visit La Rochelle. There aren't a ton of hostels in the area, but there are just enough that you should be able to find a place to stay.

Is Manchester or La Rochelle Better for Students?

Manchester is great for its student-friendly activities. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for students.

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.

La Rochelle is a good city to visit for students. It's a touristy city with a lot for students to see and do, but the atmosphere is generally quiet and peaceful.

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

Manchester is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, La Rochelle is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its public transit.

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

La Rochelle has a few public transit options. Public transit around town is operated by Yeló, and mostly consists of buses.

Is Manchester or La Rochelle a more walkable city?

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

La Rochelle is very walkable. It's filled with meandering cobblestone streets that are best explored on foot. Most places around town can be 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 La Rochelle Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in La Rochelle or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or La Rochelle?

It's fun to spend time in either Manchester or La Rochelle. Both can be explored in comparable amounts of time. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

One day in Manchester or La Rochelle?

Manchester is a cultural city where you can fill many days. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

La Rochelle might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the food. 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 La Rochelle?

Manchester is a dynamic big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Even though La Rochelle is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. 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 food. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this coastal town.

Five days in Manchester or La Rochelle?

The cultural city of Manchester offers museums and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

La Rochelle, a popular coastal town, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 La Rochelle?

Many people enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting Manchester. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

La Rochelle is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the food. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or La Rochelle?

Manchester has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of La Rochelle. When comparing the sizes of Manchester and La Rochelle, 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 La Rochelle?

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 La Rochelle in the Summer?

Both La Rochelle and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Manchester for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to La Rochelle because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Manchester is cooler than La Rochelle. Typically, the summer temperatures in Manchester in July average around 16°C (62°F), and La Rochelle averages at about 20°C (67°F).

It's quite sunny in La Rochelle. Manchester usually receives less sunshine than La Rochelle during summer. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while La Rochelle receives 267 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Manchester usually receives more rain than La Rochelle. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Manchester or La Rochelle in the Autumn?

Both La Rochelle and Manchester during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Manchester because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to La Rochelle this time of year.

In October, Manchester is generally cooler than La Rochelle. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 11°C (52°F), and La Rochelle fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In the autumn, Manchester often gets less sunshine than La Rochelle. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Rochelle receives 141 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in October than La Rochelle. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or La Rochelle in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and La Rochelle. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Manchester this time of year. Also, many travelers come to La Rochelle for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Manchester in the winter. Manchester is much colder than La Rochelle in the winter. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and La Rochelle fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than La Rochelle during winter. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies, while La Rochelle receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Manchester usually receives less rain than La Rochelle. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Manchester or La Rochelle in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Manchester as well as La Rochelle. Many travelers come to Manchester for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to La Rochelle in the spring for the beaches and the small town charm.

In the spring, Manchester is cooler than La Rochelle. Typically, the spring temperatures in Manchester in April average around 8°C (46°F), and La Rochelle averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Manchester often gets less sunshine than La Rochelle. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Rochelle receives 187 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in April than La Rochelle. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for La Rochelle and Manchester