A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manchester vs. Munich for Nightlife, Music, Backpackers, and Attractions

Should you visit Manchester or Munich?

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

Manchester

Manchester is a cultural, vibrant, and dynamic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and live music.

Munich

Munich is a high energy, multicultural, and economically thriving city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Manchester and Munich: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Munich?

You'll generally find more things to do in Munich than Manchester. Munich is bigger than Manchester, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Munich is more touristy than Manchester and is popular for its beer halls (particularly during Oktoberfest), its historic buildings and its castles. Also, Munich is famous for The Nymphenburg Palace. Manchester is well known for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club.

How is Manchester different from Munich?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Munich can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Old Town Hall in Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Residenz.

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

Both Manchester and Munich 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 Munich. Bavaria has some of the best food in Germany. Popular dishes include schnitzel, weisswurst and spätzel.

Is Manchester or Munich Better for Nightlife?

Munich is very popular for nightlife. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

Munich is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The city has a young and vibrant population that keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are many bars and clubs around town, but the city is also famous for Oktoberfest during the months of September and October.

Manchester has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

Is Manchester or Munich Better for Music?

Munich is very popular for live music. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its live music scene.

Munich is known as a music capital around the world. The city is known for its music festivals, large concerts, and small venues that are diverse enough that there is something for everyone.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Munich?

Munich 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 Munich. There are many pedestrian areas and shopping centers where you can find everything from luxury items to bargain finds.

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 Munich Better for Families?

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

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.

Munich is a very kid-friendly city. Popular kid activities include going to the top of Stadium Roof at Olympic Park, checking out the movie sets at Filmstadt, and taking a paddle boat ride in the city park.

Is Manchester or Munich Better for Couples?

Both Manchester and Munich 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.

Munich is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples enjoy exploring the palaces around the city, visiting the Roman baths at Müller's Volksbad, and checking out the many great restaurants around town.

Is Manchester or Munich Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Many backpackers frequent Munich. The city has many fun hostels that often host events and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and take advantage of the nightlife around town.

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 Munich Better for Students?

Munich is very popular for its student-friendly activities. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Munich. The city is an economic hub for both Germany and Europe, so it attracts employees from around the world. There are many wonderful university programs, including a great business school in town. The city's multicultural setting makes it great for international students.

Manchester is a great city to visit as a student. 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.

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

Munich 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.

Munich has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. Transit options include a subway (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses.

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

Is Manchester or Munich a more walkable city?

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

Munich is very walkable. While walking tours are a great way to explore, the city is quite large so you'll want to take public transit as well.

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 Munich Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Munich or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Munich?

In either Manchester or Munich, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Munich than Manchester because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Manchester, and 2-5 days is enough time in Munich.

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

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

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

One day in Manchester or Munich?

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 live music and food around the economically thriving city of Munich, 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 Munich?

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 food and shopping around the big city destination of Munich, 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 Munich?

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.

Munich, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Manchester or Munich?

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.

Munich 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, and The Best Walking Tours in Germany.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Munich?

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

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 Munich in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Munich. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Manchester this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Munich for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Manchester is generally cooler than Munich. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 16°C (62°F), and Munich fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Munich. In the summer, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Munich. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 242 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets less rain in July than Munich. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Munich receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Munich in the Autumn?

Both Munich and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Manchester for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to Munich in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Manchester is around the same temperature as Munich in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Munich during autumn. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 115 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Manchester usually receives more rain than Munich. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Munich receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Manchester or Munich in the Winter?

Both Munich and Manchester during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Manchester in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Munich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Munich can be very cold during winter. Manchester can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Manchester is much warmer than Munich. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manchester in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Munich averages at about -1°C (31°F).

In the winter, Manchester often gets more sunshine than Munich. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 30 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in January than Munich. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Munich receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Munich in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Munich. Most visitors come to Manchester for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Munich because of the activities around the city.

In April, Manchester is generally cooler than Munich. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 8°C (46°F), and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Munich during spring. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Manchester usually receives around the same amount of rain as Munich. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Munich receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Munich and Manchester