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

Should you visit Manchester or Oslo?

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 Oslo 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 museums, nightlife, and live music.

Oslo

Oslo is a progressive, park-filled, and green city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and museums.

Manchester and Oslo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Oslo?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Manchester than Oslo. While Oslo is larger than Manchester, Manchester has more sights and attractions for tourists. Oslo is more touristy than Manchester and is popular for its Viking history, its locally caught seafood, its maritime museums, and its access to winter sports. 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.

How is Manchester different from Oslo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Oslo can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights around town include the Akershus Fortress, the Folk Museum of Norway, and the Munch Museum.

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

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

Oslo has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city has a reputation of serving a lot of cured meats and potato dishes, but there is actually a good amount of variation available. Local favorites include smoked salmon, meatballs, and meat stews.

Is Manchester or Oslo Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is notable for nightlife. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Oslo. The city's high alcohol prices mean that many locals enjoy their drinks at home during pre-parties before heading out on the town. The atmosphere is usually laid-back and chill, with a diversity of entertainment venues that you can choose between.

Is Manchester or Oslo Better for Music?

Manchester is notable for live music. However, Oslo 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.

Oslo is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Oslo?

Manchester is notable for shopping. However, Oslo is a mediocre city 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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Oslo has some nice offerings. The shopping that is available includes shopping malls and local boutique shops.

Is Manchester or Oslo Better for Families?

Oslo is very popular for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Oslo is one of the most popular family destinations. The city goes out of its way to integrate kid-friendly activities into everyday life. From playgrounds and parks to interactive museums and nearby amusement parks, this city is among the most kid-friendly around.

Manchester is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Is Manchester or Oslo Better for Couples?

Manchester is notable for romance. Also, Oslo 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.

Oslo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You can explore castles, go on forest hikes, or enjoy a couple's massage.

Is Manchester or Oslo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Manchester and Oslo are good 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 Oslo. Notoriously expensive, this city does have some hostels, but it can be a bit challenging for those on a budget. Because many backpackers avoid the area due to the costs, it can be challenging to meet other backpackers.

Is Manchester or Oslo Better for Students?

For students, both Manchester and Oslo 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.

Oslo is a great city to visit as a student. The University of Oslo has an excellent reputation and welcomes many foreign students every year. The school does a lot to make sure international students feel at home here.

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

Oslo 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.

Oslo has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. The system includes buses, trams, undergrounds, local trains, and ferries.

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

Is Manchester or Oslo a more walkable city?

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

Oslo is very walkable. The city has a number of traffic-free areas so it's fun 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 Oslo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Oslo or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Oslo?

In either Manchester or Oslo, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Oslo than Manchester because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Manchester, and 1-5 days is enough time in Oslo.

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

Couples should spend more time in Manchester than Oslo. 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 Oslo 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 Oslo?

Manchester is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

With museums and nightlife around the clean city of Oslo, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Oslo, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Manchester or Oslo?

Manchester is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

With nightlife and food around the big city destination of Oslo, 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 Oslo?

You'll find food and shopping around the cultural big city of Manchester. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Oslo, 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 Oslo?

The diverse city of Manchester offers shopping and museums. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Oslo 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 Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Oslo?

Oslo has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Manchester. When comparing the sizes of Manchester and Oslo, 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 Oslo?

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 Oslo in the Summer?

Both Oslo and Manchester during the summer are popular places to visit. 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 Oslo for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Manchester is around the same temperature as Oslo in the summer. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 16°C (62°F) in July, and Oslo fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

In Oslo, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Oslo. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 246 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets less rain in July than Oslo. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Oslo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Oslo. Many travelers come to Manchester for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to Oslo in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Manchester is much warmer than Oslo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manchester in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Oslo averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Manchester usually receives more sunshine than Oslo during autumn. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 86 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Manchester usually receives around the same amount of rain as Oslo. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Manchester or Oslo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Oslo. Many visitors come to Manchester in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Oslo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Oslo can be very cold during winter. Manchester can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Manchester is generally much warmer than Oslo. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 4°C (39°F), and Oslo fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).

In the winter, Manchester often gets more sunshine than Oslo. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 40 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in January than Oslo. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Oslo in the Spring?

Both Oslo and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Manchester for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Oslo because of the activities around the city.

Manchester is a little warmer than Oslo in the spring. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Oslo fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Oslo during spring. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Manchester usually receives more rain than Oslo. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Oslo and Manchester