A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manchester vs. Pompeii for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Manchester or Pompeii?

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

Manchester

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

Pompeii

Pompeii is a one-of-a-kind, ancient, and famous archeological site. Other reasons to visit include museums.

Manchester and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Pompeii?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Manchester than Pompeii, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Manchester is better known for its food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Pompeii is more popular for its museums. Pompeii is more touristy than Manchester and is known for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. 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 Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Pompeii is very popular for its historical sights. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Travelers visit Pompeii from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. Pompeii is a city frozen in time and it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The streets remain as they once stood, lined with shops and homes. Highlights of a visit include the Forum, the Antiquarium, the Temple of Isis, and the Teatro Grande.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Manchester can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

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

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Manchester has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

While Pompeii is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. While there is a café near the Forum, the quality of the food isn't great and it can get crowded. You'd do best to bring your own food as the site is large and you'll want to eat on your own schedule.

Is Manchester or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for nightlife.

Manchester has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Pompeii. As a popular tourist destination, you'll find some bars nearby, but most people visit as a day trip and head out of town before the evening hours.

Is Manchester or Pompeii Better for Music?

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for its music scene. However, Pompeii is not a live music destination.

Whether you like big venues or smaller artists, Manchester has diverse options. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Pompeii is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Pompeii?

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Pompeii is lacking in options 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.

Pompeii has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There are some souvenir stands outside of the site where you can buy trinkets to remember your visit.

Is Manchester or Pompeii Better for Families?

You'll find very good kid-friendly activities in either Manchester or Pompeii.

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.

Pompeii is a very kid-friendly city. Its a city frozen in time, and even kids will get lost in the history and story behind Pompeii. The trick is to find a kid-friendly tour and understand the layout before you arrive. Because it's so big, you want to know which places to visit and which you might want to skip with kids who have short attention spans.

Is Manchester or Pompeii Better for Couples?

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Manchester makes for a fun place to visit for 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.

Pompeii is a nice destination for couples. It's an iconic destination in Italy, and should be added to any Italian trip itinerary. It's not exactly a romantic destination, but it's something that every visitor should see.

Is Manchester or Pompeii Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Manchester and Pompeii are notable 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 Pompeii. It's touristy and crowded, but also world renowned and not-to-be-missed. Whether you're a backpacker or a luxury traveler, Pompeii is on most itineraries.

Is Manchester or Pompeii Better for Students?

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

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.

Pompeii is popular with students. It's history and educational significance make it a great study abroad destination, whether you visit alone, with friends, or as part of a tour group.

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

Manchester is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Manchester offers a very effecient public transportation network. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

You'll find some public transit in Pompeii, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

Is Manchester or Pompeii a more walkable city?

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

Pompeii is a very easy archeological site to get around on foot. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

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 Pompeii Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pompeii or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Pompeii?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Manchester or Pompeii to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Manchester than Pompeii because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Manchester, and 1-2 days is enough time in Pompeii.

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

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

Because Manchester is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With museums around the famous archeological site of Pompeii, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Pompeii, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Manchester or Pompeii?

Because Manchester is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Manchester has to offer.

With museums around the destination of Pompeii, 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 museums. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this archeological site.

Five days in Manchester or Pompeii?

Manchester is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Pompeii, a popular archeological site, 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 Pompeii?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Manchester. Many people enjoy the live music and food when visiting Manchester. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Pompeii is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. 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 Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Manchester or Pompeii?

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 Pompeii in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Pompeii. The summer months attract visitors to Manchester because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Pompeii this time of year.

In July, Manchester is generally cooler than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 16°C (62°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pompeii this time of the year. Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during summer. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Manchester usually receives more rain than Pompeii. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Manchester or Pompeii in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Pompeii. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Manchester this time of year.

Manchester is much colder than Pompeii in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Pompeii fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pompeii. Manchester usually gets less rain in October than Pompeii. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Pompeii in the Winter?

Both Pompeii and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Manchester for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Pompeii in the winter for the museums.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Manchester. In the winter, Manchester is much colder than Pompeii. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manchester in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Pompeii averages at about 8°C (47°F).

Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during winter. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. In January, Manchester usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Manchester or Pompeii in the Spring?

Both Pompeii and Manchester during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Manchester in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Manchester is generally much colder than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 8°C (46°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets less rain in April than Pompeii. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Manchester