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

Should you visit Manchester or Rotterdam?

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 Rotterdam 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 live music, food, and shopping.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a modern, trendy, and high energy port city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Manchester and Rotterdam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Manchester or Rotterdam?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Manchester than Rotterdam. While Rotterdam is larger than Manchester, Manchester has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Manchester is more touristy than Rotterdam and is 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. Rotterdam is well known for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall.

How is Manchester different from Rotterdam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Manchester is great for its historical sights. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Manchester. 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.

Rotterdam is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Although many of the historic buildings around town were destroyed during World War II, there are still a number of sights worth checking out. Head to the Old Harbor and Marine Museums, the Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, or the Wereldmuseum to see some interesting places.

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

Manchester is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

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.

Rotterdam offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Is Manchester or Rotterdam Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is high quality in both Manchester and Rotterdam.

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.

Rotterdam has plenty to do after the sun goes down. It is a trendy city with an active nightlife. You can relax with a beer or hit up one of the clubs around town. Popular options are Club Vibes, Toffler, and Club Vie.

Is Manchester or Rotterdam Better for Music?

Manchester is great for its music scene. However, Rotterdam 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.

Rotterdam is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Manchester or Rotterdam?

If you're looking to go shopping, Manchester and Rotterdam both offer plenty of high quality spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Rotterdam is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. You'll find fashion and clothing shops in the area around Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse. This is also where you'll find the shopping mall of Bijenkorf.

Is Manchester or Rotterdam Better for Families?

You'll find high quality kid-friendly activities in either Manchester or Rotterdam.

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.

Rotterdam is a very kid-friendly city. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

Is Manchester or Rotterdam Better for Couples?

Manchester is great for couples. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for romance.

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.

Rotterdam is a nice destination for couples. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Is Manchester or Rotterdam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Manchester and Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

Is Manchester or Rotterdam Better for Students?

For students, both Manchester and Rotterdam are high quality 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.

Rotterdam is a great city to visit as a student. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

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

Manchester and Rotterdam both offer high quality 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 Rotterdam can get you to some places easily. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

Is Manchester or Rotterdam a more walkable city?

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

Rotterdam is very walkable. There are broad streets with wide sidewalks that are pedestrian friendly.

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 Rotterdam Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rotterdam or Manchester?

How long in Manchester or Rotterdam?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Manchester and Rotterdam. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Manchester than in Rotterdam. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Manchester, and 1-3 days is enough time in Rotterdam.

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

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

People visit Manchester because there is so much to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

A weekend in Manchester or Rotterdam?

People visit Manchester because there is so much to do. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

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

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the vibrant city of Manchester. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Rotterdam, 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 Rotterdam?

Manchester is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Rotterdam 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 River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Manchester or Rotterdam?

Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 51% larger than the population of Manchester. When comparing the sizes of Manchester and Rotterdam, 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 Rotterdam?

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 Rotterdam in the Summer?

Both Rotterdam and Manchester are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Manchester in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Rotterdam for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Manchester is generally around the same temperature as Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 16°C (62°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Rotterdam. Manchester usually receives less sunshine than Rotterdam during summer. Manchester gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 202 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Manchester usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Manchester gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Manchester or Rotterdam in the Autumn?

Both Rotterdam and Manchester during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Manchester for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Manchester is around the same temperature as Rotterdam in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manchester averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the autumn, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Rotterdam. Manchester gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 105 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets more rain in October than Rotterdam. Manchester gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Manchester or Rotterdam in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Manchester and Rotterdam. The winter months attract visitors to Manchester because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year.

It's quite cold in Rotterdam in the winter. The weather in Manchester can be very cold. In the winter, Manchester is much warmer than Rotterdam. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manchester in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Rotterdam averages at about 2°C (36°F).

Manchester usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during winter. Manchester gets 53 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Manchester usually receives around the same amount of rain as Rotterdam. Manchester gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Manchester or Rotterdam in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Manchester as well as Rotterdam. The activities around the city are the main draw to Manchester this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Rotterdam for the activities around the city.

In April, Manchester is generally around the same temperature as Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Manchester average around 8°C (46°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the spring, Manchester often gets less sunshine than Rotterdam. Manchester gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 158 hours of full sun.

Manchester usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Rotterdam. Manchester gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Rotterdam and Manchester