A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Orkney Islands vs. Dundee for Food, Couples, Attractions, and Families

Should you visit Orkney Islands or Dundee?

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 Orkney Islands and Dundee can help you decide which place is right for you.

Orkney Islands

Orkney Islands is a natural, pristine, and remote archipelago. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, beaches, and hiking.

Dundee

Dundee is a historic, coastal, and cultural city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Orkney Islands and Dundee: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Orkney Islands or Dundee?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Dundee than Orkney Islands, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Dundee is better known for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Orkney Islands is more popular for its food, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Orkney Islands is well known for its sandy beaches, serene landscape, and well-preserved Neolithic sights. Dundee is well known for its maritime and manufacturing history as well as its focus on design. Also, Dundee is famous for Discovery Point and RRS Discovery.

How is Orkney Islands different from Dundee?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Dundee and Orkney Islands. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Orkney Islands or Dundee?

You'll find a number of notable museums and attractions in both Dundee and Orkney Islands.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Orkney Islands. The islands is home to a number of archaeological ruins including the stone age village of Skara Brae and the neolithic chambered cairn of Maes Howee. Also check out impressive Ring of Brodgar stone circle as well as the oldest dwelling in the UK, the Knap of Howar on Papa Westray.

Dundee is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. On the waterfront you'll find a couple of nautical museums such as RRS Discovery, and HM Frigate Unicorn. Other museums and sights include V&A Dundee, Tay Rail Bridge, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, and Glamis Castle.

Is the Food Better in Orkney Islands or Dundee? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Orkney Islands is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Orkney Islands makes for a great culinary experience. You'll find so many local products on the islands. It's famous for its local beef, lamb, salmon, and seafood, but you'll also find cheeses and produce. There are two breweries on the island as well. Many people pick up some items that they take home with them.

Dundee has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a few local dishes that the city is known for. These include Dundee Cake, Dundee marmalade, and Angus beef.

Is Orkney Islands or Dundee Better for Nightlife?

Dundee is very good for its evening party scene. However, Orkney Islands is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Dundee has a few options to choose from. The vibrant student population heavily influences the city's nightlife. There are a number of clubs and bars where you can hang out late into the night.

Orkney Islands is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Orkney Islands or Dundee Better for Beaches?

Orkney Islands is a well-known place for its beaches. However, Dundee is not a beach destination.

Orkney Islands is considered a top beach destination. The archipelago has hundreds of miles of beaches that feel serene and remote. If you're looking for a tranquil setting that is natural and untouched, you'll have many to choose from. Some of the best beaches on the islands include Tresness Beach, Grobust Beach, and Sands of Evie Beach.

Dundee is not a beach destination.

Is Orkney Islands or Dundee Better for Hiking?

Orkney Islands is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Dundee is not a hiking destination.

Orkney Islands is a popular spot for hiking. Rolling hills and rugged landscapes make for relaxing and beautiful walks. There are also many archaeological ruins that you can explore. Favorite hikes in the area include Balfour Village and Mill Dam, Birsay Whalebone, and Birwick to Barth Head.

Dundee is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Orkney Islands or Dundee?

Dundee is adequate for its shopping areas. However, Orkney Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Dundee has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. There are shopping centers and a few independent shops that are worth checking out. Head to Overgate Shopping Centre for the standard brands or Dundee's Farmer's Market for some local produce.

Orkney Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Orkney Islands or Dundee Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Orkney Islands or Dundee.

Orkney Islands offers lots of family activities. Exploring the beaches is one of the best way to spend your days with kids. There are also several places you can take the kids like Barony Mill, Skate Rumple Alpaca Farm, Corrigall Farm Museum, and Kirbuster Farm Museum.

Dundee is a family-friendly place to visit. Head to the Dundee Science Center or check out Discovery Point. There's also the Dundee Treasure Trail as well as climbing walls and other outdoor activities for when the weather's nice.

Is Orkney Islands or Dundee Better for Couples?

Orkney Islands is a well-known place for romance. However, Dundee is not a good city for its romantic activities.

Orkney Islands is a very popular place to visit for couples. Nature lovers will enjoy the stunning beaches and beautiful natural setting. There are also some great restaurants and even live music performances that make for a fun date night.

Most people don't think of Dundee as a couple's destination. The coastal city has some nice outdoor spaces and interesting restaurants that couples can enjoy.

Is Orkney Islands or Dundee Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Orkney Islands is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Dundee is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Orkney Islands. If camping is your style, you'll find some great campgrounds and campsites that make the most of this beautiful natural setting.

Dundee is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Orkney Islands or Dundee Better for Students?

Dundee is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Orkney Islands is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Dundee. Its affordability and authenticity make this a nice option for students. It's also a very safe city.

Orkney Islands is not popular with students.

Is Orkney Islands or Dundee Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Orkney Islands and Dundee both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Orkney Islands offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Buses travel to many parts of the islands and many islands are connected by ferries.

Dundee has a few public transit options. The city has a public bus system.

Is Orkney Islands or Dundee a more walkable city?

Dundee is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Orkney Islands is not a walkable destination.

Dundee is a somewhat walkable city. There are a number of walks through the town.

Orkney Islands is not a walkable destination.

For even more information, also check out Is Orkney Islands Worth Visiting? and Is Dundee Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dundee or Orkney Islands?

How long in Orkney Islands or Dundee?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Orkney Islands or Dundee to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Orkney Islands than Dundee because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Orkney Islands, and 1-2 days is enough time in Dundee.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Orkney Islands than Dundee 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 Orkney Islands.

One day in Orkney Islands or Dundee?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Orkney Islands. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Dundee, you'll find nightlife and food. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Orkney Islands or Dundee?

Orkney Islands is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Dundee is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Orkney Islands or Dundee?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Orkney Islands. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Dundee. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Orkney Islands or Dundee?

Many travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the tranquil destination of Orkney Islands. This archipelago offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the city of Dundee. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United Kingdom, and The Best Historical Tours in United Kingdom.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Orkney Islands and Dundee, we can see that Dundee is more expensive. And not only is Orkney Islands much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Orkney Islands would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Orkney Islands 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 Dundee would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dundee than you might in Orkney Islands.

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

When is the best time to visit Orkney Islands or Dundee?

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 Orkney Islands or Dundee in the Summer?

Both Dundee and Orkney Islands during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Orkney Islands for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Dundee because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Orkney Islands is cooler than Dundee. Typically, the summer temperatures in Orkney Islands in July average around 12°C (54°F), and Dundee averages at about 14°C (58°F).

In the summer, Orkney Islands often gets less sunshine than Dundee. Orkney Islands gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dundee receives 184 hours of full sun.

Orkney Islands usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Dundee. Orkney Islands gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Dundee receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Orkney Islands or Dundee in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Orkney Islands and Dundee. The autumn months attract visitors to Orkney Islands because of the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Dundee this time of year.

In October, Orkney Islands is generally around the same temperature as Dundee. Daily temperatures in Orkney Islands average around 9°C (48°F), and Dundee fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

Orkney Islands usually receives less sunshine than Dundee during autumn. Orkney Islands gets 73 hours of sunny skies, while Dundee receives 100 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Orkney Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Orkney Islands usually receives more rain than Dundee. Orkney Islands gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Dundee receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Orkney Islands or Dundee in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Orkney Islands as well as Dundee. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Orkney Islands this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Dundee for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Dundee. It's quite cold in Orkney Islands in the winter. Orkney Islands is a little warmer than Dundee in the winter. The daily temperature in Orkney Islands averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Dundee fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Orkney Islands often gets less sunshine than Dundee. Orkney Islands gets 29 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dundee receives 58 hours of full sun.

Orkney Islands receives a lot of rain in the winter. Orkney Islands usually gets more rain in January than Dundee. Orkney Islands gets 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Dundee receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Orkney Islands or Dundee in the Spring?

Both Dundee and Orkney Islands are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Orkney Islands for the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Dundee in the spring for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Orkney Islands is cooler than Dundee. Typically, the spring temperatures in Orkney Islands in April average around 6°C (43°F), and Dundee averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Orkney Islands usually receives less sunshine than Dundee during spring. Orkney Islands gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Dundee receives 155 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Orkney Islands usually receives more rain than Dundee. Orkney Islands gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Dundee receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Dundee and Orkney Islands