A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Oxford vs. Belfast for Nightlife, Couples, Food, and Families

Should you visit Oxford or Belfast?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Oxford or Belfast, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Oxford

Oxford is a scholarly, collegiate, and beautiful college town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Belfast

Belfast is a affordable, under-rated, and authentic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife and shopping.

Oxford and Belfast: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Oxford or Belfast?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Belfast than Oxford, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Belfast is more popular for its big city activities, while Oxford is known for its museums, food, nightlife, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Oxford is popular for being home to one of the world's most notable universities. Belfast is popular for being the birthplace of the Titanic and the location of the era of the "Troubles". It is also home to Belfast Castle.

How is Oxford different from Belfast?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Oxford or Belfast?

Oxford is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Oxford can be an interesting and educational experience. This town is filled with culture, history, and world class museums. Check out the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Modern Art, Ashmolean Museum, or the Museum of Oxford.

Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Oxford or Belfast? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Oxford is a nice place to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Belfast is not a good city for its restaurants.

Oxford offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. In addition to the typical British pubs and fish and chips shops, you'll find a wide diversity of ethnic food around town. Thai, sushi, Indian, and more are common dining options. Head to the Oxford Covered Market to try a traditional British breakfast or have some delicious ice cream.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Belfast. While many restaurants have moved towards more modern cuisines, there are still places that hold tight to the traditions of the area. Traditional dishes include pasties, full Irish breakfasts, and oysters.

Is Oxford or Belfast Better for Nightlife?

Oxford is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Oxford offers plenty to do in the evening. As a college town, you'll find an active nightlife scene with trivia nights and plenty of parties. There are pubs around town where you can grab a drink or find out if there's a concert while you're in town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Belfast. The city has a number of bars and clubs with local DJs or musicians.

Is the Shopping Better in Oxford or Belfast?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Oxford and Belfast.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Oxford. Shops around town offer the perfect opportunity to pick up some Oxford gear or by a few items from the Harry Potter franchise.

Belfast offers some nice shopping areas. The main shopping areas in the city are Victoria Square Shopping Centre and CastleCourt.

Is Oxford or Belfast Better for Families?

Oxford and Belfast are both good destinations for the whole family.

Oxford is a family-friendly college town. Families will enjoy taking a paddle boat out on the water and exploring the beautiful setting. There are also a number of sights that were influential in the making of Harry Potter. In particular, you'll find the inspiration for the "Great Hall" if you take a tour of Christ Church College. The tour must be booked in advance and they often sell out. Older kids will also enjoy exploring the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Belfast. The city has several great kid-friendly museums, a zoo, and a few indoor or outdoor activity centers where you can let kids play and explore.

Is Oxford or Belfast Better for Couples?

Oxford is a well-known place for romance. However, Belfast is not a good city for its romantic activities.

Oxford is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful campus and striking architecture make this a great destination for romance. Hire a boat and explore the water or wander through one of the impressive gardens.

Most people don't think of Belfast as a couple's destination. There are gardens and parks to explore, several nice hotels with spas, and an Observatory on the 23rd floor of the Grand Central Hotel.

Is Oxford or Belfast Better for Students?

Oxford is an unbeatable place for students. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Oxford is a great destination for students. At its heart, Oxford is a college town and students are at the heart of the city and its culture.

Plenty of students visit Belfast. The city's affordability has made it a popular option for international students headed to the area.

Is Oxford or Belfast Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Oxford is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Belfast is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Oxford has a few public transit options. There are buses available if your legs get tired.

Public transit is mostly limited in Belfast. There is a bus service in the city.

Is Oxford or Belfast a more walkable city?

Oxford is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

Oxford is very walkable. The best way to explore most of the town is on foot, so you can soak up the full collegiate atmosphere.

Belfast is a somewhat walkable place.

For even more information, also check out Is Oxford Worth Visiting? and Is Belfast Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Belfast or Oxford?

How long in Oxford or Belfast?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Oxford and Belfast. In our opinion, Oxford has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Oxford than Belfast. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Oxford than Belfast 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 Oxford.

One day in Oxford or Belfast?

Oxford is a small town with plenty to do. This college town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Belfast. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Oxford or Belfast?

Oxford might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. 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 Oxford has to offer.

Belfast 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.

Five days in Oxford or Belfast?

Oxford 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Belfast. 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.

A week in Oxford or Belfast?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Oxford. Since Oxford is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the authentic destination of Belfast. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom.

When comparing the travel costs between Oxford and Belfast, we can see that Belfast is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Oxford or Belfast?

Belfast has a larger population, and is about 78% larger than the population of Oxford. When comparing the sizes of Oxford and Belfast, 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 Oxford or Belfast?

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 Oxford or Belfast in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Oxford as well as Belfast. The summer months attract visitors to Oxford because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Belfast this time of year.

Oxford is a little warmer than Belfast in the summer. The daily temperature in Oxford averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Belfast fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In the summer, Oxford often gets more sunshine than Belfast. Oxford gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belfast receives 151 hours of full sun.

Oxford usually gets less rain in July than Belfast. Oxford gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Oxford or Belfast in the Autumn?

Both Belfast and Oxford are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Oxford this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Belfast for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Oxford is a little warmer than Belfast. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Oxford in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Belfast averages at about 9°C (48°F).

Oxford usually receives more sunshine than Belfast during autumn. Oxford gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Belfast receives 92 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Oxford usually receives less rain than Belfast. Oxford gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Oxford or Belfast in the Winter?

Both Belfast and Oxford during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Oxford for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Belfast in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Belfast can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Oxford. In January, Oxford is generally cooler than Belfast. Daily temperatures in Oxford average around 3°C (38°F), and Belfast fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Oxford often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Belfast. Oxford gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belfast receives 50 hours of full sun.

Oxford usually gets less rain in January than Belfast. Oxford gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Oxford or Belfast in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Oxford and Belfast. Many visitors come to Oxford in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Belfast for the activities around the city during these months.

Oxford is around the same temperature as Belfast in the spring. The daily temperature in Oxford averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Belfast fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Oxford usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Belfast during spring. Oxford gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Belfast receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Oxford usually receives less rain than Belfast. Oxford gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Belfast and Oxford