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

Should you visit Rotterdam or Galway?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rotterdam and Galway. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a modern, trendy, and high energy port city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Galway

Galway is a historical, vibrant, and lively 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.

Rotterdam and Galway: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rotterdam or Galway?

You'll generally find more things to do in Rotterdam than Galway. Rotterdam is bigger than Galway, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Rotterdam is well known for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall. Also, Rotterdam is famous for The Cube Houses. Galway is well known for its many festivals, its traditional pubs, and its live Irish folk music.

The Cube Houses

How is Rotterdam different from Galway?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Rotterdam or Galway?

You'll find a number of notable museums and attractions in both Galway and Rotterdam.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Rotterdam. 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.

Galway is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular landmarks and sights in town include Eyre Square, St. Nicholas' Church, the Galway Cathedral, and the Galway City Museum.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Rotterdam and Galway can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

Rotterdam is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Galway offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are local pubs and traditional restaurants offering authentic Irish dishes. Popular options include Irish Stew, Cockles and Mussels, and Galway Oysters.

Is Rotterdam or Galway Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is very good in both Rotterdam and Galway.

Many people head to Rotterdam for the nightlife scene. 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.

Galway has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The nightlife scene is among the best in Ireland. The city embraces the friendly Irish hospitality and there are laid back pubs and bars around town as well as a few trendy nightclubs.

Is the Shopping Better in Rotterdam or Galway?

Rotterdam is notable for shopping. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Rotterdam is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Galway. You'll find shopping both in the city center as well as at suburban shopping malls. For some of the best shopping head to The Latin Quarter, The Westend or the outdoor market which is found in Church lane by St Nicholas' Church.

Is Rotterdam or Galway Better for Families?

Rotterdam is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

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

Galway is a family-friendly port city. Kids will enjoy the National Aquarium Galway or simply wandering around the Latin Quarter. About 15 minutes outside of the city is the Wildlands Adventure Park which has ziplines, ropes courses, and other adrenaline filled activities. Brigit's Garden is another fun place to let kids stretch their legs.

Is Rotterdam or Galway Better for Couples?

Rotterdam and Galway both notable destinations for a couple.

Rotterdam is a good port city for couples to visit. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Galway is a nice destination for couples. There are nice restaurants, beautiful walks, and a few parks to explore. There are also several romantic places just outside of town that make for a great day trip.

Is Rotterdam or Galway Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Galway is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Galway. There are plenty of hostels in the area and it's easy to meet other travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

Is Rotterdam or Galway Better for Students?

Rotterdam is notable for students. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Students come from all over to stay in Rotterdam. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

Plenty of students visit Galway. The city has a solid student population with a number of activities and entertainment options.

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

Rotterdam is notable for its public transit. Also, Galway is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Rotterdam. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

Galway has some public transit options. There are two bus companies in Galway, Bus Eireann and City Direct.

Is Rotterdam or Galway a more walkable city?

Rotterdam and Galway are very good when it comes to walkability.

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

Galway is very walkable. If you stay in central Galway, the area is generally compact and walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Rotterdam Worth Visiting? and Is Galway Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Galway or Rotterdam?

How long in Rotterdam or Galway?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Rotterdam and Galway. In our opinion, Rotterdam has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Rotterdam than Galway. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Rotterdam, and 2-3 days is enough time in Galway.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Galway 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 Galway.

One day in Rotterdam or Galway?

Rotterdam is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Galway. 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.

A weekend in Rotterdam or Galway?

Rotterdam 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Galway. 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.

Five days in Rotterdam or Galway?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant city of Galway. 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.

A week in Rotterdam or Galway?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the trendy big city of Rotterdam. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Galway 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.

When comparing the travel costs between Rotterdam and Galway, we can see that Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam Expensive? and Is Galway Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Galway?

Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam and Galway, 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 Rotterdam or Galway?

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 Rotterdam or Galway in the Summer?

Both Galway and Rotterdam during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rotterdam for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Galway because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Rotterdam is around the same temperature as Galway. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rotterdam in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Galway averages at about 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Rotterdam. In the summer, Rotterdam often gets more sunshine than Galway. Rotterdam gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun.

Rotterdam usually gets more rain in July than Galway. Rotterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Galway in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotterdam and Galway. The autumn months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Galway this time of year.

In October, Rotterdam is generally around the same temperature as Galway. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 11°C (51°F), and Galway fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Rotterdam usually receives more sunshine than Galway during autumn. Rotterdam gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 96 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Galway receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Galway. Rotterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Galway in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Rotterdam as well as Galway. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Galway for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Rotterdam in the winter. Rotterdam is much colder than Galway in the winter. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Galway fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Galway. Rotterdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Galway. Rotterdam usually gets less rain in January than Galway. Rotterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Galway in the Spring?

Both Galway and Rotterdam are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Rotterdam for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Galway in the spring for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Rotterdam is cooler than Galway. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rotterdam in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Galway averages at about 9°C (48°F).

Rotterdam usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Galway during spring. Rotterdam gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Rotterdam usually receives around the same amount of rain as Galway. Rotterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Galway and Rotterdam