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

Should you visit Southampton or Belfast?

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

Should I visit Southampton or Belfast? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Southampton

Southampton is a up-and-coming, waterfront, and dynamic port city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Belfast

Belfast is a under-rated, authentic, and affordable city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the nightlife and shopping.

Southampton and Belfast: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Southampton or Belfast?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Belfast. Although Southampton and Belfast are roughly the same size, Belfast has more sights and attractions for tourists. Belfast is very popular for its big city activities, while Southampton attracts visitors for its museums & sights, food, and impressive beauty. Belfast is more touristy than Southampton and is popular for being the birthplace of the Titanic and the location of the era of the "Troubles". It is also well known for Belfast Castle. Southampton is famous for its popularity as a cruise ship port as well as its focus watersports.

How is Southampton different from Belfast?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Southampton is a nice place to visit for its sights and museums. However, Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

Southampton is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Museums are a favorite activity in town. There are a surprising number of options including SeaCity Museum, the Tudor House and Garden, and Southampton City Art Gallery.

Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

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

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

Southampton offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. While most people used to pass through Southampton on their way somewhere else, the city now offers a dynamic food scene with local restaurants mixed with international options and even fine dining.

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 Southampton or Belfast Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find nice options in both Southampton and Belfast.

If you're looking for night time activities Southampton has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is filled with restaurants, pubs, and bars as well as a few nightclubs mixed in.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Belfast. The city has a number of bars and clubs with local DJs or musicians.

Is the Shopping Better in Southampton or Belfast?

If you're looking to go shopping, Southampton and Belfast both offer plenty of nice spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Southampton. The city has two indoor shopping centers, as well as a range of markets and several independent vendors.

Many visitors go to Belfast to go shopping. The main shopping areas in the city are Victoria Square Shopping Centre and CastleCourt.

Is Southampton or Belfast Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Southampton or Belfast.

Southampton offers lots of family activities. This cruise port city offers a handful of fascinating activities for kids including learning about the Mayflower and the Titanic. There are also many parks and gardens as well as the Mayflower Theater, which regularly has kid-family productions.

Belfast is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Southampton or Belfast Better for Couples?

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

Southampton is a very popular place to visit for couples. Museums, parks, gardens, and chartered boats all offer a romantic experience for couples visiting the area.

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 Southampton or Belfast Better for Students?

Belfast is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Southampton is not popular with students.

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

Southampton is not popular with students.

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

Southampton and Belfast both offer reasonable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Southampton. There are buses around town that make some areas accessible even without a car.

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

Is Southampton or Belfast a more walkable city?

Southampton and Belfast are nice when it comes to walkability.

Southampton is a somewhat walkable place. It's possible to walk in parts of Southampton but in general it's easier to take a taxi.

Belfast is a somewhat walkable port city.

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

Should I spend more time in Belfast or Southampton?

How long in Southampton or Belfast?

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

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

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

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

One day in Southampton or Belfast?

In Southampton, you'll find nightlife and food. This port city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the authentic city of Belfast. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Southampton or Belfast?

In Southampton, you'll find food and shopping. 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 Southampton has to offer.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the affordable destination of Belfast. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Southampton or Belfast?

Southampton 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.

The authentic city of Belfast offers nightlife and shopping. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Southampton or Belfast?

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

Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Belfast. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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 from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 2-Week Tours from London.

When comparing the travel costs between Southampton 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 Southampton Expensive? and Is Belfast Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Southampton or Belfast?

Belfast has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Southampton. When comparing the sizes of Southampton 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 Southampton 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 Southampton or Belfast in the Summer?

Both Belfast and Southampton during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Southampton for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Belfast in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Southampton is generally a little warmer than Belfast. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 18°C (64°F), and Belfast fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

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

Southampton usually gets less rain in July than Belfast. Southampton 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 Southampton or Belfast in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Southampton and Belfast. Many visitors come to Southampton in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Belfast for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Southampton is a little warmer than Belfast in the autumn. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Belfast fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

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

In October, Southampton usually receives less rain than Belfast. Southampton 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 Southampton or Belfast in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Southampton as well as Belfast. Most visitors come to Southampton for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Belfast because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

The weather in Belfast can be very cold. Southampton can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Southampton is around the same temperature as Belfast. Typically, the winter temperatures in Southampton in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Belfast averages at about 4°C (39°F).

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

Southampton usually gets less rain in January than Belfast. Southampton 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 Southampton or Belfast in the Spring?

Both Belfast and Southampton are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Southampton because of the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Belfast this time of year.

In April, Southampton is generally a little warmer than Belfast. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 9°C (48°F), and Belfast fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

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

In April, Southampton usually receives less rain than Belfast. Southampton 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 Southampton