A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Southampton vs. Limerick for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Southampton or Limerick?

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

Should I visit Southampton or Limerick? 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 dynamic, up-and-coming, and waterfront port city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Limerick

Limerick is a outdoorsy, fun-filled, and historic city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Southampton and Limerick: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Southampton or Limerick?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Limerick than Southampton. While Southampton is larger than Limerick, Limerick has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Limerick is more touristy than Southampton and is known for its castle, old town, and outdoor activities. It is also home to King John's Castle. Southampton is popular for its popularity as a cruise ship port as well as its focus watersports.

How is Southampton different from Limerick?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Southampton and Limerick.

Southampton offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Limerick. The town is famous for King John's Castle as well as St. Mary's Cathedral, and St. John's Square and Cathedral.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Southampton and Limerick can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

Southampton has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Limerick area. You'll find a mix of traditional Irish restaurants and more modern international cuisine. Local specialties to try include Limerick Ham, Cahill's Whiskey Cheese, and Walnut Cheddar.

Is Southampton or Limerick Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Limerick. It's a student town so much of the nightlife scene centers around the student population. There are lively pubs and clubs around town so it's not hard to have a fun night out.

Is the Shopping Better in Southampton or Limerick?

If you're looking to go shopping, Southampton and Limerick both offer plenty of good 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 Limerick to go shopping. You'll find a mix of brand name chains and independent boutiques in the city center. There are several major shopping streets in town including O'Connell Street, and the pedestrian streets of Bedford Row and Cruises Street.

Is Southampton or Limerick Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Southampton or Limerick.

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.

Limerick is a family-friendly place to visit. Families will enjoy visiting King John's Castle but for kids who need a break from the sightseeing, there are kid-friendly activities around town like Curraghchase Forest Park and the Peoples Park. Families should also check out the Dreamland Fun Center. Museums like Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum are also fun for the whole family.

Is Southampton or Limerick Better for Couples?

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

Southampton is a great port city if you're traveling as a couple. Museums, parks, gardens, and chartered boats all offer a romantic experience for couples visiting the area.

Limerick is a nice destination for couples. There are river cruises, kayaking, and nature to explore. Head to the Curraghchase Forest Park or any of the many beautiful parks around town. Couples can combine history with nature and enjoy a nice, romantic trip through Limerick.

Is Southampton or Limerick Better for Students?

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

It's common for students to visit Limerick. The city has a nice student scene with plenty of areas to explore.

Southampton is not popular with students.

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

Limerick is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Southampton is not known for its public transit.

While Limerick offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a city bus service that travels around town.

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

Is Southampton or Limerick a more walkable city?

Southampton and Limerick are good 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.

Limerick is a somewhat walkable port city. There are compact and walkable parts to the city that can be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Limerick or Southampton?

How long in Southampton or Limerick?

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

Couples should spend more time in Southampton than Limerick. 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 Limerick 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 Limerick.

One day in Southampton or Limerick?

The port city of Southampton offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic city of Limerick. 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 Limerick?

Southampton is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this port city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Southampton, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the historic destination of Limerick. 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 Limerick?

Southampton is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The outdoorsy city of Limerick offers shopping and museums. 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 Limerick?

Southampton is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This port city offers something for everyone.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Limerick. 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 2-Week Tours from Dublin, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Southampton or Limerick?

Southampton has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Limerick. When comparing the sizes of Southampton and Limerick, 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 Limerick?

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 Southampton or Limerick in the Summer?

Both Limerick and Southampton are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Southampton this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Limerick for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Southampton is a little warmer than Limerick. Typically, the summer temperatures in Southampton in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Limerick averages at about 16°C (60°F).

Southampton usually receives more sunshine than Limerick during summer. Southampton gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Limerick receives 142 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Southampton usually receives less rain than Limerick. Southampton gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Limerick receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Southampton or Limerick in the Autumn?

Both Limerick and Southampton during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Southampton for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Limerick in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Southampton is generally around the same temperature as Limerick. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 12°C (53°F), and Limerick fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Southampton often gets more sunshine than Limerick. Southampton gets 107 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Limerick receives 82 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets less rain in October than Limerick. Southampton gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Limerick receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Southampton or Limerick in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Southampton and Limerick. Many visitors come to Southampton in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Limerick for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Southampton can get quite cold in the winter. Southampton is cooler than Limerick in the winter. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Limerick fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

Southampton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Limerick during winter. Southampton gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while Limerick receives 49 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Southampton usually receives less rain than Limerick. Southampton gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Limerick receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Southampton or Limerick in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Southampton as well as Limerick. Most visitors come to Southampton for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Limerick because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Southampton is around the same temperature as Limerick. Typically, the spring temperatures in Southampton in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Limerick averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In the spring, Southampton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Limerick. Southampton gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Limerick receives 148 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets less rain in April than Limerick. Southampton gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Limerick receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Limerick and Southampton