A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Valencia vs. Manchester for Food, Nightlife, Attractions, and Families

Should you visit Valencia or Manchester?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Valencia or Manchester, 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.

Valencia

Valencia is a architectural, friendly, and coastal coastal city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Manchester

Manchester is a cultural, vibrant, and dynamic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Valencia and Manchester: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Valencia or Manchester?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Valencia than Manchester. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Valencia is very popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, beaches, historical sights, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Manchester attracts visitors for its music. Valencia is more touristy than Manchester and is popular for its rich cultural, world class museums, beautiful old town, and local cuisine (which includes paella). It is also well known for La Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. Manchester is famous for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club.

How is Valencia different from Manchester?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Valencia or Manchester?

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Valencia and Manchester.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Valencia can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is famous for its architecture and culture. Most of the main attractions are concentrated in Ciutat Vella and can be easily accessed on foot. Notable landmarks include La Lonja de Seda, Catedral de València, and Plaza de la Virgen. There are also several world class museums including Oceanogràfic de València and La Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències de València.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Manchester. Head to the Science and Industry Museum, the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester Cathedral, or John Rylands Library & Manchester Central Library to see some of the cities most interesting sights.

Is the Food Better in Valencia or Manchester? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Valencia is very popular for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Valencia has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. The city is famous as the birthplace of paella, which is one of Spain's most famous dishes. Beyond the paella, there are a number of other amazing traditional dishes. Fideuà is similar to paella but made with noodles instead of rice. All i pebre is an eel and potato dish and clóchinas are tiny local mussels. For dessert make sure you try the flan de calabaza, which is pumpkin flavored. Many restaurants also have tapas that can be shared. Restaurants in the old town are charming and delicious, but out by the beaches the quality isn't as good.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Manchester. You'll find a great food scene with diverse restaurant options that include international flavors, vegetarian options, and more. There are also many great places to try craft beer.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for Nightlife?

Valencia is very popular for nightlife. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

Valencia is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. Dinner starts late, so you can expect the nightlife to pick up even later. During the summer there are all night terrace parties and year round you'll find nightclubs filled from evening to dawn. If all night raves aren't really your thing, you'll also find plenty of local bars where you can hang out with friends in a more relaxed setting. The nightlife scene really is varied enough that there's something for everyone.

Manchester has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The nightlife scene is diverse and high energy. Head to Deansgate or the Northern Quarter for some of the best nightlife venues. You'll also find a huge rave scene in town.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for Music?

Manchester is well known for its live music scene. However, Valencia is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in Manchester. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Valencia is not a live music destination.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for Resorts?

Valencia is very good for its luxury resorts. However, Manchester is not a resort destination.

Valencia has a handful of resorts to choose from. You can choose between staying near the old town (Ciutat Vella) or out by the beach. One of the best beach areas is El Cabanyal. It's still close enough in to be well connected by public transit but offers a great coastal vibe as well.

Manchester is not a resort destination.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for Beaches?

Valencia is very good for its beaches. However, Manchester is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Valencia to enjoy the beach. There are several urban beaches in town that are accessible by public transit. Many offer surprisingly long stretches of sand with wide beaches and plenty of activity. The beaches can get crowded during the summer months, but they are generally large enough to accommodate the crowds. La Malvarrosa Beach is one of the most popular because of its proximity to the city. El Saler Beach is further out and popular with the locals and Port Saplaya is a colorful area with shopping and beaches.

Manchester is not a beach destination.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for its Old Town?

Valencia is very popular for its historic old town. However, Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Valencia has a world-famous historical area. For culture, history, and the majority of the city's attractions, you'll want to spend your time in Ciutat Vella (old town).

Manchester does not have a historic old town.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for Hiking?

Valencia is very good for hiking. However, Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Valencia. Most people miss out on the beautiful hikes through the nearby countryside, but if you venture out of town you can enjoy some beautiful walking trails. Many run along the coastline or pass through rolling hills. There is varied landscape in the area with pine forests, orange groves, and vineyards all common.

Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Valencia or Manchester?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Manchester and Valencia.

Valencia is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. As the third largest city in Spain, you'll find most designer brands around town. The main shopping street is Calle Colon where you'll find the well-known European brands mixed in with the lesser-known Spanish brands. For a more local experience head to Mercado Central where you'll find local produce, colorful seafood, and a unique foodie vibe.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Manchester. From jewelry to boutique clothing outlets, there are many places to shop around town. Head to Manchester Arndale, Trafford Centre, or Market Street for some of the best shopping.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for Families?

Valencia and Manchester are both excellent destinations for the whole family.

Valencia is a very kid-friendly coastal city. The city has some kid-friendly museums, an impressive zoo, and the largest aquarium in Europe (with its own dolphin show). Head to the Science Museum or simply wander around the museum complex. There are water activities and a beautiful futuristic style that attracts families and influencers with its photogenic atmosphere. There are also countless playgrounds of all sizes around town and a number of parks and outdoor spaces where kids can run around. There's a city park that runs through town and has playgrounds and bike trails. You can also spend a fun-filled day at the beach.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Manchester. You'll find a number of kid-friendly activities around town including the popular Legoland Discovery Center. Another fun activity is taking a behind the scenes CBBC interactive tour at MediaCityUK. Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the SeaLife Aquarium or the Chester Zoo and sports enthusiasts will not want to miss a visit to the National Football Museum or doing a tour of Old Trafford where you can also visit the Manchester United Museum.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for Couples?

Valencia and Manchester are both excellent to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Valencia frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The city is filled with interesting culture, beautiful weather, and delightful cuisine. There are sandy beaches and luxury hotels that will make for an amazing romantic getaway. There are also many beautiful gardens and charming neighborhoods that you can explore. Couples can split a paella and sip sangrias in one of the many charming restaurants around town.

Manchester is a great coastal city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples can enjoy a visit to a spa, a nice meal out, or simply wandering down the canal. For a unique experience, you can hit to slopes at Chill Factore.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Valencia is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Valencia is very popular with the backpacker crowd. It's often overlooked for more popular destinations, but this city has plenty to offer in the form of affordable accommodation and food as well as interesting sights.

It's common for backpackers to visit Manchester. You'll find hostels around town and a number of visitors, particularly during the sports season.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for Students?

Valencia is very popular for its student-friendly activities. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Valencia. The city is young and vibrant with a lot of culture and beautiful neighborhoods. It's also well connected to the rest of Spain with a convenient central train station.

Manchester is a great coastal city to visit as a student. There's a large number of students as well as a great music scene and tons of festivals that make this a great city to do your studies.

Is Valencia or Manchester Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Manchester is well known for its public transit. Also, Valencia is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Manchester has some very good public transit options. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

While Valencia offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Public transit is available in the form of buses and a tram/metro system but the system isn't as comprehensive as it could be and much of the city is surprisingly dependent on cars.

Is Valencia or Manchester a more walkable city?

Valencia is great for its walkability. Also, Manchester is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its high level of walkability.

Valencia is very walkable. Walking is the best way to explore many parts of the city and you can walk from one side of the Ciutat Vella to the other in about 20 minutes. This area is where you'll find most of the city's main attractions. There are other neighborhoods that are a bit less pedestrian-friendly.

Manchester is a somewhat walkable place. Some neighborhoods are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Valencia Worth Visiting? and Is Manchester Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Manchester or Valencia?

How long in Valencia or Manchester?

It's fun to spend time in either Valencia or Manchester. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Manchester due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Valencia, and 2-4 days is enough time in Manchester.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Valencia than Manchester 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 Valencia.

One day in Valencia or Manchester?

When visiting Valencia, people usually allow for lots of time. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The city of Manchester offers museums and nightlife. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Valencia or Manchester?

When visiting Valencia, people usually allow for lots of time. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this coastal city.

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

Five days in Valencia or Manchester?

Valencia, a popular coastal city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Manchester 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.

A week in Valencia or Manchester?

Valencia is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Manchester 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 city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Valencia or Manchester?

Valencia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Manchester. When comparing the sizes of Valencia and Manchester, 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 Valencia or Manchester?

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 Valencia or Manchester in the Summer?

Both Manchester and Valencia during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Valencia for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Manchester because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Valencia is generally much warmer than Manchester. Daily temperatures in Valencia average around 25°C (76°F), and Manchester fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Valencia. In the summer, Valencia often gets more sunshine than Manchester. Valencia gets 303 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manchester receives 176 hours of full sun.

Valencia usually gets less rain in July than Manchester. Valencia gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Valencia or Manchester in the Autumn?

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

Valencia is much warmer than Manchester in the autumn. The daily temperature in Valencia averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Manchester fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Valencia usually receives more sunshine than Manchester during autumn. Valencia gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while Manchester receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Valencia usually receives more rain than Manchester. Valencia gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Valencia or Manchester in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Manchester. In the winter, Valencia is much warmer than Manchester. Typically, the winter temperatures in Valencia in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Manchester averages at about 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Valencia often gets more sunshine than Manchester. Valencia gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manchester receives 53 hours of full sun.

Valencia usually gets less rain in January than Manchester. Valencia gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Valencia or Manchester in the Spring?

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

In April, Valencia is generally much warmer than Manchester. Daily temperatures in Valencia average around 15°C (60°F), and Manchester fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Valencia. Valencia usually receives more sunshine than Manchester during spring. Valencia gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Manchester receives 144 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Valencia usually receives less rain than Manchester. Valencia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Manchester and Valencia