A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Valletta vs. Belfast for Food, Couples, Backpackers, and Nightlife

Should you visit Valletta or Belfast?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Valletta and Belfast can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Valletta

Valletta is a historic, charming, and cultural town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Belfast

Belfast is a authentic, affordable, and under-rated city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the nightlife and shopping.

Valletta and Belfast: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Valletta or Belfast?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Valletta than Belfast, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Valletta is better known for its museums, food, beaches, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Belfast is more popular for its big city activities. Valletta is well known for its ancient fortifications, Baroque palaces, and beautiful gardens. Also, Valletta is famous for The Grand Masters Palace. Belfast is well known for being the birthplace of the Titanic and the location of the era of the "Troubles".

How is Valletta different from Belfast?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Valletta is an unbeatable place for its sights and museums. However, Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Valletta that are not to be missed. With its rich culture and compact old town, there are countless museums, sights, and monuments that are worth visiting. Some options include Saint John's Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster's Palace and Armory, the National Museum of Archaeology, Manoel Theater, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Valletta is an unbeatable place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Belfast is not a good city for its restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Valletta is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The town's culinary scene has a long history with many traditional flavors. You really must experience a meal in one of the traditional stone cellar restaurants, which often serve local meze. Head to Republic Street for a stretch of longstanding restaurants in town. Local dishes include stuffat tal-fenek (rabbit stew), bragioli (rolled meat covered in sauce), and lampuki pie (fish pie).

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 Valletta or Belfast Better for Nightlife?

The notable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Valletta and Belfast.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Valletta. It wasn't long ago that the town went quiet in the evenings, but recent years have brought a surge in bars and clubs around town. You'll find the liveliest nightlife in areas around Strait Street and the Valletta Waterfront. If you're looking for a true clubbing scene, you'll want to head north out of town to Paceville.

Belfast has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city has a number of bars and clubs with local DJs or musicians.

Is Valletta or Belfast Better for Beaches?

Valletta is a moderate town for its beaches. However, Belfast is not a beach destination.

Valletta is a good spot to see the beach. There aren't any beaches in town, but if you head north to St. George’s Bay you'll find some nice beaches with a variety of resorts to choose from.

Belfast is not a beach destination.

Is Valletta or Belfast Better for its Old Town?

Valletta is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. However, Belfast does not have a historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Valletta offers plenty to see. The old town is laid out with a uniform grid and the streets are lined with hundreds of historic buildings. At the heart of old town is Republic Street, which divides the area in half and is where you'll find a large concentration of restaurants.

Belfast does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Valletta or Belfast?

Valletta is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Valletta is an extremely popular place for shoppers. For the best shopping head to Republic Street and Merchants Street where you'll find craft shops, boutiques, and other local souvenirs. Many visitors enjoy picking up blown glass, a locally made miniature, or cactus liquor. Lace is also a common local item that you'll find around town.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Belfast. The main shopping areas in the city are Victoria Square Shopping Centre and CastleCourt.

Is Valletta or Belfast Better for Families?

Both Valletta and Belfast are notable to visit with kids.

Valletta is a family-friendly town. This charming town has nearby beaches as well as a few museums that kids will enjoy, including a toy museum. There are also several multi-media shows that educate visitors on the area's history. Make sure you check out Malta 5D and the Malta Experience.

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 Valletta or Belfast Better for Couples?

Valletta is an unbeatable place for romance. However, Belfast is not a good city for its romantic activities.

Valletta has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The town offers beautiful walks, luxury spa experiences, and evening sunset cruises that are seeped in romance. During the evening you can enjoy a cocktail hour and then dine in one of the town's many unique restaurants.

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 Valletta or Belfast Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Valletta is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Belfast is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Valletta. The island has grown in popularity with backpackers, particularly those coming from Europe, as there are affordable flights and easy accessibility. You'll also find some nice hostels around town where you can stay on a budget.

Belfast is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a reasonably affordable destination with a few hostels to choose from, but most backpackers don't make their way to this city.

Is Valletta or Belfast Better for Students?

Belfast is a city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Valletta is not popular with students.

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

Valletta is not popular with students.

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

Valletta 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.

Valletta has a few public transit options. If you're not up for walking up and down the hills, there are some buses around town.

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

Is Valletta or Belfast a more walkable city?

Valletta is an unbeatable place for its walkability. Also, Belfast is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Valletta on foot. The town is compact and easy to walk around with many sights within a short distance of each other. There's also very little street traffic.

Belfast is a somewhat walkable place.

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

Should I spend more time in Belfast or Valletta?

How long in Valletta or Belfast?

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

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

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

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

One day in Valletta or Belfast?

In Valletta, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

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

A weekend in Valletta or Belfast?

In Valletta, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Valletta has to offer.

Belfast 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 Belfast, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Valletta or Belfast?

Valletta is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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.

Belfast 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 Valletta or Belfast?

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

Belfast 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 Historical Tours in Malta, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malta, The Best Budget Tours to United Kingdom, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Valletta or Belfast?

Belfast has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Valletta. When comparing the sizes of Valletta 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 Valletta or Belfast?

Belfast has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Valletta experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Valletta or Belfast in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Valletta as well as Belfast. Valletta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Belfast because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Valletta is much warmer than Belfast. Typically, the summer temperatures in Valletta in July average around 26°C (79°F), and Belfast averages at about 15°C (59°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Valletta this time of the year. In the summer, Valletta often gets more sunshine than Belfast. Valletta gets 365 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belfast receives 151 hours of full sun.

Valletta usually gets less rain in July than Belfast. Valletta gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Valletta or Belfast in the Autumn?

Both Belfast and Valletta are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Valletta throughout the year. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Belfast this time of year.

In October, Valletta is generally much warmer than Belfast. Daily temperatures in Valletta average around 21°C (70°F), and Belfast fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Valletta. Valletta usually receives more sunshine than Belfast during autumn. Valletta gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Belfast receives 92 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Valletta usually receives less rain than Belfast. Valletta gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Valletta or Belfast in the Winter?

Both Belfast and Valletta during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Valletta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Belfast for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Belfast. Valletta is much warmer than Belfast in the winter. The daily temperature in Valletta averages around 13°C (55°F) in January, and Belfast fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Valletta often gets more sunshine than Belfast. Valletta gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belfast receives 50 hours of full sun.

Valletta usually gets more rain in January than Belfast. Valletta gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Valletta or Belfast in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Valletta and Belfast. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Valletta year-round. Also, many visitors come to Belfast in the spring for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Valletta is much warmer than Belfast. Typically, the spring temperatures in Valletta in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Belfast averages at about 8°C (46°F).

In Valletta, it's very sunny this time of the year. Valletta usually receives more sunshine than Belfast during spring. Valletta gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Belfast receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Valletta usually receives less rain than Belfast. Valletta gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Belfast receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Belfast and Valletta