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

Should you visit Wellington or Manchester?

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

Should I visit Wellington or Manchester? 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.

Wellington

Wellington is a funky, compact, and laid-back city. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Manchester

Manchester is a diverse, cultural, and vibrant city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Wellington and Manchester: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Wellington or Manchester?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Manchester. Although Wellington and Manchester are about the same size, Manchester has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Manchester is very popular for its museums, music, and big city activities, while Wellington attracts visitors for its beaches and hiking. Wellington is more touristy than Manchester and is known for its waterfront promenade, quirky cafe culture, and relaxing beaches. Manchester is famous for its strong music culture as well as being home to the world-renowned Manchester United Football Club. It is also well known for The National Football Museum.

How is Wellington different from Manchester?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Manchester is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Manchester offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Wellington. As the capital city, you'll find a number of museums and sights around town. Check out the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Beehive, the Wellington Museum, and the City Gallery.

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

Both Wellington and Manchester offer a number of great restaurants to choose from.

Wellington has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are waterfront restaurants and a vibrant cafe scene around town. You'll also find local markets and many diverse eateries that you can explore.

Dining out in Manchester is an experience not to be missed. 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 Wellington or Manchester Better for Nightlife?

The great nightlife scene is relatively similar in Wellington and Manchester.

Wellington has a large number of nightlife venues. The best nightlife scene is found along Courtenay Place. There you'll find nightclubs, pubs, and cocktail bars. Cuba Street is another fun area with a bit more of a local vibe, and the waterfront is another great nightlife district in the city.

Manchester is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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 Wellington or Manchester Better for Music?

Manchester is a very popular place for its live music scene. However, Wellington is not a live music destination.

It's worth checking out the music scene in Manchester while you're in town. There's a long running music reputation here. Some of the iconic bands that began here include Oasis and Stone Roses.

Wellington is not a live music destination.

Is Wellington or Manchester Better for Beaches?

Wellington is great for its beaches. However, Manchester is not a beach destination.

Wellington is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. There are nice beaches within walking distance of the city center. There are also beaches that are well worth the drive if you're looking to get a bit out of town. In the summer months, there are swimming beaches, and year around they have nice views and a good atmosphere.

Manchester is not a beach destination.

Is Wellington or Manchester Better for Hiking?

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

Many people include a hike when visiting Wellington. The area has rolling hills and beautiful coastlines that are filled with walking trails and scenic views. Some of the more popular trails in the area are the Red Rocks walk and the City-to-Sea walk.

Manchester is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Wellington or Manchester?

Shoppers can find a variety of great stores in both Wellington and Manchester.

Wellington is well-known for its shopping. For the city's best shopping, head to the "Golden Mile". This is the area defined by Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street and Courtenay Place. There are boutique designers and high end fashion outlets throughout the area. The city also has many great markets and local shopping areas.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity 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 Wellington or Manchester Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Wellington or Manchester.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Wellington is very family-friendly. There's the Wellington Zoo as well as Island Bay Marine Education Centre, both of which are great for animal-lovers. Waitangi Park is a nice park where kids can run around and play, and if you're looking for something indoors, head to the Space Place at Carter Observatory. If everyone needs some down time, there's always the beach with is fun to hang out at.

Manchester is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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 Wellington or Manchester Better for Couples?

Manchester is a very popular place for its romantic activities. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Manchester makes for a fun place to visit for 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.

Wellington is a good city for couples to visit. The botanical gardens are beautiful to explore, and there is also a bird sanctuary in the area as well. Couple's will also enjoy the many nice restaurants and beautiful outdoor space around town.

Is Wellington or Manchester Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Wellington is very popular with the backpacker crowd. Located on the south side of the North Island, many backpackers use this city as a gateway to the South Island. There are many hostels around town and other fellow backpackers to hang out with.

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 Wellington or Manchester Better for Students?

Manchester is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Manchester is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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.

Wellington is popular with students. The locals are friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere is a nice setting for students.

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

Visitors will find great public transit in both Wellington and Manchester.

Wellington has some very good public transit options. There are city buses, trains, and ferries that are popular with tourists and locals alike.

The public transit in Manchester can get you to most places easily. The city has bus, train, and tram options for travel.

Is Wellington or Manchester a more walkable city?

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

Wellington is very walkable. This is one of New Zealand's most walkable cities and it has a compact city center.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Manchester or Wellington?

How long in Wellington or Manchester?

It's fun to spend time in either Wellington 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 Wellington, and 2-4 days is enough time in Manchester.

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

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

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

One day in Wellington or Manchester?

With museums and nightlife around the laid-back city of Wellington, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

When visiting Manchester, people usually allow for lots of time. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Wellington or Manchester?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Wellington, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

When visiting Manchester, people usually allow for lots of time. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Wellington or Manchester?

Wellington, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Manchester, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Wellington or Manchester?

Wellington 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 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, 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 Wellington and Manchester, we can see that Manchester is more expensive. And not only is Wellington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Wellington is in Pacific and Manchester is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Wellington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wellington 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 Wellington.

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

Which is Bigger, Wellington or Manchester?

Manchester has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Wellington 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 Wellington or Manchester?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Wellington is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Manchester has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Wellington or Manchester in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and Manchester. The beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Wellington this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Manchester for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In January, Wellington is generally around the same temperature as Manchesterin July. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 18°C (64°F), and Manchester fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

In Wellington, it's very sunny this time of the year. Wellington usually receives more sunshine than Manchester during summer. Wellington gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Manchester receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.

In January, Wellington usually receives around the same amount of rain as Manchesterin July. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Wellington or Manchester in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Wellington as well as Manchester. Many travelers come to Wellington for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Manchester in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Wellington is a little warmer than Manchester in the autumn. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and Manchester fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in October.

In the autumn, Wellington often gets more sunshine than Manchesterin October. Wellington gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manchester receives 97 hours of full sun.

Wellington usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Manchesterin October. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Wellington or Manchester in the Winter?

Both Manchester and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Wellington in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Manchester for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Manchester can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Wellington is much warmer than Manchester. Typically, the winter temperatures in Wellington in July average around 10°C (49°F), and Manchester averages at about 4°C (39°F)in January.

Wellington usually receives more sunshine than Manchester during winter. Wellington gets 122 hours of sunny skies, while Manchester receives 53 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Wellington. In July, Wellington usually receives more rain than Manchesterin January. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Wellington or Manchester in the Spring?

Both Manchester and Wellington during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Wellington for the beaches during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Manchester because of the activities around the city.

In October, Wellington is generally much warmer than Manchesterin April. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 13°C (55°F), and Manchester fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the spring, Wellington often gets more sunshine than Manchesterin April. Wellington gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manchester receives 144 hours of full sun.

Wellington usually gets more rain in October than Manchesterin April. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Manchester receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Manchester and Wellington