A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amsterdam vs. Lyon for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Old Town

Should you visit Amsterdam or Lyon?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam or Lyon, 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.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a canal-lined, party-oriented, and laid-back city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and shopping.

Lyon

Lyon is a authentic, historic, and beautiful city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Amsterdam and Lyon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Amsterdam or Lyon?

You'll generally find more things to do in Amsterdam than Lyon. Amsterdam is bigger than Lyon, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Amsterdam is better known for its nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Lyon is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and quaint atmosphere. Amsterdam is more touristy than Lyon and is known for its scenic canals, huge biking culture, and its wild nightlife scene. Also, Amsterdam is famous for The Rijksmuseum. Lyon is well known for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town.

How is Amsterdam different from Lyon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Amsterdam or Lyon?

Lyon is an unbeatable place for its museums and landmarks. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Lyon are among the most recognizable in the world. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Amsterdam. The city has a number of sights and museums including the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Royal Palace. The world renowned Rijksmuseum is a must see for any art enthusiast. There are also many smaller, lesser known museums that are well worth a visit.

Is the Food Better in Amsterdam or Lyon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lyon is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Lyon is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Known as "the Gastronomic Capital of the World" this city stands above the rest when it comes to Michelin star restaurants (there are 17!), fresh ingredients, and unique local flavors. Favorite local dishes include pâté en croûte, rosette de Lyon, and saucisson brioché.

Amsterdam may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Food is expensive in this city, particularly in the touristy areas. There are some markets that sell great local items and the dessert cafes are awesome!

Is Amsterdam or Lyon Better for Nightlife?

Amsterdam is an amazing city to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Amsterdam has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The city has some of the best nightlife in Europe. There are plenty of bars, dance clubs, and other activities that you can enjoy throughout the night.

Lyon has a large number of nightlife venues. The city has enough diverse neighborhoods that you'll find a scene that is great for everyone. There are dance clubs, cocktail bars, and wine bars that meet every personality and style.

Is Amsterdam or Lyon Better for Music?

Amsterdam is an amazing city to visit for its live music scene. However, Lyon is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Amsterdam The city attracts its share of world renowned DJs and musicians. Popular music venues include Paradiso, De Melkweg, and Chicago Social Club.

Lyon is not a live music destination.

Is Amsterdam or Lyon Better for its Old Town?

Lyon is an unbeatable place for its old town. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

With a famous historical old-town, Lyon offers plenty to see. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.

Amsterdam is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The old city center is one of the best preserved in Europe. It's enclosed by canals and has many historic churches, plazas, and buildings.

Is the Shopping Better in Amsterdam or Lyon?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Lyon and Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. For the best shopping in town, head to the Nine Streets area in the historic district and the two main shopping streets of The Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Lyon. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.

Is Amsterdam or Lyon Better for Families?

Lyon is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Lyon is a very kid-friendly city. The city has many kid-friendly museums including Musée des Confluences and the Cinema and Miniature Museum. There are also playgrounds, patisseries, and river cruises that you can enjoy as a family. Puppet shows are also fun, but do note that they're usually in French. While the restaurants are amazing for adults, it can be tricky to find a kid-friendly option with early opening hours that are convenient for little ones.

For families, Amsterdam is not always the best place to visit. The city does it's share of partying, and there are some areas, like the red light district, that aren't exactly kid-friendly, but there are some nice parks, playgrounds, and the impressive NEMO Science Museum that you can explore.

Is Amsterdam or Lyon Better for Couples?

Amsterdam and Lyon are both superb to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Amsterdam frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. For many, a visit to this city is all about the party, but for couples who enjoy history, architecture, or boat rides along the scenic canals, the city also makes a great getaway. It's also fun to stay in a houseboat and have a unique experience.

Lyon is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.

Is Amsterdam or Lyon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Amsterdam is an amazing city to visit for backpackers. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Amsterdam. With it's party-hard personality and countless low price hostels, this city attracts its share of backpackers. Do note that many of the hostels aren't focused on quality, so make sure you understand what you're paying for. It may be worth booking a slightly more expensive room in a hotel.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Lyon. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.

Is Amsterdam or Lyon Better for Students?

Lyon is an unbeatable place for students. However, Amsterdam is not popular with students.

Lyon is a great destination for students. It is a very livable city with many fun cultural activities for students. There are many different entertainment options during the day, and during the evening there are plenty of places to hang out.

Amsterdam is not popular with students.

Is Amsterdam or Lyon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Amsterdam and Lyon.

Visitors in Amsterdam can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The city has metros, trams, buses, and ferries that help you get around. Since this is the Netherlands, getting around by bike is very popular.

Lyon has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.

Is Amsterdam or Lyon a more walkable city?

Amsterdam is an amazing city to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Amsterdam on foot. The historic parts of the city are very walkable and much of the city is best explored on foot.

Lyon is a very walkable destination. The old town is particularly walkable, but the hills can make things a bit challenging. There are also a number of pedestrian streets around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting? and Is Lyon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lyon or Amsterdam?

How long in Amsterdam or Lyon?

In either Amsterdam or Lyon, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Amsterdam than Lyon because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-7 days is a good amount of time for Amsterdam, and 2-5 days is enough time in Lyon.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Amsterdam than Lyon 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 Amsterdam.

One day in Amsterdam or Lyon?

Amsterdam is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find shopping and museums around the quaint city of Lyon. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Amsterdam or Lyon?

Amsterdam is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic big city of Lyon. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Amsterdam or Lyon?

Amsterdam is a canal-lined big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find nightlife and food around the authentic city of Lyon. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Amsterdam or Lyon?

Amsterdam is a scenic city where you can fill many days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Lyon is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Amsterdam or Lyon?

Amsterdam has a larger population, and is about 57% larger than the population of Lyon. When comparing the sizes of Amsterdam and Lyon, 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 Amsterdam or Lyon?

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 Amsterdam or Lyon in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Amsterdam and Lyon. The summer months attract visitors to Amsterdam because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lyon this time of year.

Amsterdam is cooler than Lyon in the summer. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Lyon fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lyon this time of the year. In Amsterdam, it's very sunny this time of the year. Amsterdam usually receives less sunshine than Lyon during summer. Amsterdam gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Amsterdam usually receives more rain than Lyon. Amsterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Lyon in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Amsterdam as well as Lyon. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Amsterdam this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Lyon for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Amsterdam is cooler than Lyon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Amsterdam in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Lyon averages at about 14°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Amsterdam often gets less sunshine than Lyon. Amsterdam gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 127 hours of full sun.

Amsterdam usually gets less rain in October than Lyon. Amsterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Lyon in the Winter?

Both Lyon and Amsterdam are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Amsterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Lyon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Lyon can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Amsterdam. In January, Amsterdam is generally much colder than Lyon. Daily temperatures in Amsterdam average around 2°C (36°F), and Lyon fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

Amsterdam usually receives less sunshine than Lyon during winter. Amsterdam gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Amsterdam usually receives more rain than Lyon. Amsterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Lyon in the Spring?

Both Lyon and Amsterdam during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Amsterdam in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Lyon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

Amsterdam is much colder than Lyon in the spring. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Lyon fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In the spring, Amsterdam often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lyon. Amsterdam gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 174 hours of full sun.

Amsterdam usually gets less rain in April than Lyon. Amsterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Lyon and Amsterdam