A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amsterdam vs. Vienna for Nightlife, Music, Old Town, and Couples

Should you visit Amsterdam or Vienna?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam or Vienna, 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. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Visitors also love the live music, shopping, and museums.

Vienna

Vienna is a musical, ritzy, and classical city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Amsterdam and Vienna: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Amsterdam or Vienna?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Amsterdam than Vienna. While Vienna is larger than Amsterdam, Amsterdam has more sights and attractions for tourists. Amsterdam is better known for its nightlife and big city activities, while Vienna is more popular for its food, historical sights, and shopping. Amsterdam is well known for its scenic canals, huge biking culture, and its wild nightlife scene. Also, Amsterdam is famous for The Rijksmuseum. Vienna is well known for its strong classical music roots including being home to both Mozart and Beethoven.

How is Amsterdam different from Vienna?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the superb sights and museums in both Amsterdam and Vienna.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Amsterdam can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Vienna. Filled with palaces, museums, and parks, there are many things to see around town. Make sure you check out the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg, and Kunsthistorisches Museum.

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

Vienna is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Vienna. The city's cuisine has been influenced by many different flavors. Pastries are ubiquitous so make sure you try the apfelstrudel and kaiserschmarrn. Other common dishes include wiener schnitzel and goulash.

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 Vienna Better for Nightlife?

Amsterdam is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

The nightlife in Amsterdam is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. 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.

Vienna has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The music and dance scene is diverse and fun. There are clubs that cater to different crowds and personalities.

Is Amsterdam or Vienna Better for Music?

Live music enthusiatsts will find something to enjoy in either Amsterdam or Vienna.

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.

Vienna has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. On the surface, the city seems locked in the past, with ballet dancing and classical concerts filling the evenings. But the city also has a famous jazz scene, as well as techno, hip-hop, and rock all having a strong presence.

Is Amsterdam or Vienna Better for its Old Town?

Vienna 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, Vienna offers plenty to see. Innere Stadt, as it is known, is encircled by Ringstrasse and filled with many shops and cafes. Head to Kärntner Strasse and Graben for popular pedestrian streets.

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 Vienna?

Vienna is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Vienna make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is filled with pedestrian streets that are lined with designer shops, jewelry stores, and art galleries.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Amsterdam. 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.

Is Amsterdam or Vienna Better for Families?

Vienna is a nice place to visit for its family-friendly activities. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Vienna. Families enjoy taking carriage rides or dressing up in costumes at Schönbrunn Palace. The city also has children's museums, parks, and playgrounds where you can let little legs run around.

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 Vienna Better for Couples?

Vienna is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Vienna has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. With it's Baroque architecture and classical concerts, this city is filled with romance. Explore the palaces, take a carriage ride, or enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant.

Amsterdam is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. 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.

Is Amsterdam or Vienna Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Amsterdam is an unbeatable place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Amsterdam is extremely popular for backpackers. 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.

Vienna is a good city to visit for backpackers. The city flies under the radar for many backpackers, but those who visit will be rewarded with beautiful buildings, charming cafes, and fun hostels.

Is Amsterdam or Vienna Better for Students?

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

Vienna is a great destination for students. The city is a popular destination for international students who are interested in art, architecture, and music.

Amsterdam is not popular with students.

Is Amsterdam or Vienna 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 Vienna.

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.

Vienna has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. The system includes buses, trains, trams and underground lines.

Is Amsterdam or Vienna a more walkable city?

Amsterdam and Vienna both are amazing when exploring on foot.

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

Vienna is a very easy city to get around on foot. The city center is particularly walkable with pedestrian areas and low traffic zones.

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

Should I spend more time in Vienna or Amsterdam?

How long in Amsterdam or Vienna?

In either Amsterdam or Vienna, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Amsterdam than Vienna 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 Vienna.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Amsterdam than Vienna 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 Vienna?

Amsterdam is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the city of Vienna. 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 Vienna?

Amsterdam is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find live music and food around the musical destination of Vienna. 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 Vienna?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Amsterdam. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find food and shopping around the classical city of Vienna. 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 Vienna?

Amsterdam is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Vienna 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Netherlands, The Best Adventure Tours to Netherlands, The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Austria.

When comparing the travel costs between Amsterdam and Vienna, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Amsterdam or Vienna?

Vienna has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Amsterdam. When comparing the sizes of Amsterdam and Vienna, 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 Vienna?

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 Amsterdam or Vienna in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Amsterdam as well as Vienna. The summer months attract visitors to Amsterdam because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the music scene and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Vienna this time of year.

Amsterdam is cooler than Vienna in the summer. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Vienna fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vienna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Amsterdam this time of the year. In the summer, Amsterdam often gets less sunshine than Vienna. Amsterdam gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 255 hours of full sun.

Amsterdam usually gets more rain in July than Vienna. Amsterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Vienna in the Autumn?

Both Vienna and Amsterdam are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. 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. Also, many travelers come to Vienna for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Amsterdam is cooler than Vienna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Amsterdam in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Vienna averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Amsterdam usually receives less sunshine than Vienna during autumn. Amsterdam gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 140 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Amsterdam usually receives more rain than Vienna. Amsterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Vienna in the Winter?

Both Vienna and Amsterdam during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Amsterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Vienna in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Vienna can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Amsterdam. In January, Amsterdam is generally around the same temperature as Vienna. Daily temperatures in Amsterdam average around 2°C (36°F), and Vienna fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Amsterdam often gets less sunshine than Vienna. Amsterdam gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 65 hours of full sun.

Amsterdam usually gets more rain in January than Vienna. Amsterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Vienna in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Amsterdam and Vienna. Many visitors come to Amsterdam in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Vienna for the natural beauty during these months.

Amsterdam is much colder than Vienna in the spring. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Vienna fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vienna this time of the year. Amsterdam usually receives less sunshine than Vienna during spring. Amsterdam gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 202 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Amsterdam usually receives around the same amount of rain as Vienna. Amsterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Vienna and Amsterdam