Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or Leiden?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern or Leiden? 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.
Where Should I go: Bern or Leiden?
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
Leiden
Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $249Leiden $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $249, while the average daily cost in Leiden is $143. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bern and Leiden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $161Leiden $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $322Leiden $166
Compare Hotels in Bern and Leiden
Looking for a hotel in Bern or Leiden? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bern Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $33Leiden $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Transfer from Bern to Zurich with 2h of Sightseeing: $300
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $227
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $213
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $191
- Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden
Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zero Emission Tesla Taxi Transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Leiden?
Prices for flights to both Leiden and Bern change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBern $60Leiden $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.
- Cooking delicious Spanish paella in Switzerland.: $57
- Bern Food Market: Brunch & Local Food Tour: $62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $34Leiden $18
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- 007 Elegance:Exclusive Private Tour to Schilthorn from Bern: $627
- Alpine Heights: Small Group Tour to Jungfraujoch from Bern: $592
- Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $80
- Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $59
- Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $6.95
- Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $161
- Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $60
- Bern Old City Walking Tour: $459
- Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $534
- Bern Private Walking Tour: $334
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.36
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.57
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.62
- Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
- The Hidden Stories of Leiden - Self-guided audio tour: $14
- Self-Guided City Trail Kids Tour in Noordwijk (4-8 years): $21
- Windmill cruise through Warmond: $21
- 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $21
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Sea Tour: $26
- Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Leiden Tour: $32
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Tour: $32
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $27Leiden $28
Sample the Local Flavors in Leiden
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:
- Leiden Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21
- Leiden Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Leiden, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Leiden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leiden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leiden 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 Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern than you might in Leiden.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or Leiden?
Bern has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Leiden, 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 Bern or Leiden?
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 Bern or Leiden in the Summer?
Both Leiden and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bern this time of year.
In July, Bern is generally a little warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets less rain in July than Leiden. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBern 21°C (70°F)Leiden 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Bern or Leiden in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Leiden. Many travelers come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Bern is a little warmer than Leiden in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Bern usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Leiden. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBern 13°C (55°F)Leiden 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Bern or Leiden in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as Leiden. Many visitors come to Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Leiden can be very cold during winter. Bern can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Bern is a little warmer than Leiden. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Leiden averages at about 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Bern often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets less rain in January than Leiden. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBern 3°C (37°F)Leiden 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Bern or Leiden in the Spring?
Both Leiden and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bern for the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Bern is generally a little warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bern usually receives more rain than Leiden. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBern 11°C (52°F)Leiden 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Leiden and Bern
| Bern | Leiden | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.