A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bregenz vs. Kiel for Food, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Bregenz or Kiel?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bregenz and Kiel can help you decide which place is right for you.

Bregenz

Bregenz is a medieval, vibrant, and cultural city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Kiel

Kiel is a off-the-beaten-path, waterfront, and maritime city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bregenz and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bregenz or Kiel?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Kiel. Although Bregenz and Kiel are both popular with visitors, Kiel has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Kiel is more popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Bregenz is known for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Bregenz is popular for its lakefront setting, its rich culture, and its fun-filled festivals. Kiel is popular for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also home to The Kiel Castle.

How is Bregenz different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bregenz or Kiel?

You'll find a number of good museums and attractions in both Kiel and Bregenz.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Bregenz. The sights are split between the Lower Town and the Upper Town. There's a long history with many historic buildings and museums that you can explore.

Kiel is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

Is the Food Better in Bregenz or Kiel? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bregenz is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Bregenz. You'll find many restaurants around town that serve local dishes. Popular options include fish dishes, roasted venison, and baked rabbit. The food is hearty and often served with filling sauces. Cheese platters are also popular.

Kiel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Is Bregenz or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find good options in both Bregenz and Kiel.

If you're looking for night time activities Bregenz has a few options to choose from. You'll find bars and clubs around town as well as a lively beach bar by the lake.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Kiel. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

Is Bregenz or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is very good for the beach. However, Bregenz is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Kiel to enjoy the beach. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Bregenz is not a beach destination.

Is Bregenz or Kiel Better for its Old Town?

Bregenz is a popular place for its old town. However, Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Bregenz to see the old town. The old town is filled with medieval buildings that each have a fascinating and sometimes dark story to tell.

Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bregenz or Kiel?

If you're looking to go shopping, Bregenz and Kiel both offer plenty of good spots.

Bregenz has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. A mix of international brands and local shops make shopping a fun and diverse experience. Wandering the streets and popping in the selection of retail stores is a fun way to spend the afternoon.

Kiel is a great destination for shopping. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Bregenz or Kiel Better for Families?

Bregenz is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Bregenz is a very kid-friendly city. Its location on Lake Constance means that there are a wide range of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. There are also a number of kid-friendly museums, zoos, and other places that will inspire young minds.

Kiel offers lots of family activities. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

Is Bregenz or Kiel Better for Couples?

Bregenz is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Bregenz frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The lakefront setting offers a romantic atmosphere for couples. There's a lakefront promenade that you can stroll down as well as several great museums and some interesting historical sights.

Kiel is a good city for couples to visit. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Bregenz or Kiel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bregenz is a popular place for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bregenz. There are a few hostels around town that make this an easy stop off for backpackers and budget travelers.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is Bregenz or Kiel Better for Students?

Kiel is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Bregenz is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

Bregenz is not popular with students.

Is Bregenz or Kiel Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bregenz is a popular place for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Bregenz, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are five bus lines that run around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Bregenz or Kiel a more walkable city?

Bregenz and Kiel are good when it comes to walkability.

Bregenz is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the town are walkable and easy to explore on foot.

Kiel is somewhat walkable. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Bregenz Worth Visiting? and Is Kiel Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Bregenz?

How long in Bregenz or Kiel?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bregenz than Kiel 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 Bregenz.

One day in Bregenz or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Bregenz. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Kiel, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Bregenz or Kiel?

Bregenz is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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.

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

Five days in Bregenz or Kiel?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the medieval destination of Bregenz. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Kiel is a great place to explore. 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.

A week in Bregenz or Kiel?

The medieval city of Bregenz offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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's hard to know how much time to spend in Kiel. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Kiel. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Music Tours in Austria, The Best Budget Tours to Austria, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

When comparing the travel costs between Bregenz and Kiel, we can see that Kiel 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 Bregenz Expensive? and Is Kiel Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bregenz or Kiel?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Bregenz. When comparing the sizes of Bregenz and Kiel, 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.