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

Should you visit Cardiff or Kiel?

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

Should I visit Cardiff or Kiel? 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.

Cardiff

Cardiff is a industrial, up-and-coming, and green city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Kiel

Kiel is a authentic, off-the-beaten-path, and waterfront city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Cardiff and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cardiff or Kiel?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Kiel than Cardiff. While Cardiff is larger than Kiel, Kiel has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Kiel is better known for its food and beaches, while Cardiff is more popular for its impressive beauty. Cardiff is well known for having the most castles per square mile of any city in Europe. Kiel is well known for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. Also, Kiel is famous for The Kiel Castle.

How is Cardiff different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the notable sights and museums in both Cardiff and Kiel.

Cardiff offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The most notable landmark of the city is the famous and well-preserved Cardiff Castle. Visitors also enjoy seeing the Victorian arcades, museums, and cathedrals around town.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Kiel. 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 Cardiff or Kiel? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Kiel is a popular place for its restaurant scene. However, Cardiff is a city with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Kiel. 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)

Cardiff may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Welsh cuisine is known for its stews and hearty vegetable dishes. The national dish is cawl, which is a stew made with lamb and vegetables. Other local favorites include Welsh rarebit, which is a type of cheese toast, and Glamorgan Sausage, which is actually made with vegetables.

Is Cardiff or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Cardiff or Kiel has a better nightlife scene.

Cardiff has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is all about fun and most of the activities are driven by the large and diverse student population.

If you're looking for night time activities Kiel has a few options to choose from. 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 Cardiff or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a popular place for the beache. However, Cardiff is not a beach destination.

Kiel is a good option for a beach vacation. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Cardiff is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cardiff or Kiel?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Kiel and Cardiff.

Cardiff offers some nice shopping areas. Shopping options include shopping malls and boutique lined streets. There is a nice mix of independent shops and major chains to choose between.

Kiel has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Cardiff or Kiel Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Cardiff or Kiel.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Cardiff. The city has a number of climbing and play areas, museums, and playgrounds that can keep the little ones entertained. There are also plenty of outdoor parks and trails to wander around.

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 Cardiff or Kiel Better for Couples?

Kiel is a popular place for its romantic activities. However, Cardiff is a city with minimal options for couples.

Kiel makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Cardiff is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The most romantic experiences involve a night out dining at nice restaurants, enjoying a cocktail at a classy bar, and strolling through neighborhoods and soaking up the atmosphere.

Is Cardiff or Kiel Better for Students?

Cardiff and Kiel are notable places to visit for students.

Cardiff is popular with students. Most students come to study at Cardiff University, which is a leading university in Great Britain.

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

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Cardiff and Kiel.

Public transit is generally limited in Cardiff. There is a bus system that you can use to get around.

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

Is Cardiff or Kiel a more walkable city?

Cardiff and Kiel both are notable when exploring on foot.

Cardiff is a somewhat walkable place. There are pedestrianized areas and the waterfront is nice to walk around but there is still room for improvement when it comes to walkability.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Cardiff?

How long in Cardiff or Kiel?

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

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

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

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

One day in Cardiff or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Cardiff. 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 Cardiff or Kiel?

Cardiff 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 Cardiff or Kiel?

You'll find shopping and museums around the up-and-coming destination of Cardiff. 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 Cardiff or Kiel?

The up-and-coming city of Cardiff offers museums and nightlife. 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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Cardiff or Kiel?

Cardiff has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Kiel. When comparing the sizes of Cardiff 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.

When is the best time to visit Cardiff or Kiel?

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 Cardiff or Kiel in the Summer?

Both Kiel and Cardiff are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Cardiff because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.

Cardiff is around the same temperature as Kiel in the summer. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Kiel fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Kiel. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cardiff. Cardiff usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel during summer. Cardiff gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Cardiff usually receives less rain than Kiel. Cardiff gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Cardiff or Kiel in the Autumn?

Both Kiel and Cardiff during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cardiff this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Kiel for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Cardiff is a little warmer than Kiel. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cardiff in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Kiel averages at about 10°C (50°F).

In the autumn, Cardiff often gets less sunshine than Kiel. Cardiff gets 95 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Cardiff. Cardiff usually gets more rain in October than Kiel. Cardiff gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cardiff or Kiel in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cardiff and Kiel. Many travelers come to Cardiff for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Kiel in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Kiel can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Cardiff. In January, Cardiff is generally much warmer than Kiel. Daily temperatures in Cardiff average around 3°C (38°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

Cardiff usually receives more sunshine than Kiel during winter. Cardiff gets 57 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Cardiff usually receives more rain than Kiel. Cardiff gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Cardiff or Kiel in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Cardiff as well as Kiel. Many visitors come to Cardiff in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Additionally, most visitors come to Kiel for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

Cardiff is a little warmer than Kiel in the spring. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Kiel fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the spring, Cardiff often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel. Cardiff gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun.

Cardiff usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Kiel. Cardiff gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Kiel and Cardiff