A Travel Price Comparison for Germany Cologne vs. Heidelberg for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Cologne or Heidelberg?

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

Should I visit Cologne or Heidelberg? 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.

Cologne

Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg, in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, is a top travel destination in Germany. It's picturesquely situated in the Neckar River Valley and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city has a population of over 148,000 and it's home to Germany's oldest university, the Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat, which has a student population of approximately 28,000.

Which city is cheaper, Heidelberg or Cologne?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €126, while the average daily cost in Heidelberg is €113. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Cologne and Heidelberg in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cologne €70
    Heidelberg €74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cologne €140
    Heidelberg €148

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cologne €15
    Heidelberg €14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:

  • Private transfer from Baden Baden to Köln or the opposite way: $964
  • Private transfer: Cologne to Cologne Airport (CGN): $622
  • Low Cost Private Transfer From Frankfurt am Main International Airport to Cologne City - One Way: $540
  • Private Cologne-Bonn Airport CGN Arrival Transfer to Koblenz City: $323
  • Low Cost Private Transfer From Eindhoven Airport to Cologne City - One Way: $243
  • Low Cost Private Transfer From Düsseldorf International Airport to Cologne City - One Way: $201
  • Low Cost Private Transfer From Mönchengladbach Airport to Cologne City - One Way: $192
  • Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $107
  • Luxury Car Private Departure Transfer: Cologne city to Cologne-Bonn Airport: $98
  • Luxury Car Arrival Transfer: Cologne-Bonn Airport to Cologne City: $98
  • Arrival Private Transfer Cologne-Bonn Airport to Cologne City by Luxury Van: $87
  • Luxury Van Private Departure Transfer: Cologne-Bonn Airport: $87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heidelberg

Also for Heidelberg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Low Cost Private Transfer From Mannheim-City Airport to Heidelberg City - One Way: $155
  • Private Transfer from Heidelberg City to Frankfurt Airport FRA by Minivan: $131
  • Private Transfer from Heidelberg City to Stuttgart Airport STR by Minivan: $207
  • Private Transfer from Hotel in Heidelberg City to Frankfurt Airport: $362

Is it cheaper to fly into Cologne or Heidelberg?

Prices for flights to both Heidelberg and Cologne 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cologne €40
    Heidelberg €30
Typical Food prices in Cologne

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:


  • Dinner
    €14
  • Donner Kebab
    €4.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.

  • Traveling Spoon French Quiche Private Online Cooking Class: $27
  • Private Gourmet Cooking Class in the Heart of Cologne: $129
  • Private Market Tour and Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking Class in the Heart of Cologne: $183

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cologne €16
    Heidelberg €9.18

Tours and Activities in Cologne

Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 hour limousine sightseeing ride in Cologne: $368
  • Bonn City Private Tour (Day trip from Cologne): $866
  • Cologne All-inclusive Evening Cruise: $87
  • Cologne Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and Rhine River Sightseeing Cruise: $30
  • Cologne Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $38
  • Cologne Old Town: Historical Tour in German: $15
  • Cologne Sightseeing round-trip Cruise: $15
  • Cologne Walking tour of Old Town: $200
  • Cologne Walking tour with a visit to world famous Cathedral: $322
  • Cologne and Dresden: 5-Day Independent Coach Tour from Cologne: $614
  • 1-hour Rhine River Panorama Cruise: $12
  • 2000 Years of Sex & Crime City Tour (in German): $14

Tours and Activities in Heidelberg

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Heidelberg.

  • BODY WORLDS Museum Entrance Ticket: $19
  • Virtual Tour of Heidelberg: $25
  • Heidelberg old Town Tour.: $25
  • Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Walking Tour: $31
  • Sightseeing Bus and Castle Tour: $33
  • Heidelberg Public Walking Tour: $34
  • Alternative Heidelberg Tour.: $36
  • Heidelberg Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $47
  • Food & Fables Tour of Heidelberg: $48
  • Bicycle Tour from Heidelberg to quaint Ladenburg.: $57
  • Kayak-Tour in Heidelberg on river Neckar: $61
  • Beer and Old Town Tour: $81

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cologne €18
    Heidelberg €14

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Cologne and Heidelberg, we can see that Cologne 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.

Budget Your Trip

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Cologne vs. Heidelberg Travel Comparison

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