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

Should you visit Copenhagen or Kiel?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Copenhagen and Kiel can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a relaxed, beautiful, and laid-back city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Kiel

Kiel is a maritime, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Copenhagen and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Copenhagen or Kiel?

You'll generally find more things to do in Copenhagen than Kiel. Copenhagen is bigger than Kiel, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Copenhagen is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Kiel is more popular for its beaches. Copenhagen is well known for its colorful buildings, beautiful canals, progressive policies, and happy population. Also, Copenhagen is famous for Tivoli Gardens. Kiel is well known for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival.

How is Copenhagen different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Copenhagen is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Copenhagen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are many sights and landmarks around town including Tivoli Gardens, Christiansborg Palace, Nyhavn Harbor, and The Round Tower. Some of the most popular museums are the National Museum of Denmark and the National Gallery of Denmark.

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 Copenhagen or Kiel? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Copenhagen is a must-visit destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

For foodies, Copenhagen is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. In recent years the celebrity food scene has put this city on the map. There are many Michelin star restaurants around town including the world famous Noma. But there's also a diversity of restaurants to choose from, ranging from elegant, award-winning options to cozy local eateries. Danish food includes a lot of pastries and sandwiches. Make sure you try a rød pølse, or local hot dog from one of the many stands around town.

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 Copenhagen or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

Copenhagen is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Copenhagen is a world class party destination. The nightlife scene stays active until the early morning hours with many bars and clubs staying open until 5 or 6 in the morning. Some of the most popular areas for nightlife include Istedgade and EnghavePlads in Vesterbro, Sankt Hans Torv in Nørrebro and some areas around Frederiksberg.

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 Copenhagen or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a city with good options for the beache. However, Copenhagen is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Kiel. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Copenhagen is not a beach destination.

Is Copenhagen or Kiel Better for its Old Town?

Copenhagen is well known for its old town. However, Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Copenhagen. Indre By is the oldest part of the city and where you'll find most of the sights and attractions. This is where most visitors stay and you'll find many great restaurants and activities to enjoy.

Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Copenhagen or Kiel?

Copenhagen is a must-visit destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Copenhagen make it a world-class shopping destination. Design and style is notorious with Danish culture. You'll find many great local boutique or fashion design shops in town. Købmagergade is one of the busiest and most famous shopping streets in town, but you should also visit the street parallel to it, Pilestræde.

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 Copenhagen or Kiel Better for Families?

Copenhagen is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Copenhagen is a very family-friendly destination. The city almost feels like it was designed with kids in mind. There are countless playgrounds, beaches, and other kid-friendly places to explore. Also make sure you stop by Tivoli Gardens, which has rides and rollercoasters that everyone can enjoy. The city also has an aquarium, zoo, and even a deer park. The Little Mermaid statue may fascinate Disney lovers, and if you want to get out on the water there are boat tours through the canals.

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 Copenhagen or Kiel Better for Couples?

Copenhagen is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Copenhagen makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The city is filled with a positive energy that will rejuvenate any couple. You can hire a bike or hop on a boat to explore town, or simply wander through the cobblestone streets. There are many parks and gardens to explore and culture lovers will appreciate the many museums.

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 Copenhagen or Kiel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Copenhagen is well known for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Copenhagen is a great city to visit for backpackers. While the city is expensive, there are still plenty of free things to do like simply wandering the neighborhoods. The city has a relaxed and friendly vibe that will almost make you forget all of the money you're spending.

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 Copenhagen or Kiel Better for Students?

Copenhagen is well known for students. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Copenhagen is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The city has a reputation as the happiest in the world, and students are no exception. There are plenty of activities for students as well as a relaxed, yet productive, atmosphere. It's easy to explore the town on foot or by bike as well.

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

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

Copenhagen is a must-visit destination for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Copenhagen has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. There are metros, s-trains, waterbuses, and regular buses available.

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

Is Copenhagen or Kiel a more walkable city?

Copenhagen is a must-visit destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Copenhagen on foot is easy. It is compact enough to explore on foot, but there are also plenty of bikes available as well.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Copenhagen?

How long in Copenhagen or Kiel?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Copenhagen and Kiel. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Copenhagen than in Kiel. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Copenhagen, and 1-3 days is enough time in Kiel.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen.

One day in Copenhagen or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Copenhagen. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

With museums and nightlife around the off-the-beaten-path city of Kiel, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Kiel, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Copenhagen or Kiel?

Copenhagen is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Kiel, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Copenhagen or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the beautiful destination of Copenhagen. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Kiel, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Copenhagen or Kiel?

The relaxed city of Copenhagen offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Kiel is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Denmark, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Denmark, 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 Copenhagen and Kiel, we can see that Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen Expensive? and Is Kiel Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Copenhagen or Kiel?

Copenhagen has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Kiel. When comparing the sizes of Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen or Kiel?

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 Copenhagen or Kiel in the Summer?

Both Kiel and Copenhagen during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Copenhagen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Kiel in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

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

Copenhagen usually gets less rain in July than Kiel. Copenhagen gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Copenhagen or Kiel in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Copenhagen and Kiel. Many visitors come to Copenhagen in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Kiel for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Copenhagen is around the same temperature as Kiel. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Copenhagen in October average around 10°C (50°F), and Kiel averages at about 10°C (50°F).

In October, Copenhagen usually receives less rain than Kiel. Copenhagen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Copenhagen or Kiel in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Copenhagen as well as Kiel. Most visitors come to Copenhagen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Kiel because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Kiel can be very cold. Copenhagen can be very cold during winter. In January, Copenhagen is generally a little warmer than Kiel. Daily temperatures in Copenhagen average around 1°C (33°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

Copenhagen usually gets less rain in January than Kiel. Copenhagen gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Copenhagen or Kiel in the Spring?

Both Kiel and Copenhagen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Copenhagen because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.

Copenhagen is around the same temperature as Kiel in the spring. The daily temperature in Copenhagen averages around 7°C (45°F) in April, and Kiel fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In April, Copenhagen usually receives less rain than Kiel. Copenhagen gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kiel and Copenhagen