A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dover vs. Leiden for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dover or Leiden?

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 Dover and Leiden can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dover or Leiden?

Dover

Dover is a major port town on the English Channel, and the closest port in the United Kingdom to the rest of continental Europe. It is best known for its white cliffs, pubs, and Roman history.

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 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.


Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Dover?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Dover is £124, while the average daily cost in Leiden is £114. 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 Dover and Leiden in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dover £62
    Leiden £66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dover £124
    Leiden £132
Compare Hotels in Dover and Leiden

Looking for a hotel in Dover 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.

Hotels in Dover


Hotels in Leiden


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: Dover Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dover £39
    Leiden £22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dover

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dover:

  • Private transfer from Dover to London hotel or airport: $210
  • Private Transfers from Heathrow Airport to Dover Cruise Port: $147
  • Private Transfer from Dover Port to London Gatwick Airport (LGW): $55
  • Private Transfer from Dover Cruise Port to London City Hotels: $98
  • Private Transfer from Dover Cruise Port to London Airport (LHR): $66
  • Private Transfer from Dover Cruise Port to Gatwick City Hotels: $55
  • Dover to Heathrow and London Direct Shared Transfer: $131
  • One-Way Taxi Transfer from Dover Seaport to London: $254

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 Dover or Leiden?

Prices for flights to both Leiden and Dover 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
    Dover £38
    Leiden £33

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dover £20
    Leiden £15

Tours and Activities in Dover

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dover are as follows:

  • Canterbury Landmarks Private Walking Tour: $218
  • Canterbury Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $276
  • Canterbury Tour App, Hidden Gems Game and Big Britain Quiz (1 Day Pass) UK: $19
  • Canterbury's World Heritage Sites Guided Walking Tour: $229
  • Christmas Tales in Canterbury – Private Walking Tour: $217
  • Dover & White Cliffs Tour; Canterbury, Coastal Towns & Castles: $210
  • Dover Castle Admission Ticket: $29
  • Dover Cruise Ship to Leeds Castle via Canterbury, Villages & back: $177
  • Dover Shore Excursion:Post-Cruise Tour to London via Canterbury and Leeds Castle: $172
  • From Dover Cruise Ship; Grand Tour of White Cliffs Country & back: $108
  • From London: Dover Castle and White Cliffs Tour by Car: $1,083
  • Literary & Cultural Heritage: Canterbury Private Walking Tour: $218

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dover £7.71
    Leiden £22

Sample the Local Flavors in Dover

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dover:

  • Full Day Wine Tour in Sussex and Kent: $178

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 comparing the travel costs between Dover and Leiden, we can see that Dover 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 Dover Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dover or Leiden?

Leiden has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Dover. When comparing the sizes of Dover 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 Dover 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 Dover or Leiden in the Summer?

Both Leiden and Dover during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Dover because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Dover is around the same temperature as Leiden in the summer. The daily temperature in Dover averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dover. In the summer, Dover often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden. Dover gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun.

Dover usually gets less rain in July than Leiden. Dover gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dover 17°C (63°F) 
    Leiden 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Dover or Leiden in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dover and Leiden. The hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Dover this time of year.

In the autumn, Dover is a little warmer than Leiden. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dover in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Leiden averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Dover usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during autumn. Dover gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dover usually receives less rain than Leiden. Dover gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dover 12°C (54°F) 
    Leiden 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Dover or Leiden in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Dover as well as Leiden. Many travelers come to Dover for the museums and the cuisine.

Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Dover. In January, Dover is generally much warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Dover average around 4°C (40°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Dover often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Dover gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun.

Dover usually gets less rain in January than Leiden. Dover gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dover 4°C (40°F) 
    Leiden 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit Dover or Leiden in the Spring?

Both Leiden and Dover are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Dover in the spring for the natural beauty.

Dover is a little warmer than Leiden in the spring. The daily temperature in Dover averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Dover usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during spring. Dover gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dover usually receives less rain than Leiden. Dover gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dover 9°C (47°F) 
    Leiden 8°C (46°F)

Typical Weather for Leiden and Dover

Dover Leiden
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 4°C (40°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Feb 5°C (40°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 6°C (44°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 9°C (47°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 12°C (53°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 17°C (63°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aug 17°C (63°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 15°C (59°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 12°C (54°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 8°C (46°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 6°C (42°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)