A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dundee vs. Leuven for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dundee or Leuven?

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

Should I visit Dundee or Leuven? 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.

Where Should I go: Dundee or Leuven?

Dundee

The city of Dundee is in northeast Scotland and sits on the north bank of the Firth of Tay. The city dates back about 800 years and has a rich history. It's conveniently located less than two hours from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen making it an easy journey for anyone looking to do a weekend trip. There's a handful of sights around town and some decent museums worth wandering through.

Leuven

Lying just east of Brussels, Leuven is a Belgian city and capital of the Province of Flemish Brabant known for its breweries, historic architecture, and university. Because of the university, the town is at its busiest during the academic year (September through June), but there is plenty to see and do during all seasons.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium.


Which place is cheaper, Leuven or Dundee?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Dundee is £234, while the average daily cost in Leuven is £152. 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 Dundee and Leuven in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dundee £149
    Leuven £79
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dundee £298
    Leuven £158
Compare Hotels in Dundee and Leuven

Looking for a hotel in Dundee or Leuven? 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 Dundee


Hotels in Leuven


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: Dundee Hotel Prices and Leuven Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dundee £16
    Leuven £52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leuven

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leuven:

  • Brussels Airport(BRU) to Brussels hotels-Arrival Private Transfer: $24
  • Brussels Airport(BRU) to Brussels city - Arrival Private Transfer: $33
  • Brussels Airport Shuttle Transfer <-> Brussels (1 to 8 PLACES): $34
  • Private transfer from Airport(BRU) to Brussels City Center: $44
  • Brussels Airport(BRU) to City hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
  • Private transfer from Brussels Airport to Brussels city Business car: $54
  • Brussels Airport Transfer <-> Tomorrowland Boom (1 to 8 Places): $58
  • Private Airport Transfer: Brussels Airport (BRU) to Brussels: $65
  • Brussels Airport (BRU) to Brussels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $65
  • One-way Private Transfer From/To Brussels Airport: $70
  • Private Transfer from Brussels Airport to the city of Brussels: $73
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Brussels Airport to Brussels City by Business Car: $74

Is it cheaper to fly into Dundee or Leuven?

Prices for flights to both Leuven and Dundee 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
    Dundee £47
    Leuven £42
Typical Food Prices in Dundee

Some typical examples of dining costs in Dundee are as follows:


  • Moroccan Sandwich
    £2.70
  • Drinks and Scottish Shortbread at Discovery
    £4.70
  • Kebabs (for 2)
    £8.80

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leuven

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

  • Mechelen Small-Group Walking Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $75
  • Mechelen Food Tour: $82
  • Vegan Walking Food Tour in Mechelen: $82

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dundee £106
    Leuven £19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dundee

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Dundee are as follows:


  • Newspaper
    £0.85

Tours and Activities in Dundee

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

  • Skip-the-Line: Botanic Garden Entry Ticket: $6.36
  • Made in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.99
  • Dundee Tour App, Hidden Gems Game and Big Britain Quiz (1 Day Pass) UK: $19
  • Boat Seafari Adventure: $34
  • Original Dundee Photoshoot Tour: $83

Tours and Activities in Leuven

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

  • Self-Guided Walking Tour with Offline Access: $5.99
  • Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
  • Small-Group Mechelen City Guided Walking Tour: $52
  • Mechelen Small-Group Running Tour: $52
  • Guided Small-Group Cycling Tour of Mechelen: $60
  • Small-Group Chocolate Tour in Mechelen: $63
  • Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
  • Private 2 Hour Walking Tour of Mechelen : $229
  • Soothing Corners of Leuven - Romantic Tour: $288
  • Special Christmas Journey in Leuven - Walking Tour: $395

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dundee £13
    Leuven £21


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

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


Which is Bigger, Dundee or Leuven?

Dundee has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Dundee and Leuven, 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 Dundee or Leuven?

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 Dundee or Leuven in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dundee and Leuven. The summer months attract visitors to Dundee because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Dundee is cooler than Leuven. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dundee in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Leuven averages at about 18°C (65°F).

Dundee usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leuven during summer. Dundee gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 186 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Dundee usually receives less rain than Leuven. Dundee gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dundee 14°C (58°F) 
    Leuven 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Dundee or Leuven in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Dundee as well as Leuven. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Dundee this time of year.

In October, Dundee is generally cooler than Leuven. Daily temperatures in Dundee average around 10°C (49°F), and Leuven fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Dundee often gets less sunshine than Leuven. Dundee gets 100 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 114 hours of full sun.

Dundee usually gets less rain in October than Leuven. Dundee gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dundee 10°C (49°F) 
    Leuven 12°C (54°F)

Should I visit Dundee or Leuven in the Winter?

Both Leuven and Dundee are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Dundee for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Leuven can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Dundee. Dundee is around the same temperature as Leuven in the winter. The daily temperature in Dundee averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Leuven fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Dundee usually receives more sunshine than Leuven during winter. Dundee gets 58 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 49 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Dundee usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leuven. Dundee gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dundee 3°C (38°F) 
    Leuven 3°C (38°F)

Should I visit Dundee or Leuven in the Spring?

Both Leuven and Dundee during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Dundee in the spring for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Dundee is cooler than Leuven. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dundee in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Leuven averages at about 10°C (49°F).

In the spring, Dundee often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leuven. Dundee gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 147 hours of full sun.

Dundee usually gets less rain in April than Leuven. Dundee gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dundee 7°C (45°F) 
    Leuven 10°C (49°F)

Typical Weather for Leuven and Dundee

Dundee Leuven
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (38°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 3°C (38°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Feb 3°C (38°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 4°C (39°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 6°C (43°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Apr 7°C (45°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 10°C (49°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
May 10°C (49°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Jun 13°C (55°F) 50 mm (2 in) 17°C (62°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Jul 14°C (58°F) 52 mm (2 in) 18°C (65°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aug 14°C (58°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 18°C (65°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 16°C (60°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Oct 10°C (49°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 5°C (42°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 7°C (45°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Dec 4°C (39°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 4°C (40°F) 76 mm (3 in)