A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dusseldorf vs. Versailles for Attractions, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Dusseldorf or Versailles?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Dusseldorf and Versailles. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf is a vibrant, historic, and fun-filled city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Versailles

Versailles is a grand, ornate, and opulent palace. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. It's also known for museums.

Dusseldorf and Versailles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dusseldorf or Versailles?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Dusseldorf than Versailles, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Dusseldorf is more popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Versailles is known for its museums and impressive beauty. Versailles is more touristy than Dusseldorf and is popular for its long running history and its grand architecture. Dusseldorf is popular for its music and art scene, as well as being the fashion capital of Germany. It is also home to Altstadt (the Old Town).

How is Dusseldorf different from Versailles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dusseldorf or Versailles?

Versailles is very popular for its museums and landmarks. Also, Dusseldorf is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Versailles that are not to be missed. The palace is filled with history and impressive items relating to the royal family. Within and near the palace you should make sure you see the Gardens of Versailles, Grand Trianon, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Opera of Versailles.

Dusseldorf offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are museums, palaces, and many cultural sights. Make sure you check out Schloss Benrath, the Rheinturm, the North Rhine-Westphalia Art Collection, and Museum Kunstpalast.

Is the Food Better in Dusseldorf or Versailles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dusseldorf is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Versailles is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Dusseldorf. You'll find a mix of regional specialties and international restaurant options. Traditional dishes include Rheinischer Sauerbraten (Rhine style marinated roast), Haxe (shin), Flönz (blood sausage), and Ähzezupp (pea soup).

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Versailles. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes on the grounds.

Is Dusseldorf or Versailles Better for Nightlife?

Dusseldorf is a nice place to visit for nightlife. However, Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Dusseldorf has a few options to choose from. You'll find the highest concentration of bars and pubs in the old town area. Try to find a brewerie where you can try Dusseldorf's famous altbier.

Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Dusseldorf or Versailles Better for its Old Town?

Dusseldorf is a great city for its historic old town. However, Versailles does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Dusseldorf to see the historical old town. The old town is popular for its bars and pubs, which serve up the local altbier. The atmosphere is charming and there are restaurants that spill out onto the streets.

Versailles does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Dusseldorf or Versailles?

Dusseldorf is a nice place to visit for shopping. However, Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Dusseldorf. Head to the popular shopping street of Königsallee. You'll find luxury brands and boutique shops. The city also has department stores and large shopping malls.

Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Dusseldorf or Versailles Better for Families?

Dusseldorf is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not known for its family-friendly activities.

Dusseldorf is a very family-friendly destination. It has many great playgrounds and parks where kids can run around. Animal lovers will appreciate Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum and Grafenberger Wald which has about 100 animals. If the weather's nice you can head to Unterbacher See, which is a lakefront beach. Other kid-friendly activities in town include the Neanderthal Museum and Museum Kunstpalast.

Versailles does not offer many kid-friendly activities. While there are those unicorn children who fall in love with the grand setting, for most kids, a visit to Versailles can make for make for a long and draining day.

Is Dusseldorf or Versailles Better for Couples?

Dusseldorf and Versailles both great destinations for a couple.

Couples visit Dusseldorf frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. There is live theater, spa hotels, historic palaces, and many parks and gardens where couples can enjoy their time together. Popular activities for couples in town include visiting Rheinturm, taking a Rhine River cruise, and exploring Schloss Dyck.

Versailles is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. It's opulence, grandeur, and history make this a wonderful place to explore as a couple. There are gardens and other unique settings that make Versailles very romantic.

Is Dusseldorf or Versailles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Dusseldorf is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

It's common for backpackers to visit Dusseldorf. There are plenty of hostels and activities around town. There are also affordable restaurants and a nice nightlife scene.

Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Dusseldorf or Versailles Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Dusseldorf is an amazing city to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Versailles is not as popular, but is still a nice palace for its public transit.

Public transit in Dusseldorf is top-notch. All of the public transportation in town is operated by Rheinbahn. There's a city railway, (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses. Dusseldorf is also easily connected to the many other nearby towns and cities including Cologne.

Public transit in Versailles can get you to some places easily. There are SNCF trains that travel from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers train station and additional trains that travel between Gare Saint Lazare and Versailles Rive Droite.

Is Dusseldorf or Versailles a more walkable city?

Dusseldorf and Versailles both are great when exploring on foot.

Dusseldorf is very walkable. It's easy to explore most of the city on foot.

Versailles is a very walkable city. It's approximately a 20 minute walk from the Versailles Chantiers train station to the entrance to the palace. Versailles Rive Droite is slightly closer.

For even more information, also check out Is Dusseldorf Worth Visiting? and Is Versailles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Versailles or Dusseldorf?

How long in Dusseldorf or Versailles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Dusseldorf or Versailles to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Dusseldorf than Versailles because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Dusseldorf, and 1-2 days is enough time in Versailles.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Dusseldorf than Versailles 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 Dusseldorf.

One day in Dusseldorf or Versailles?

With museums and nightlife around the cultural city of Dusseldorf, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums around the historic palace of Versailles, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Versailles, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Dusseldorf or Versailles?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Dusseldorf, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

With museums around the destination of Versailles, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this palace.

Five days in Dusseldorf or Versailles?

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

Versailles, a popular palace, 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 Dusseldorf or Versailles?

Dusseldorf 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.

Versailles is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Munich, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best Sightseeing Tours in France, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Dusseldorf or Versailles?

Dusseldorf has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Versailles. When comparing the sizes of Dusseldorf and Versailles, 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 Dusseldorf or Versailles?

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 Dusseldorf or Versailles in the Summer?

Both Versailles and Dusseldorf during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Dusseldorf in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Dusseldorf is around the same temperature as Versailles in the summer. The daily temperature in Dusseldorf averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Versailles fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Versailles, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Dusseldorf often gets less sunshine than Versailles. Dusseldorf gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Versailles receives 239 hours of full sun.

Dusseldorf usually gets more rain in July than Versailles. Dusseldorf gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dusseldorf or Versailles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dusseldorf and Versailles. Most visitors come to Dusseldorf for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Versailles because of the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Dusseldorf is cooler than Versailles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dusseldorf in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Versailles averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Dusseldorf usually receives less sunshine than Versailles during autumn. Dusseldorf gets 112 hours of sunny skies, while Versailles receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dusseldorf usually receives around the same amount of rain as Versailles. Dusseldorf gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dusseldorf or Versailles in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Dusseldorf as well as Versailles. The winter months attract visitors to Dusseldorf because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Versailles this time of year.

It's quite cold in Versailles in the winter. The weather in Dusseldorf can be very cold. In January, Dusseldorf is generally much colder than Versailles. Daily temperatures in Dusseldorf average around 3°C (37°F), and Versailles fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Dusseldorf often gets less sunshine than Versailles. Dusseldorf gets 45 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Versailles receives 56 hours of full sun.

Dusseldorf usually gets more rain in January than Versailles. Dusseldorf gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dusseldorf or Versailles in the Spring?

Both Versailles and Dusseldorf are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Dusseldorf this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Versailles for the natural beauty.

Dusseldorf is cooler than Versailles in the spring. The daily temperature in Dusseldorf averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Versailles fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Dusseldorf usually receives less sunshine than Versailles during spring. Dusseldorf gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Versailles receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dusseldorf usually receives around the same amount of rain as Versailles. Dusseldorf gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Versailles and Dusseldorf