A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fussen vs. Lyon for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Fussen or Lyon?

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

Should I visit Fussen or Lyon? 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.

Fussen

Fussen is a storybook, quaint, and charming town. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the hiking, museums, and food.

Lyon

Lyon is a cultural, quaint, and authentic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Fussen and Lyon: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Small town charm
  • Impressive beauty
  • Home to the Neuschwanstein Castle
Things to Consider
  • Less museums and historical sights
  • Less popular for food
  • Public transit not as usable
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Popular for food and cuisine
  • Active nightlife
  • Fun shopping
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Good for students
  • Good public transit
  • Big city activities
  • Impressive beauty
  • Quaint atmosphere


Is there more to do in Fussen or Lyon?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Lyon than Fussen, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Lyon is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Fussen is more popular for its hiking and small town charm. Fussen is well known for its romantic atmosphere and its proximity to the Neuschwanstein Castle. Lyon is well known for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town. Also, Lyon is famous for The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

How is Fussen different from Lyon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Fussen or Lyon?

Fussen
Lyon

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for its historical sights. Also, Fussen is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

The museums and tourist attractions in Lyon are world-renowned. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Fussen. Most people stopping in town are on their way to or from the Neuschwanstein Castle. It is one of the most famous castles in Germany as many people say it was the inspiration for the Disney Castle.


Is the Food Better in Fussen or Lyon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Fussen
Lyon

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Fussen is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

For foodies, Lyon is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Known as "the Gastronomic Capital of the World" this city stands above the rest when it comes to Michelin star restaurants (there are 17!), fresh ingredients, and unique local flavors. Favorite local dishes include pâté en croûte, rosette de Lyon, and saucisson brioché.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Fussen area. Many restaurants embrace the fairytale setting and offer their own storybook atmosphere. This is a well worn tourist path, so you'll find a number of restaurants serving traditional dishes specifically for the tourists.

Is Fussen or Lyon Better for Nightlife?

Fussen
Lyon

Lyon is great for nightlife and partying. However, Fussen is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Many people head to Lyon for the nightlife scene. The city has enough diverse neighborhoods that you'll find a scene that is great for everyone. There are dance clubs, cocktail bars, and wine bars that meet every personality and style.

Fussen is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Fussen or Lyon Better for its Old Town?

Fussen
Lyon

It's fun to wander around the fantastic old towns in both Fussen and Lyon.

Fussen offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The small old town is filled with classic German charm.

Lyon has a world-famous historical area. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.


Is Fussen or Lyon Better for Hiking?

Fussen
Lyon

Fussen is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Lyon is not a hiking destination.

Fussen is a popular spot for hiking. The countryside offers a number of beautiful trails that pass through forests and meadows. You'll also find waterfalls and nice viewpoints. The hikes are very well marked with excellent signage.

Lyon is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Fussen or Lyon?

Fussen
Lyon

Lyon is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Fussen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Lyon is well-known for its shopping. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.

Fussen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Fussen or Lyon Better for Families?

Fussen
Lyon

Lyon is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Fussen is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Lyon is very family-friendly. The city has many kid-friendly museums including Musée des Confluences and the Cinema and Miniature Museum. There are also playgrounds, patisseries, and river cruises that you can enjoy as a family. Puppet shows are also fun, but do note that they're usually in French. While the restaurants are amazing for adults, it can be tricky to find a kid-friendly option with early opening hours that are convenient for little ones.

Fussen is a family-friendly place to visit. Neuschwanstein Castle is not far away, and it's a big part of why some families may stay in this small town. Kids will also enjoy wandering around the old town and grabbing ice cream. Just outside of town is Lechfall, which is a manmade waterfall and a little further is the Treetop Walkway. The surrounding area also has a lot of natural beauty as well as giant alpine slides.


Is Fussen or Lyon Better for Couples?

Fussen
Lyon

With fun activities for couples, both Fussen and Lyon make for a very good place to visit.

Fussen is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It sits at the end of Germany's Romantic Road and the small town does not disappoint. For many, it's a stopover while visiting the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, but the surrounding countryside is also beautiful and worth exploring.

Lyon is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.

Is Fussen or Lyon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Fussen
Lyon

Lyon is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Fussen is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Lyon. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.

Fussen is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. For its small size, the town has a number of hostels to choose from. Prices are reasonable, so this is a nice option for backpackers passing through the area.

Is Fussen or Lyon Better for Students?

Fussen
Lyon

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Fussen is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Lyon. It is a very livable city with many fun cultural activities for students. There are many different entertainment options during the day, and during the evening there are plenty of places to hang out.

Fussen is not popular with students.


Is Fussen or Lyon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Fussen
Lyon

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

Public transit in Lyon is top-notch. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.

Fussen has a few public transit options. There are buses through the region including buses to Neuschwanstein Castle.

Is Fussen or Lyon a more walkable city?

Fussen
Lyon

Fussen is an amazing town to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Fussen on foot. It's easy to walk from one side of the old town to the other in half an hour.

Lyon is a very walkable destination. The old town is particularly walkable, but the hills can make things a bit challenging. There are also a number of pedestrian streets around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Fussen Worth Visiting? and Is Lyon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lyon or Fussen?

How long in Fussen or Lyon?

In either Fussen or Lyon, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Lyon than Fussen because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Fussen, and 2-5 days is enough time in Lyon.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lyon than Fussen 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 Lyon.


  • How many days in Fussen or Lyon? Ideal Length of Stay
    Fussen 2-3 
    Lyon 2-5

One day in Fussen or Lyon?

Fussen is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and food. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Lyon is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.


A weekend in Fussen or Lyon?

Fussen 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.

Lyon is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Fussen or Lyon?

Fussen is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lyon. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Fussen or Lyon?

Because Fussen is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural big city of Lyon. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Oktoberfest Tours in Germany, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.


Which place is cheaper, Lyon or Fussen?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Fussen is €210, while the average daily cost in Lyon is €125. 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 Fussen and Lyon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fussen 109
    Lyon 53
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fussen 218
    Lyon 106
Compare Hotels in Fussen and Lyon

Looking for a hotel in Fussen or Lyon? 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 Fussen


Hotels in Lyon


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: Fussen Hotel Prices and Lyon Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fussen 54
    Lyon 17

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:


  • Funiculaire
    5.20
  • Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus
    19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:

  • Superior Private Transfer From Lyon City to Geneva City: $295
  • Private Direct Transfer from Lyon to Geneva: $274
  • Private Transfer Grenoble Airport GNB - Grenoble Ski Resort: $229
  • Lyon Saint Exupery Airport to Morzine Avoriaz Round Trip Transfer: $185
  • Lyon Saint Exupery Airport to Meribel - Arrival Private Transfer: $180
  • Lyon St Exupery Airport to Courchevel/Les Arcs - Arrival Transfer: $180
  • Private arrival OR departure transfer in Lyon (hotel OR airport pick-up): $177
  • Lyon Saint Exupery Airport(LYS) to Alpe d'Huez - Arrival Transfer: $164
  • Lyon Exupery Airport to Les Deux La Clusaz Round Trip Transfer: $142
  • Lyon Private Transfer from Lyon Airport (LYS) to City centre: $131
  • Lyon Private Transfer from Lyon city centre to Lyon (LYS) Airport: $131
  • Private Transfer: (LYS) Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport to Lyon: $124

Is it cheaper to fly into Fussen or Lyon?

Prices for flights to both Lyon and Fussen 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
    Fussen 59
    Lyon 41
Typical Food Prices in Fussen

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Fussen:


  • Lunch
    10

Typical Food Prices in Lyon

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


  • Pastry
    1.70

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon

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

  • Street Food Tour: $64
  • Croix-Rousse District Vegan Food Tour with Tastings: $64
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $66
  • Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $76
  • Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise: $80
  • Cultural Walking Food Tour in the Vieux Lyon District: $86
  • Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch: $93
  • Old Town Food Tour: $96
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings and Wine: $102
  • Guided Evening Food Tour: $102
  • Lyon Evening Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
  • Food Tour in Lyon - Do Eat Better Experience: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fussen 60
    Lyon 20

Tours and Activities in Fussen

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

  • Neuschwanstein Castle Ticket +Guide: $41
  • Neuschwanstein ticket+ City Bike from Fuessen: $51
  • Skip The Line Neuschwanstein Castle Tour from Hohenschwangau: $60
  • Neuschwanstein Castle Tour with Skip the Line from Hohenschwangau: $64
  • Skip-the-Line: Neuschwanstein Castle Tour from Hohenschwangau: $64
  • Private tour of the best of Fussen - Sightseeing, Food & Culture with a local: $225
  • Füssen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $254
  • Skip the Line: Neuschwanstein Castle Private Tour From Füssen or Hohenschwangau: $270

Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon

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


  • Lunch for 2
    45

Tours and Activities in Lyon

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

  • 1 or 2-Hour Pedicab tour of Lyon: $27
  • 1-hour tourist walk with guide: $38
  • Access to a Self-Guided Tour of the archaeological site of Lyon: $8.72
  • Access to a Self-Guided Tour to Traboules de Croix-Rousse: $8.72
  • Alternative Tour: Murals and Hidden Frescoes of Lyon: $46
  • An unusual city tour with sketches: $64
  • Audio-Guided Tour of the United States Quarter and Painted Walls: $11
  • Audio-guided tour of Old Lyon: $11
  • Audio-guided tour of the Fourvière and the Sacred Hill: $11
  • Beaujolais & Perouges Medieval Town (9:00 am to 5:15 pm - Small Group Tour Lyon: $136
  • Beaujolais Wines & Castles - Private Tour - Half Day: $268
  • Best Intro Tour of Lyon with a Local: $141

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fussen 20
    Lyon 24

Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:


  • Drinks for 2
    6.80
  • Bottle of Wine
    15

Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon

Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Lyon : Music & Wine tasting tour: $96
  • Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $98
  • Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $98
  • Lyon Music & Wine tasting: $104
  • Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon: $106
  • Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour: $106
  • From Wine tasting and visits of the Beaujolais: $106
  • Half-Day Côte-Rotie Wine Tasting Tour: $106
  • From Beaujolais Region Wine Tour with Tastings: $106
  • Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $108
  • Beaujolais 100% wine tour Small-Group Tour with Tasting from Lyon: $108
  • Guided tour and wine tasting Northern Rhône Valley: $108


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

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


Which is Bigger, Fussen or Lyon?

Lyon has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Fussen. When comparing the sizes of Fussen and Lyon, 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.