A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Geneva vs. Frankfurt for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Geneva or Frankfurt?

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 Geneva and Frankfurt. 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.

Geneva

Geneva is a international, professional, and classy city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a accessible, modern, and connected city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Geneva and Frankfurt: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Geneva or Frankfurt?

Both Frankfurt and Geneva have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Geneva is better known for its shopping and impressive beauty, while Frankfurt is more popular for its nightlife. Geneva is well known for its role as a global hub for the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization. Frankfurt is well known for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife.

How is Geneva different from Frankfurt?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Geneva or Frankfurt?

Both Geneva and Frankfurt have high quality landmarks and museums for visitors.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Geneva. Famous sights and landmarks include the spectacular Water Jet, St Pierre Cathedral, and the Palais des Nations. There are also impressive art and history museums in the city.

Frankfurt offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

Is the Food Better in Geneva or Frankfurt? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Geneva and Frankfurt can be an enjoyable experience.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Geneva makes for a great culinary experience. The city has an amazing mix of traditional Swiss restaurants as well as diverse ethnic options. Traditional dishes include fondue and raclette, both of which involve the decadent Swiss cheese.

Frankfurt has a huge number of terrific restaurants. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

Is Geneva or Frankfurt Better for Nightlife?

Frankfurt is a great destination for nightlife. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

The people in Frankfurt know how to have a good time. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

If you're looking for night time activities Geneva has a few options to choose from. During the day the city is all business, but at night the professionals, interns, students, and NGO workers all come together to enjoy a drink at a bar or dance at one of the city's diverse clubs.

Is Geneva or Frankfurt Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the notable old town areas in both Geneva and Frankfurt.

Many visitors go to Geneva to see the historical old town. The Old Town offers a number of charming streets where you can wander as well as historical buildings including St. Pierre Cathedral.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Frankfurt. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Is the Shopping Better in Geneva or Frankfurt?

Geneva is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Geneva specifically to go shopping. Famous for its posh shops and luxury brands, this city is a popular shopping destination. From chic boutiques to deluxe toy stores, you'll find something for everyone. In particular, the city is known for its Swiss watches, Swiss Army knives, chocolate, and wine.

Frankfurt is an extremely popular place for shoppers. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

Is Geneva or Frankfurt Better for Families?

Frankfurt is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is a very family-friendly place to visit. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

Geneva offers lots of family activities. This diverse city has a number of chocolate shops, toy stores, and parks where kids can play. They'll be impressed by the Water Jet and there are few places where you can swim in the lake when the weather is warm.

Is Geneva or Frankfurt Better for Couples?

Geneva and Frankfurt both notable destinations for a couple.

Geneva is a nice destination for couples. Wandering Old Town, sampling Swiss chocolate, and enjoying one of the many ethnic restaurants around town all make for great date activities. Fondue in a traditional restaurant is also a not to be missed experience.

Frankfurt makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

Is Geneva or Frankfurt Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Frankfurt is a great destination for backpackers. However, Geneva is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Frankfurt. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

Geneva is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city is often overlooked by backpackers as it is pretty expensive. Many hotels cater to the business traveler crowd, but there are a few hostels to choose from.

Is Geneva or Frankfurt Better for Students?

Frankfurt is an unbeatable place for students. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is a very popular place to visit for students. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

Geneva is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The University of Geneva attracts many international students and the city is quite diverse. It feels like a mixing bowl of cultures, so students will feel very welcomed and comfortable here.

Is Geneva or Frankfurt Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Geneva and Frankfurt.

Visitors in Geneva can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The very comprehensive system includes trams, buses, and boats.

Frankfurt has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

Is Geneva or Frankfurt a more walkable city?

Geneva and Frankfurt both are high quality when exploring on foot.

Geneva is very walkable. Most areas where visitors spend their time can be easily explored on foot.

Frankfurt is a very walkable city. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Geneva Worth Visiting? and Is Frankfurt Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Frankfurt or Geneva?

How long in Geneva or Frankfurt?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Geneva and Frankfurt. In our opinion, Frankfurt has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Frankfurt than Geneva. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Frankfurt than Geneva 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 Frankfurt.

One day in Geneva or Frankfurt?

People visit Geneva because there is so much to do. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Geneva has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the big city destination of Frankfurt. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Geneva or Frankfurt?

People visit Geneva because there is so much to do. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Frankfurt 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 Geneva or Frankfurt?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse city of Geneva. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the shopping. 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 Frankfurt. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Geneva or Frankfurt?

Geneva is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the connected big city of Frankfurt. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Germany, and The Best Adventure Tours to Germany.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Geneva or Frankfurt?

Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Geneva and Frankfurt, 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 Geneva or Frankfurt?

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 Geneva or Frankfurt in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Geneva as well as Frankfurt. Many travelers come to Geneva for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Frankfurt in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Geneva is generally a little warmer than Frankfurt. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 22°C (71°F), and Frankfurt fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Frankfurt. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Geneva this time of the year. In the summer, Geneva often gets more sunshine than Frankfurt. Geneva gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 225 hours of full sun.

Geneva usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Frankfurt. Geneva gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Geneva or Frankfurt in the Autumn?

Both Frankfurt and Geneva are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Geneva 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 Frankfurt for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Geneva is a little warmer than Frankfurt in the autumn. The daily temperature in Geneva averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and Frankfurt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Geneva usually receives more sunshine than Frankfurt during autumn. Geneva gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 103 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Geneva usually receives more rain than Frankfurt. Geneva gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Geneva or Frankfurt in the Winter?

Both Frankfurt and Geneva during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Geneva for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Frankfurt can be very cold. Geneva can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Geneva is much warmer than Frankfurt. Typically, the winter temperatures in Geneva in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Frankfurt averages at about 1°C (34°F).

In the winter, Geneva often gets more sunshine than Frankfurt. Geneva gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 41 hours of full sun.

Geneva usually gets more rain in January than Frankfurt. Geneva gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Geneva or Frankfurt in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Geneva and Frankfurt. The spring months attract visitors to Geneva because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year.

In April, Geneva is generally a little warmer than Frankfurt. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 11°C (53°F), and Frankfurt fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Geneva usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Frankfurt during spring. Geneva gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 163 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Geneva usually receives more rain than Frankfurt. Geneva gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Frankfurt and Geneva