Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Geneva?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Geneva and Leiden. 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 is the second largest city in Switzerland and was previously the home for the United Nations Headquarters. The UN is now housed in New York City, but there is still a very strong presence in Geneva. Geneva is not known to be as energetic as some other European cities, but if you search it out, then you're sure to find some interesting places and lively nightlife. It's a very international city, in part because of the heavy UN presence, giving it an interesting feel. It is a French speaking city, and advertisements, signs, and television are all done in French.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Geneva is $210, while the average daily cost in Leiden is $143. 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 Geneva and Leiden in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Geneva 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.
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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Geneva:
Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Leiden and Geneva 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Geneva.
Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Geneva and Leiden, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Leiden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leiden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leiden 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 Leiden.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Geneva Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.
Geneva has a larger population, and is about 54% larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Geneva 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Geneva as well as Leiden. Many travelers come to Geneva for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Geneva is generally a little warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 22°C (71°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leiden. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Geneva this time of the year. In the summer, Geneva often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Geneva gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun.
Geneva usually gets less rain in July than Leiden. Geneva gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Leiden 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.
Geneva is a little warmer than Leiden in the autumn. The daily temperature in Geneva averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Geneva usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during autumn. Geneva gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Geneva usually receives more rain than Leiden. Geneva gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Leiden 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.
The weather in Leiden can be very cold. Geneva can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Geneva is much warmer than Leiden. Typically, the winter temperatures in Geneva in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Leiden averages at about 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Geneva often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Geneva gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun.
Geneva usually gets less rain in January than Leiden. Geneva gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Geneva and Leiden. The spring months attract visitors to Geneva because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Geneva is generally much warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 11°C (53°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Geneva usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during spring. Geneva gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Geneva usually receives more rain than Leiden. Geneva gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Geneva | Leiden | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Apr | 11°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
May | 15°C (60°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
Jul | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Aug | 21°C (70°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |