A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Geneva vs. Rotorua for Families, Couples, Backpackers, and Attractions

Should you visit Geneva or Rotorua?

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 Rotorua. 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. Geneva offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Geneva travel costs.

Rotorua

Rotorua is a natural, world-renowned, and diverse town. Rotorua is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, hiking, and shopping. See Rotorua travel costs.

Geneva and Rotorua: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Geneva or Rotorua?

You'll generally find more things to do in Geneva than Rotorua. Geneva is bigger than Rotorua, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Geneva is better known for its historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Rotorua is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty. Rotorua is more touristy than Geneva and is popular for its geothermal activity, Maori cultural influence, and its role in the famous Lord of the Rings movies. Geneva is well known for its role as a global hub for the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization. Also, Geneva is famous for The Geneva Water Fountain (The Jet d'Eau).

How is Geneva different from Rotorua?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Rotorua 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 Rotorua?

Both Geneva and Rotorua have very good 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.

Rotorua offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The area is filled with opportunities to learn about the Maori culture. The Maori village of Whakarewarewa is a highlight and you should also visit Te Wairoa. Fans of Lord of the Rings won't want to miss Hobbiton either. Finally, Rotorua Museum well worth a visit.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Geneva and Rotorua 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.

Rotorua has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a wide selection of culinary options in the area that include steambox (food prepared with the geothermal heat), and hāngī, which is a traditional Maori cooking technique. Many restaurants also make use of the local fruit, vegetables, and meats.

Is Geneva or Rotorua Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Geneva or Rotorua has a better nightlife scene.

Geneva has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Rotorua has a few options to choose from. You'll find the best concentration of bars and restaurants around Tutankei Street, which is often referred to as "Eat Street".

Is Geneva or Rotorua Better for its Old Town?

Geneva is a city with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Rotorua does not have a historic old town.

Geneva has an old town worth visiting. The Old Town offers a number of charming streets where you can wander as well as historical buildings including St. Pierre Cathedral.

Rotorua does not have a historic old town.

Is Geneva or Rotorua Better for Hiking?

Rotorua is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Geneva is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Rotorua. The area is filled with beautiful walking trails that take you by lakes, volcanoes, and geothermal hot springs. A favorite route in the area is Tarawera Trail, which is 15 kilometers long and ends at a natural hot water beach.

Geneva is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Geneva or Rotorua?

Geneva is an amazing city to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Rotorua 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.

Rotorua is a great destination for shopping. You'll find stores and galleries selling art and crafts around the main town center.

Is Geneva or Rotorua More Beautiful?

Rotorua is a great destination for its scenery and beauty. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

Rotorua is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's surrounded by striking volcanoes, beautiful lakes, and surreal geothermal springs, giving it an exotic and beautiful atmosphere.

Geneva is a beautiful place to visit, too. Located on the edge of Lake Geneva and surrounded by the Alps, the city is both bustling and beautiful.

Is Geneva or Rotorua Better for Families?

Rotorua is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Rotorua is very family-friendly. The geothermal activity is fascinating for kids and adults alike. There are also many activities that will teach kids about the Maori culture and for animal lovers, there are farms and wildlife tours. Lord of the Rings fans won't want to miss Hobbiton, and there are many thrilling activities in the area such as white water rafting.

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 Rotorua Better for Couples?

Rotorua is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Rotorua is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The unique environment and beautiful natural setting make this a wonderful honeymoon destination. Couples will appreciate the geothermal activity, beautiful walking trails, and diverse outdoor activities. There's also horseback riding, hot springs, and helicopter rides.

Geneva makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Is Geneva or Rotorua Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rotorua is an unbeatable place for backpackers. However, Geneva is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Rotorua is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. Well established on the backpacker trail, there are plenty of hostels in the area and tons of activities that backpackers will enjoy.

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 Rotorua Better for Students?

Geneva is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Rotorua is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Geneva. 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.

Rotorua is not popular with students.

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

Geneva is an amazing city to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Rotorua is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Public transit in Geneva is top-notch. The very comprehensive system includes trams, buses, and boats.

You'll find some public transit in Rotorua, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses and shuttles that travel around town and through the area.

Is Geneva or Rotorua a more walkable city?

Geneva is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Rotorua is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

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

Rotorua is somewhat walkable. The town itself is fairly walkable but if you want to get into the surrounding areas, having a vehicle provides the most flexibility.

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

Should I spend more time in Rotorua or Geneva?

How long in Geneva or Rotorua?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Geneva and Rotorua. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Geneva, and 2-3 days is enough time in Rotorua.

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

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

One day in Geneva or Rotorua?

Because Geneva is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. One reason most visitors come is for the shopping. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Rotorua. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Geneva or Rotorua?

Because Geneva is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. One reason most visitors come is for the shopping. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Geneva has to offer.

Rotorua 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 Rotorua?

Geneva is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rotorua. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Rotorua?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Geneva. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Geneva. One reason most visitors come is for the shopping. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the world-renowned destination of Rotorua. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking 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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, and The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Geneva and Rotorua, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Rotorua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Geneva is in Europe and Rotorua is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Rotorua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rotorua 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 Rotorua.

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

Which is Bigger, Geneva or Rotorua?

Geneva has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Rotorua. When comparing the sizes of Geneva and Rotorua, 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 Rotorua?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Rotorua is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Geneva has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Geneva or Rotorua in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Geneva as well as Rotorua. Most visitors come to Geneva for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Rotorua because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Geneva is generally much warmer than Rotoruain January. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 22°C (71°F), and Rotorua fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Geneva usually gets more rain in July than Rotoruain January. Geneva gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Rotorua receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Geneva or Rotorua in the Autumn?

Both Rotorua and Geneva are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Geneva because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rotorua this time of year.

Geneva is cooler than Rotorua in the autumn. The daily temperature in Geneva averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and Rotorua fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in April.

In October, Geneva usually receives more rain than Rotoruain April. Geneva gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Rotorua receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Geneva or Rotorua in the Winter?

Both Rotorua and Geneva during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Geneva this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Rotorua for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Geneva in the winter. In the winter, Geneva is much colder than Rotorua. Typically, the winter temperatures in Geneva in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Rotorua averages at about 26°C (79°F)in July.

Geneva usually gets more rain in January than Rotoruain July. Geneva gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Rotorua receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Geneva or Rotorua in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Geneva and Rotorua. Many travelers come to Geneva for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Rotorua in the spring for the natural beauty.

In April, Geneva is generally much colder than Rotoruain October. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 11°C (53°F), and Rotorua fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In April, Geneva usually receives more rain than Rotoruain October. Geneva gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rotorua receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rotorua and Geneva