Which place is cheaper, Vienna 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 Vienna. 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 a international, professional, and classy city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.
Vienna is a classical, traditional, and artistic city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. It's also known for live music, food, and shopping.
Travelers will generally find more things to do in Geneva than Vienna. While Vienna is larger than Geneva, Geneva has more sights and attractions for tourists. Geneva is very popular for its big city activities, while Vienna attracts visitors for its music, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Vienna is more touristy than Geneva and is popular for its strong classical music roots including being home to both Mozart and Beethoven. Geneva is famous for its role as a global hub for the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization. It is also well known for The Geneva Water Fountain (The Jet d'Eau).
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Vienna and Geneva. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Both Geneva and Vienna have great 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.
Vienna offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Filled with palaces, museums, and parks, there are many things to see around town. Make sure you check out the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg, and Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Dining out at restaurants in both Geneva and Vienna 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.
Vienna has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city's cuisine has been influenced by many different flavors. Pastries are ubiquitous so make sure you try the apfelstrudel and kaiserschmarrn. Other common dishes include wiener schnitzel and goulash.
It's hard to distinguish whether Geneva or Vienna 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 Vienna has a few options to choose from. The music and dance scene is diverse and fun. There are clubs that cater to different crowds and personalities.
Vienna is an unbeatable place for live music. However, Geneva is not a live music destination.
Vienna is a world class music destination. On the surface, the city seems locked in the past, with ballet dancing and classical concerts filling the evenings. But the city also has a famous jazz scene, as well as techno, hip-hop, and rock all having a strong presence.
Geneva is not a live music destination.
Vienna is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its old town.
With a famous historical old-town, Vienna offers plenty to see. Innere Stadt, as it is known, is encircled by Ringstrasse and filled with many shops and cafes. Head to Kärntner Strasse and Graben for popular pedestrian streets.
Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Geneva. The Old Town offers a number of charming streets where you can wander as well as historical buildings including St. Pierre Cathedral.
Shopping is a popular activity in both Vienna and Geneva.
Geneva is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.
Known for shopping, Vienna draws large crowds to its stores. The city is filled with pedestrian streets that are lined with designer shops, jewelry stores, and art galleries.
Both Geneva and Vienna are nice family-friendly destinations.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Geneva. 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.
Vienna offers lots of family activities. Families enjoy taking carriage rides or dressing up in costumes at Schönbrunn Palace. The city also has children's museums, parks, and playgrounds where you can let little legs run around.
Vienna is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.
Vienna is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. With it's Baroque architecture and classical concerts, this city is filled with romance. Explore the palaces, take a carriage ride, or enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant.
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.
Vienna is a good destination for backpackers. However, Geneva is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.
Plenty of backpackers visit Vienna. The city flies under the radar for many backpackers, but those who visit will be rewarded with beautiful buildings, charming cafes, and fun hostels.
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.
Vienna is an unbeatable place for students. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.
Vienna is a very popular place to visit for students. The city is a popular destination for international students who are interested in art, architecture, and music.
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.
You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Geneva and Vienna.
Visitors in Geneva can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The very comprehensive system includes trams, buses, and boats.
Vienna has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. The system includes buses, trains, trams and underground lines.
Vienna is an unbeatable place for its walkability. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.
Getting around Vienna on foot is easy. The city center is particularly walkable with pedestrian areas and low traffic zones.
Geneva is a very walkable city. Most areas where visitors spend their time can be easily explored on foot.
For even more information, also check out Is Geneva Worth Visiting? and Is Vienna Worth Visiting?.
In either Geneva or Vienna, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Vienna than Geneva because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Geneva, and 2-5 days is enough time in Vienna.
Families should spend more time in Vienna than Geneva. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Vienna, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Vienna than Geneva. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Vienna that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Vienna 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 Vienna.
Geneva is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.
Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Vienna. 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.
Geneva is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Vienna 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.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Geneva. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. 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.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Vienna. 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.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the international big city of Geneva. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the ritzy destination of Vienna. 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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Austria, and The Best Adventure Tours to Austria.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Geneva is $213, while the average daily cost in Vienna is $165. 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 Vienna in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Geneva or Vienna? 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:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Vienna:
Also for Vienna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Vienna 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.
For Vienna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
For Vienna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Vienna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Geneva and Vienna, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Vienna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vienna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vienna 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 Vienna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Geneva Expensive? and Is Vienna Expensive?.
Vienna has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Geneva and Vienna, 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 Vienna. Many visitors come to Geneva in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Vienna for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Geneva is around the same temperature as Vienna. Typically, the summer temperatures in Geneva in July average around 22°C (71°F), and Vienna averages at about 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vienna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Geneva this time of the year. In the summer, Geneva often gets more sunshine than Vienna. Geneva gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 255 hours of full sun.
Geneva usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Vienna. Geneva gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Vienna and Geneva are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Geneva for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Vienna because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Geneva is generally around the same temperature as Vienna. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 14°C (56°F), and Vienna fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Geneva usually receives less sunshine than Vienna during autumn. Geneva gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 140 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Geneva usually receives more rain than Vienna. Geneva gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Vienna and Geneva during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Geneva because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Vienna this time of year.
It's quite cold in Vienna in the winter. The weather in Geneva can be very cold. Geneva is much warmer than Vienna in the winter. The daily temperature in Geneva averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Vienna fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Geneva often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vienna. Geneva gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 65 hours of full sun.
Geneva usually gets more rain in January than Vienna. Geneva gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Geneva and Vienna. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Geneva this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Vienna for the natural beauty.
In the spring, Geneva is around the same temperature as Vienna. Typically, the spring temperatures in Geneva in April average around 11°C (53°F), and Vienna averages at about 13°C (55°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vienna this time of the year. Geneva usually receives less sunshine than Vienna during spring. Geneva gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 202 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Geneva usually receives more rain than Vienna. Geneva gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Geneva | Vienna | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Apr | 11°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
May | 15°C (60°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
Jul | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Aug | 21°C (70°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |