A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Glasgow vs. Lausanne for Nightlife, Attractions, Food, and Old Town

Should you visit Glasgow or Lausanne?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Glasgow or Lausanne, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Glasgow

Glasgow is a historic, high energy, and friendly city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and live music.

Lausanne

Lausanne is a vibrant, cultural, and international city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Glasgow and Lausanne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Glasgow or Lausanne?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Glasgow than Lausanne. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Glasgow is very popular for its nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Lausanne attracts visitors for its food, shopping, and impressive beauty. Glasgow is more touristy than Lausanne and is popular for its rich culture, its beautiful Victorian and art nouveau architecture, and its large student population. It is also well known for Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Lausanne is famous for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters.

How is Glasgow different from Lausanne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Glasgow or Lausanne?

You'll find a number of superb museums and attractions in both Lausanne and Glasgow.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Glasgow can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is rich in culture and offers many fascinating sights including the Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and the Necropolis.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Lausanne. You'll find many great museums around town that cover a range of topics. The Olympic Museum is very interesting. You should also check out the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and the Hermitage Foundation.

Is the Food Better in Glasgow or Lausanne? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lausanne is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Lausanne has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city is filled with delicious chocolate, cheese, and wine. Fondue is a favorite, but you'll also find cured meats on most menus. While food can be expensive, it's also high quality and usually locally produced.

Glasgow offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city's food scene continues to grow and innovate. You'll find plenty of seafood options as well as international cuisine and everything from fine dining to local cafes.

Is Glasgow or Lausanne Better for Nightlife?

Glasgow is a world-class destination for its evening party scene. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

People head to Glasgow just to party. The city has some of the best nightlife in the entire country. There are clubs, bars, techno warehouses and more. Some of the best clubs include Sub Club, The Berkeley Suite, and The Garage.

If you're looking for night time activities Lausanne has a few options to choose from. There are a surprising number of clubs around town and it's not hard to find somewhere to party. The large student population and the international vibe make this a fascinating place for nightlife.

Is Glasgow or Lausanne Better for Music?

Glasgow is a world-class destination for its music scene. However, Lausanne is not a live music destination.

In Glasgow you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. Known to some as "the city of music", you'll find a wide range of music venues, live shows, festivals, and even a great underground music scene.

Lausanne is not a live music destination.

Is Glasgow or Lausanne Better for its Old Town?

Glasgow and Lausanne both have nice historical old towns that attract visitors.

Glasgow has an old town worth visiting. High Street is one of the oldest and most well known streets in the city.

Many visitors go to Lausanne to see the historical old town. There's a relatively large historic section that has a Gothic cathedral and many quaint shops.

Is the Shopping Better in Glasgow or Lausanne?

Lausanne is great for its shopping areas. Also, Glasgow is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Lausanne. You'll find luxury Swiss watch brands, jewelry, chocolate, and many other interesting things to buy. Prices can be high, but so is the quality. It's fun to look, even if you're not planning to purchase.

Glasgow is a great destination for shopping. The city has independent boutique shops as well as major brands. Head to the "Style Mile" for some of the best shopping. It's a district that offers pedestrian-friendly shopping and includes high end boutiques and independent markets. Also check out The Barras Market, Buchanan Street, and High Street.

Is Glasgow or Lausanne Better for Families?

Glasgow and Lausanne are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Glasgow offers lots of family activities. The city has some family-friendly museums including the hands on The Burrell Collection, the Glasgow Science Center, and The Riverside Museum. If you have older kids who enjoy the water, there are some water activities in town. Check out Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow Wake Park or Outdoor Pursuits. There are also climbing gyms and skate parks.

Lausanne is a family-friendly place to visit. There are kid-friendly museums, petting zoos, and other fun activities in town. You can also take a boat ride or let the kids run around one of the parks in town.

Is Glasgow or Lausanne Better for Couples?

Glasgow and Lausanne are both nice to visit as a couple.

Glasgow is a good city for couples to visit. Couples can enjoy a museum or one of the parks around town. There are also river cruises and spas. For a more locally specific activity, check out the Bothwell Castle.

Lausanne is a nice destination for couples. The medieval old city is fun to explore. The lakefront setting also offers fun activities like boating. There are also a number of museums in town to explore.

Is Glasgow or Lausanne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Glasgow is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Lausanne is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Glasgow. There are a good number of hostels around town as well as a good social scene, making this a decent option for backpackers.

Lausanne is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular town for backpackers but there are some affordable hotels. It's also more reasonably priced than many Swiss cities.

Is Glasgow or Lausanne Better for Students?

For students, both Glasgow and Lausanne are superb places to visit.

Glasgow is a great city to visit as a student. The city has the second largest student population in the UK, so you'll find plenty of students to hang out with.

Students come from all over to stay in Lausanne. There are 11 institutes for higher learning in town, so students make up a significant percentage of the population. The city is also full of culture, making it a very livable city.

Is Glasgow or Lausanne Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Glasgow is well known for its public transit. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Glasgow can get you to most places easily. The subway is convenient in the city center, west end, and southside. There are also buses throughout the city.

While Lausanne offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a comprehensive network of transportation options available in town including buses and boats.

Is Glasgow or Lausanne a more walkable city?

Glasgow is well known for its ease of walking around. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Glasgow is a very walkable destination. The city center is generally walkable and can be explored on foot.

Lausanne is somewhat walkable. Many parts of the city, including the historic sections, and relatively easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Glasgow Worth Visiting? and Is Lausanne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lausanne or Glasgow?

How long in Glasgow or Lausanne?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Glasgow or Lausanne to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Glasgow than Lausanne because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Glasgow, and 1-2 days is enough time in Lausanne.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Glasgow than Lausanne 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 Glasgow.

One day in Glasgow or Lausanne?

The city of Glasgow offers museums and nightlife. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Lausanne, you'll find nightlife and food. 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.

A weekend in Glasgow or Lausanne?

Glasgow is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Glasgow, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

In Lausanne, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Lausanne has to offer.

Five days in Glasgow or Lausanne?

Glasgow is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Lausanne 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.

A week in Glasgow or Lausanne?

Glasgow is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lausanne. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Lausanne. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Luxury Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Glasgow or Lausanne?

Glasgow has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Lausanne. When comparing the sizes of Glasgow and Lausanne, 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.