A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hofn vs. Leiden for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hofn or Leiden?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hofn or Leiden, 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.

Where Should I go: Hofn or Leiden?

Hofn

Hofn is a very small fishing town on the southeast of Iceland, measuring just over half a mile across. It is best known for being located in the beautiful Vatnajokull Region, where the largest glacier in Europe is located. Hofn, and the surrounding area, is full of breathtaking natural scenery including lagoons, icefalls, and mountains.

Leiden

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 The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.


Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Hofn?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hofn is $151, 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 Hofn and Leiden in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hofn $97
    Leiden $83
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hofn $194
    Leiden $166
Compare Hotels in Hofn and Leiden

Looking for a hotel in Hofn 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.

Hotels in Hofn


Hotels in Leiden


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Hofn Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hofn $27
    Leiden $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden

Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Zero Emission Tesla Taxi Transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $93

Is it cheaper to fly into Hofn or Leiden?

Prices for flights to both Leiden and Hofn 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hofn $36
    Leiden $41

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hofn $18
    Leiden $18

Tours and Activities in Hofn

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hofn.

  • Blue Ice Cave Adventure: $284
  • Crystal Ice Cave Adventure : $185
  • Ice Cave Tour in the National Park of Vatnajökull: $160
  • Ice Exploration Tour from the Glacier Lagoon: $129
  • Private Iceland Aurora Hunting and Photography Tour from Hofn: $291
  • Sapphire Ice Cave Tour from Jökulsárlón - Extra Small Group: $170

Tours and Activities in Leiden

For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $21
  • Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
  • Dutch Windmills & Polder Walking Tour: $33
  • Half-Day Private Guided Tour in Leiden: $163
  • Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.57
  • Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $320
  • Leiden City Tour with Live guide in Netherlands: $41
  • Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
  • Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
  • Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.62
  • Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
  • Walking City Tour with Live guide: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hofn $12
    Leiden $28

Sample the Local Flavors in Leiden

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:

  • Leiden Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21
  • Leiden Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22


When comparing the travel costs between Hofn and Leiden, we can see that Hofn is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Hofn or Leiden?

Leiden has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Hofn. When comparing the sizes of Hofn 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.


When is the best time to visit Hofn or Leiden?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Hofn or Leiden in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Hofn and Leiden.

In the summer, Hofn is much colder than Leiden. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hofn in July average around 9°C (48°F), and Leiden averages at about 17°C (62°F).

In July, Hofn usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leiden. Hofn gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Hofn 9°C (48°F) 
    Leiden 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Hofn or Leiden in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Hofn as well as Leiden.

The weather in Hofn can be very cold. In October, Hofn is generally much colder than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Hofn average around 4°C (40°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Hofn receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Hofn usually gets more rain in October than Leiden. Hofn gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Hofn 4°C (40°F) 
    Leiden 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Hofn or Leiden in the Winter?

Both Leiden and Hofn are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Leiden. It's quite cold in Hofn in the winter. Hofn is much colder than Leiden in the winter. The daily temperature in Hofn averages around -0°C (31°F) in January, and Leiden fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

It's quite rainy in Hofn. In January, Hofn usually receives more rain than Leiden. Hofn gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Hofn -0°C (31°F) 
    Leiden 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit Hofn or Leiden in the Spring?

Both Leiden and Hofn during the spring are popular places to visit.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Hofn. In the spring, Hofn is much colder than Leiden. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hofn in April average around 2°C (36°F), and Leiden averages at about 8°C (46°F).

Hofn usually gets more rain in April than Leiden. Hofn gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Hofn 2°C (36°F) 
    Leiden 8°C (46°F)

Typical Weather for Leiden and Hofn

Hofn Leiden
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -0°C (31°F) 138 mm (5.4 in) 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Feb 0°C (32°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 0°C (32°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 2°C (36°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 5°C (40°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 8°C (46°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 9°C (48°F) 77 mm (3 in) 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aug 9°C (48°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 7°C (44°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 4°C (40°F) 153 mm (6 in) 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 1°C (34°F) 101 mm (4 in) 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec -0°C (32°F) 124 mm (4.9 in) 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)