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

Should you visit Hofn or Utrecht?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hofn or Utrecht, 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 Utrecht?

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.

Utrecht

Utrecht is both a province and a city in the Netherlands. The city is a unique university city with a lively atmosphere. Imagine Amsterdam but smaller, and with fewer tourists. Utrecht has the same underlying historical/magical feel as Amsterdam, but is full of locals rather than crowds of tourists. It has a population of about 300,000 making it the fourth largest city in the Netherlands.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Netherlands, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Netherlands.


Which place is cheaper, Utrecht 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 Utrecht is $202. 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 Utrecht in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hofn $97
    Utrecht $114
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hofn $194
    Utrecht $228
Compare Hotels in Hofn and Utrecht

Looking for a hotel in Hofn or Utrecht? 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 Utrecht


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 Utrecht Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hofn $27
    Utrecht $24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Utrecht

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Utrecht:

  • Private transfer from Utrecht to AMS Schiphol Airport: $120
  • Private taxi transfer from Utrecht to Amsterdam: $101
  • Train Transfer Utrecht from/to Rotterdam: $15

Is it cheaper to fly into Hofn or Utrecht?

Prices for flights to both Utrecht 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
    Utrecht $62

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Utrecht

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Utrecht.

  • City Boat Tour & Balkan Restaurant Lunch OR Dinner: $31
  • Vegan Food Tour like a local. Eat, walk, enjoy.: $70
  • Vegan Food Tour by bike in get of the beaten track! : $71
  • Vegan Food Tour like a Local: eat, walk, enjoy Utrecht: $71
  • Guided Food Tour: $79

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hofn $18
    Utrecht $47

Tours and Activities in Hofn

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

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

Tours and Activities in Utrecht

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Utrecht are as follows:

  • 2 Hours Utrecht Family Walking Tour: $163
  • Captivating Utrecht Family Walking Tour: $321
  • Castles, Canals and Good Folk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Utrecht: $8.99
  • Christmas Joy in Utrecht Walking Tour: $448
  • Christmas Joy in Utrecht Walking Tour: $210
  • Cultural and Historical Audio Guided Walking Tour of Utrecht: $11
  • Cultural and Historical Audio Guided Walking Tour of Utrecht: $13
  • Discover Utrecht with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour: $27
  • Discover Utrecht’s Zocherpark in this Outside Escape game tour!: $27
  • Discover Utrecht’s city center in this Outside Escape game tour!: $22
  • Explore Gems of Utrecht Walking Tour for Couples: $341
  • Explore Gems of Utrecht Walking Tour for Couples: $174

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hofn $12
    Utrecht $25

Sample the Local Flavors in Utrecht

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Utrecht:

  • Utrecht Pub Trail: Pub crawl with interactive online game: $12
  • Utrecht Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21


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

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


Which is Bigger, Hofn or Utrecht?

Utrecht has a larger population, and is about 170 times larger than the population of Hofn. When comparing the sizes of Hofn and Utrecht, 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 Utrecht?

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.

Should I visit Hofn or Utrecht in the Summer?

Both Utrecht and Hofn during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Utrecht for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Hofn is generally much colder than Utrecht. Daily temperatures in Hofn average around 9°C (48°F), and Utrecht fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Hofn usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Utrecht. Hofn gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.


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

Should I visit Hofn or Utrecht in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hofn and Utrecht. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Utrecht because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Hofn can be very cold during autumn. Hofn is much colder than Utrecht in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hofn averages around 4°C (40°F) in October, and Utrecht fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Hofn gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Hofn usually receives more rain than Utrecht. Hofn gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


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

Should I visit Hofn or Utrecht in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hofn as well as Utrecht. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Utrecht this time of year.

It's quite cold in Utrecht in the winter. The weather in Hofn can be very cold. In the winter, Hofn is much colder than Utrecht. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hofn in January average around -0°C (31°F), and Utrecht averages at about 2°C (36°F).

Hofn receives a lot of rain in the winter. Hofn usually gets more rain in January than Utrecht. Hofn gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


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

Should I visit Hofn or Utrecht in the Spring?

Both Utrecht and Hofn are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Utrecht for the natural beauty.

It's quite cold in Hofn in the spring. In April, Hofn is generally much colder than Utrecht. Daily temperatures in Hofn average around 2°C (36°F), and Utrecht fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In April, Hofn usually receives more rain than Utrecht. Hofn gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


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

Typical Weather for Utrecht and Hofn

Hofn Utrecht
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)