Which place is cheaper, Frankfurt or Interlaken?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Interlaken and Frankfurt can help you decide which place is right for you.
Interlaken is a breathtaking, world-class, and stunning town. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the hiking, skiing, and food.
Frankfurt is a energetic, dynamic, and diverse city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.
Visitors will usually find more to do in Frankfurt than Interlaken, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Frankfurt is better known for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Interlaken is more popular for its skiing, hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Interlaken is more touristy than Frankfurt and is known for its adventure sports, alpine setting, and beautiful lakes. Frankfurt is well known for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife. Also, Frankfurt is famous for The Old Town Center.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Frankfurt and Interlaken. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Interlaken is very good for skiing and snowboarding. However, Frankfurt is not a skiing destination.
Head to Interlaken for some great skiing and other winter activities. While the city itself has no skiing, there is access to several ski areas in Jungfrau. There are several different resorts in the area near Grindelwald, Wengen, and Mürren. You'll need to take a train or ski bus to get most places.
Frankfurt is not a skiing destination.
Frankfurt is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Interlaken does not have museums and landmarks.
Many visitors head to Frankfurt specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.
Interlaken does not have museums and landmarks.
Foodies will find both Interlaken and Frankfurt both to be very good destinations.
The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Interlaken. Restaurants in the area serve local classics like fondue, local meats, cheeses, and chocolate. You can finish your meal off with strudel or head to a local bakery and try their samplings. Meals are expensive but the quality is good. You should also out into the countryside and enjoy a meal looking out over the mountains.
Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Frankfurt. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.
Frankfurt is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. However, Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.
Frankfurt has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.
Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.
Frankfurt is very good for its historic old town. However, Interlaken does not have a historic old town.
Frankfurt is a good destination for visiting its old town. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.
Interlaken does not have a historic old town.
Interlaken is an unbeatable place for its hiking trails. However, Frankfurt is not a hiking destination.
Many people visit Interlaken specifically for its hiking. Hikes in the area range from easy to challenging with every option in between. You can experience beautiful waterfalls, breathtaking views, and dramatic ridge hikes. Several of the best hikes in the area include Schynige Platte Ridge Trail, Mt Niesen Panorama Trail, and Giessbach Waterfalls.
Frankfurt is not a hiking destination.
Frankfurt is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, Interlaken is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Frankfurt. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.
Interlaken is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Interlaken is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.
Interlaken is one of the most popular family destinations. While the city is beautiful, it's really the surrounding areas that you and your family will enjoy. There are amazing hikes, stunning views, playgrounds, lakes, and more. There's also an impressive ropes course that adventurous kids will love, funiculars, gondolas, and so many water sports!
Frankfurt is a very family-friendly place to visit. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.
Interlaken is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.
For those traveling as a couple, Interlaken has plenty to offer. The mountaintop views, breathtaking hikes, and beautiful lakes make this a top destination for couples. Make sure you head out of town and fully immerse yourself in everything that the area has to offer. Kayaking, canoeing, paragliding, and more will make this a trip of a lifetime.
Frankfurt is a nice destination for couples. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.
Frankfurt is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Interlaken is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.
Frankfurt is very popular with the backpacker crowd. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.
It's common for backpackers to visit Interlaken. It's a world class destination with so many activities that backpackers will love, but it's also one of the most expensive areas in one of the most expensive countries. There are hostels in town as well as a few in the nearby towns and countryside, but prices are steep. Cook when you can and enjoy all of the free activities that the area has to offer.
Frankfurt is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Interlaken is not popular with students.
Students come from all over the world to visit Frankfurt. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.
Interlaken is not popular with students.
Frankfurt is a world-class destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Interlaken is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.
With a huge network, the transit system in Frankfurt can get you around easily. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.
Interlaken has some very good public transit options. Buses travel around town, but to get into the mountains there are trains, cog railways, funiculars, and gondolas.
Frankfurt is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. Also, Interlaken is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.
Frankfurt is very walkable. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.
Interlaken is a somewhat walkable place. The old town is relatively walkable.
For even more information, also check out Is Interlaken Worth Visiting? and Is Frankfurt Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Interlaken and Frankfurt. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Interlaken than in Frankfurt. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Interlaken, and 1-3 days is enough time in Frankfurt.
Families should spend more time in Interlaken than Frankfurt. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Interlaken, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Frankfurt than Interlaken 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 Frankfurt.
You'll find skiing and food around the town of Interlaken. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
When visiting Frankfurt, people usually allow for lots of time. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Frankfurt, one day is sufficent for most.
You'll find food and skiing around the world-class destination of Interlaken. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.
When visiting Frankfurt, people usually allow for lots of time. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.
You'll find skiing and food around the adrenaline-filled town of Interlaken. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Most people head to the area for the hiking. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer.
Frankfurt, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Interlaken is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Frankfurt is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Geneva, The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Germany, and The Best Adventure Tours to Germany.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Interlaken is $231, while the average daily cost in Frankfurt is $131. 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 Interlaken and Frankfurt in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Interlaken or Frankfurt? 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 typical examples of transportation costs in Interlaken are as follows:
Also for Interlaken, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Frankfurt:
Also for Frankfurt, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Frankfurt and Interlaken 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.
For Interlaken, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Interlaken, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Frankfurt, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Frankfurt, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Interlaken, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For Frankfurt, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Frankfurt:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Frankfurt:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Interlaken and Frankfurt, we can see that Interlaken is more expensive. And not only is Frankfurt much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Frankfurt would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Frankfurt 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 Interlaken would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Interlaken than you might in Frankfurt.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Interlaken Expensive? and Is Frankfurt Expensive?.
Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of Interlaken and Frankfurt, 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 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.
Both Frankfurt and Interlaken are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Interlaken because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year.
In July, Interlaken is generally around the same temperature as Frankfurt. Daily temperatures in Interlaken average around 21°C (70°F), and Frankfurt fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Frankfurt. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Interlaken. Interlaken usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Frankfurt during summer. Interlaken gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 225 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Interlaken usually receives more rain than Frankfurt. Interlaken gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Frankfurt and Interlaken during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Interlaken this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Frankfurt for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Interlaken is a little warmer than Frankfurt in the autumn. The daily temperature in Interlaken averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Frankfurt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Interlaken often gets more sunshine than Frankfurt. Interlaken gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 103 hours of full sun.
Interlaken usually gets more rain in October than Frankfurt. Interlaken gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Interlaken and Frankfurt. Many travelers come to Interlaken for the skiing and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Frankfurt in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Frankfurt can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Interlaken. In the winter, Interlaken is much warmer than Frankfurt. Typically, the winter temperatures in Interlaken in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Frankfurt averages at about 1°C (34°F).
Interlaken usually receives more sunshine than Frankfurt during winter. Interlaken gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 41 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Interlaken usually receives more rain than Frankfurt. Interlaken gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Interlaken as well as Frankfurt. Many visitors come to Interlaken in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Frankfurt for the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Interlaken is generally a little warmer than Frankfurt. Daily temperatures in Interlaken average around 12°C (53°F), and Frankfurt fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the spring, Interlaken often gets less sunshine than Frankfurt. Interlaken gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 163 hours of full sun.
Interlaken usually gets more rain in April than Frankfurt. Interlaken gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Interlaken | Frankfurt | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |