A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Interlaken vs. Kiel for Families, Couples, Food, and Backpackers

Should you visit Interlaken or Kiel?

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

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 Kiel can help you decide which place is right for you.

Interlaken

Interlaken is a adrenaline-filled, breathtaking, and world-class town. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the food, hiking, and skiing.

Kiel

Kiel is a maritime, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Interlaken and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Interlaken or Kiel?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kiel. Although Interlaken and Kiel are popular destinations, Kiel has more sights and attractions for tourists. Kiel is very popular for its museums, nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Interlaken attracts visitors for its skiing, food, hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Interlaken is more touristy than Kiel and is popular for its adventure sports, alpine setting, and beautiful lakes. Kiel is famous for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also well known for The Kiel Castle.

How is Interlaken different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Interlaken or Kiel Better for Skiing?

Interlaken is a popular place for winter skiing. However, Kiel is not a skiing destination.

For winter sports and skiing, Interlaken is a great destination to visit. 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.

Kiel is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Interlaken or Kiel?

Kiel is very good for its museums and history. However, Interlaken does not have museums and landmarks.

Kiel is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

Interlaken does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Interlaken or Kiel? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Interlaken is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit 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.

Kiel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Is Interlaken or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

Kiel is very good for nightlife. However, Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Kiel. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Interlaken or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is very good for its beaches. However, Interlaken is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Kiel to enjoy the beach. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Interlaken is not a beach destination.

Is Interlaken or Kiel Better for Hiking?

Interlaken is a must-visit destination for its hiking experiences. However, Kiel is not a hiking destination.

People visit Interlaken specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. 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.

Kiel is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Interlaken or Kiel?

Kiel is very good for shopping. However, Interlaken is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Kiel. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Interlaken is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Interlaken or Kiel Better for Families?

Interlaken is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Interlaken is a very family-friendly destination. 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!

Kiel offers lots of family activities. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

Is Interlaken or Kiel Better for Couples?

Interlaken is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Interlaken makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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.

Kiel is a good town for couples to visit. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Interlaken or Kiel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Interlaken is a popular place for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers 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.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is Interlaken or Kiel Better for Students?

Kiel is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Interlaken is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

Interlaken is not popular with students.

Is Interlaken or Kiel Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Interlaken is well known for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Interlaken or Kiel a more walkable city?

Interlaken and Kiel are nice when it comes to walkability.

Interlaken is somewhat walkable. The old town is relatively walkable.

Kiel is a somewhat walkable place. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Interlaken Worth Visiting? and Is Kiel Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Interlaken?

How long in Interlaken or Kiel?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Interlaken and Kiel. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Interlaken than in Kiel. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Interlaken, and 1-3 days is enough time in Kiel.

Families should spend more time in Interlaken than Kiel. 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.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Interlaken than Kiel 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 Interlaken.

One day in Interlaken or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the food and skiing when visiting the destination of Interlaken. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

With museums and nightlife around the maritime city of Kiel, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Kiel, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Interlaken or Kiel?

Interlaken is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the hiking. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Kiel, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Interlaken or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the food and skiing when visiting the adventurous destination of Interlaken. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Kiel, 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.

A week in Interlaken or Kiel?

The stunning town of Interlaken offers skiing and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Kiel 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Interlaken and Kiel, we can see that Interlaken is more expensive. And not only is Kiel much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kiel would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kiel 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 Kiel.

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

Which is Bigger, Interlaken or Kiel?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of Interlaken and Kiel, 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 Interlaken or Kiel?

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 Interlaken or Kiel in the Summer?

Both Kiel and Interlaken during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Interlaken for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Kiel because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Interlaken is a little warmer than Kiel. Typically, the summer temperatures in Interlaken in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Kiel averages at about 16°C (61°F).

In Kiel, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Interlaken. In the summer, Interlaken often gets more sunshine than Kiel. Interlaken gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun.

Interlaken usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Kiel. Interlaken gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Interlaken or Kiel in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Interlaken and Kiel. The autumn months attract visitors to Interlaken because of the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.

In October, Interlaken is generally a little warmer than Kiel. Daily temperatures in Interlaken average around 13°C (56°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Interlaken usually receives more sunshine than Kiel during autumn. Interlaken gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Interlaken usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kiel. Interlaken gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Interlaken or Kiel in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Interlaken as well as Kiel. The skiing and the cuisine are the main draw to Interlaken this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Kiel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Kiel. It's quite cold in Interlaken in the winter. Interlaken is much warmer than Kiel in the winter. The daily temperature in Interlaken averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Kiel fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

In the winter, Interlaken often gets more sunshine than Kiel. Interlaken gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun.

Interlaken usually gets more rain in January than Kiel. Interlaken gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Interlaken or Kiel in the Spring?

Both Kiel and Interlaken are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Interlaken for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Kiel in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Interlaken is much warmer than Kiel. Typically, the spring temperatures in Interlaken in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Kiel averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Interlaken usually receives less sunshine than Kiel during spring. Interlaken gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Interlaken usually receives more rain than Kiel. Interlaken gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kiel and Interlaken