Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Interlaken?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Interlaken or Leiden?
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 Leiden can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Interlaken or Leiden?
Interlaken
Interlaken is a small city that is located in the Bernese Highlands Region of central Switzerland. It sits pleasantly between two Alpine Lakes, Brienzersee and Thunersee. This scenic setting and its easy accessibility make it a popular base camp for travel into the Bernese Oberland Alps. It has become a top tourist destination in Switzerland and it is also a hub for outdoor sports enthusiasts with plenty of hiking, skiing, paragliding, and other activities in the region.. Interlaken is a great hoping off point to explore many of the nearby mountains, lakes, and valleys, too. It offers easy transportation to most major Swiss cities by train or car.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Geneva, The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayInterlaken $231Leiden $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Interlaken is $231, 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 Interlaken and Leiden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personInterlaken $133Leiden $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomInterlaken $266Leiden $166
Compare Hotels in Interlaken and Leiden
Looking for a hotel in Interlaken 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.
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: Interlaken Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Interlaken $13Leiden $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Interlaken
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Interlaken are as follows:
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Cable Cars (for 2)$66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Interlaken
Also for Interlaken, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Interlaken to Zurich: $240
- Private Group transfer Zurich Airport - Interlaken: $1,312
- Transfer from/to Hotel - Airport: $160
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Lucerne: $284
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 Interlaken or Leiden?
Prices for flights to both Leiden 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayInterlaken $64Leiden $41
Typical Food Prices in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Tea at Interlaken$33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fondue Cooking Class and Cheese Workshop in Switzerland: $143
- Cheese and Chocolate Full-Day Food Tour: $733
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Interlaken $104Leiden $18
Tours and Activities in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Hidden gems e-bike tour with picnic at Lake Brienz : $212
- Iseltwald, Aare Gorge and Lake Brienz Experience in Switzerland: $290
- 007 Elegance: Private Tour to Schilthorn from Interlaken: $480
- A Day at Lake Brienz and Lauterbrunnen Tour from Zurich: $1,260
- Alpine Heights Jungfraujoch Small Group Tour from Interlaken: $529
- Alpine Majesty: Bern to Jungfraujoch Exclusive Private Tour: $835
- Bern: Grindelwald First & Bachalpsee Hiking Private Tour: $709
- Bike Tour of the Interlaken Valley: Rivers, Lakes & Forests: $111
- Bollywood Tour Gstaad - Express Tour: $90
- Canyoning Experience Grimsel from Interlaken : $200
- From Grimsel Gorge Canyoning Tour: $196
- From Gruyères, Cheese Factory & Cailler Tour: $290
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayInterlaken $17Leiden $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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Interlaken and Leiden, we can see that Interlaken is more expensive. And not only is Leiden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leiden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leiden 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 Leiden.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Interlaken Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Interlaken or Leiden?
Leiden has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of Interlaken 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 Interlaken 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 Interlaken or Leiden in the Summer?
Both Leiden 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.
In July, Interlaken is generally a little warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Interlaken average around 21°C (70°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It's quite sunny in Leiden. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Interlaken. Interlaken usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during summer. Interlaken gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Interlaken usually receives more rain than Leiden. Interlaken gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyInterlaken 21°C (70°F)Leiden 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Interlaken or Leiden in the Autumn?
Both Leiden 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.
Interlaken is a little warmer than Leiden in the autumn. The daily temperature in Interlaken averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Interlaken often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Interlaken gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun.
Interlaken usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Leiden. Interlaken gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberInterlaken 13°C (56°F)Leiden 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Interlaken or Leiden in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Interlaken and Leiden. Many travelers come to Interlaken for the skiing and the cuisine.
Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Interlaken. In the winter, Interlaken is a little warmer than Leiden. Typically, the winter temperatures in Interlaken in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Leiden averages at about 2°C (36°F).
Interlaken usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during winter. Interlaken gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Interlaken usually receives more rain than Leiden. Interlaken gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryInterlaken 3°C (37°F)Leiden 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Interlaken or Leiden in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Interlaken as well as Leiden. Many visitors come to Interlaken in the spring for the natural beauty.
In April, Interlaken is generally much warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Interlaken average around 12°C (53°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In the spring, Interlaken often gets less sunshine than Leiden. Interlaken gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun.
Interlaken usually gets more rain in April than Leiden. Interlaken gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilInterlaken 12°C (53°F)Leiden 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Leiden and Interlaken
| Interlaken | Leiden | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.