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

Should you visit Interlaken or Lindau?

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

Interlaken

Interlaken is a stunning, adventurous, and adrenaline-filled 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.

Lindau

Lindau is a alpine, picturesque, and fun-filled town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food.

Interlaken and Lindau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Interlaken or Lindau?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Interlaken. Although Interlaken and Lindau are popular destinations, Interlaken has more sights and attractions for tourists. Interlaken is very popular for its skiing, hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Lindau attracts visitors for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, and small town charm. Interlaken is more touristy than Lindau and is popular for its adventure sports, alpine setting, and beautiful lakes. It is also well known for its many mountain views.. Lindau is famous for its lakefront location and quaint old town.

How is Interlaken different from Lindau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Interlaken or Lindau Better for Skiing?

Interlaken is a town with good options for winter skiing. However, Lindau 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.

Lindau is not a skiing destination.

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

Lindau is a decent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Interlaken does not have museums and landmarks.

While most people don't head to Lindau specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The town is more about it's beautiful setting than landmarks and museums, but there are some interesting sights including the harbor and lighthouse.

Interlaken does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Foodies will find both Interlaken and Lindau both to be superb 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 Lindau. Head to the waterfront for the best seafood restaurants. Many restaurants use seasonal ingredients and serve local fish. The local whitefish is particularly popular. Dishes are influenced by the town's proximity to Switzerland and Austria, so you'll enjoy a hybrid of flavors and recipes.

Is Interlaken or Lindau Better for Nightlife?

Lindau is a decent place to visit for nightlife. However, Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Lindau. It's not known for its nightlife scene but there are bars where you can enjoy a relaxing night out.

Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Interlaken or Lindau Better for its Old Town?

Lindau is an excellent place to visit for its historic old town. However, Interlaken does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Lindau. The old town is located on Lindau island in Lake Constance. It has quaint buildings and many waterfront restaurants.

Interlaken does not have a historic old town.

Is Interlaken or Lindau Better for Hiking?

Interlaken is terrific for its hiking experiences. However, Lindau is not a hiking destination.

Around Interlaken visitors will find world-class hiking trails. 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.

Lindau is not a hiking destination.

Is Interlaken or Lindau Better for Families?

Interlaken is terrific for its family-friendly activities. Also, Lindau is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Interlaken is an extremely popular town to visit for families. 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!

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Lindau. Head to the waterfront where there's a playground, stand up paddleboarding, paddleboats, and more. Kids will also enjoy climbing to the top of the Old Lighthouse or exploring the Museum of Local History.

Is Interlaken or Lindau Better for Couples?

Interlaken is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Lindau is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Interlaken is a great town for couples, as it 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.

Lindau is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. With its charming old town, beautiful waterfront, great seafood restaurants, and nice hotels, couples will really enjoy a few days away at this lakefront town. It's the perfect place to have a romantic weekend.

Is Interlaken or Lindau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Interlaken and Lindau are both nice destinations for backpackers.

Interlaken is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Lindau. The town has a couple of hostels and affordable hotels that make this waterfront town accessible to backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Interlaken is a great destination for its public transit. However, Lindau is a town with minimal options 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 Lindau. It's possible to reach town by bus or train and once you're in town you can walk many places.

Is Interlaken or Lindau a more walkable city?

Lindau 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.

Lindau is very walkable. The town is very walkable and there are also many walks into the countryside.

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 Lindau Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lindau or Interlaken?

How long in Interlaken or Lindau?

It's fun to spend time in either Interlaken or Lindau. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Interlaken due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Interlaken, and 2-4 days is enough time in Lindau.

Families should spend more time in Interlaken than Lindau. 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 Lindau. 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 Lindau 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 Lindau.

One day in Interlaken or Lindau?

Many travelers enjoy the food and skiing when visiting the destination of Interlaken. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Lindau might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Interlaken or Lindau?

Interlaken is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Even though Lindau is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Five days in Interlaken or Lindau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Interlaken. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Lindau, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Lindau?

Travelers enjoy the skiing and food when visiting the breathtaking destination of Interlaken. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Lindau 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Interlaken or Lindau?

Lindau has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of Interlaken and Lindau, 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.