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

Should you visit Kaunas or Kiel?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kaunas and Kiel. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Kaunas

Kaunas is a cultural, active, and young city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife and food.

Kiel

Kiel is a waterfront, maritime, and authentic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include food, beaches, and shopping.

Kaunas and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kaunas or Kiel?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Kiel than Kaunas. While Kaunas is larger than Kiel, Kiel has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Kiel is more popular for its museums, beaches, and shopping, while Kaunas is known for its historical sights. Kiel is more touristy than Kaunas and is known for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also home to The Kiel Castle. Kaunas is popular for its traditional Lithuanian culture and authentic old town.

How is Kaunas different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Kiel is a good destination for its sights and museums. However, Kaunas does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Kiel. 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.

Kaunas does not have museums and landmarks.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at good restaurants in both Kaunas and Kiel.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Kaunas area. It is a great place to try traditional Lithuanian dishes as there are a number of good restaurants and an active restaurant scene. Popular local dishes include cepelinai potato dumplings and cold beetroot soup.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Kiel. 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 Kaunas or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are good in both Kaunas and Kiel.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Kaunas. The nightlife scene continues to improve with a growing number of bars and clubs. During the warmer months you'll find many places opening outdoor areas. The old town is one of the more lively areas in town where it's nice to enjoy a drink on a terrace.

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.

Is Kaunas or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a good destination for the beach. However, Kaunas is not a beach destination.

Kiel offers a nice beach destination. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Kaunas is not a beach destination.

Is Kaunas or Kiel Better for its Old Town?

Kaunas is a popular place for its old town. However, Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Kaunas to see the old town. The old town has tree-lined streets with charming cafes and a number of museums. It's also where you'll find the Kaunas Castle.

Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Kaunas or Kiel?

Kiel is a good destination for its shopping areas. However, Kaunas is a mediocre city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Kiel to go shopping. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Kaunas is a good destination for shopping. The old town is the place to pick up souvenirs, but there are also shopping malls and outlets in the city.

Is Kaunas or Kiel Better for Families?

Both Kaunas and Kiel are good family-friendly destinations.

Kaunas is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has both outdoor and indoor areas that are fun for kids. Vienybės Square has fountains and splash areas that are fun for kids of all ages. Lampėdis Lake is a great place to swim or visit an adventure park. When the weather isn't great, you can head indoors to the the Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum or "CurioCity" in the Mega Mall.

Kiel is a family-friendly city. 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 Kaunas or Kiel Better for Couples?

Kiel is a good destination for couples. However, Kaunas is a mediocre city for romance.

Kiel is a good city 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.

Kaunas is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The city has a number of historical sites as well as interesting restaurants that you can explore.

Is Kaunas or Kiel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Kaunas. It's not a popular destination, but there are enough concerts and festivals throughout the year that it does see a few tourists.

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 Kaunas or Kiel Better for Students?

Kaunas and Kiel are both good destinations for students and younger travelers.

Kaunas is a good city to visit for students. The city has a vibrant and young student population. It also hosts festivals, concerts, and other events that make it a fun destination for international students.

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

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

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

You'll find some public transit in Kaunas, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are both buses and trolleybuses around town.

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

Is Kaunas or Kiel a more walkable city?

Kaunas and Kiel both are good when exploring on foot.

Kaunas is a somewhat walkable city. When the weather is nice, the city is a nice place to take a walk.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Kaunas?

How long in Kaunas or Kiel?

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

Families should spend more time in Kiel than Kaunas. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Kiel, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kaunas 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 Kaunas.

One day in Kaunas or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kaunas. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kiel. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Kaunas or Kiel?

Kaunas is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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.

Kiel is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Kaunas or Kiel?

You'll find food and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Kaunas. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kiel. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Kaunas or Kiel?

The active city of Kaunas offers nightlife and food. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the off-the-beaten-path destination of Kiel. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Lithuania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, 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 Kaunas and Kiel, we can see that Kiel is more expensive. And not only is Kaunas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kaunas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kaunas 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 Kiel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kiel than you might in Kaunas.

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

Which is Bigger, Kaunas or Kiel?

Kaunas has a larger population, and is about 61% larger than the population of Kiel. When comparing the sizes of Kaunas 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 Kaunas or Kiel?

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 Kaunas or Kiel in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kaunas and Kiel. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kaunas this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Kiel for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Kaunas is generally around the same temperature as Kiel. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around 18°C (64°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kiel this time of the year. In Kaunas, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kaunas usually receives more sunshine than Kiel during summer. Kaunas gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Kiel. Kaunas gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Kaunas or Kiel in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Kaunas as well as Kiel. Many travelers come to Kaunas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, many visitors come to Kiel in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Kaunas is cooler than Kiel in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 8°C (46°F) in October, and Kiel fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In the autumn, Kaunas often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel. Kaunas gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets less rain in October than Kiel. Kaunas gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Kiel in the Winter?

Both Kiel and Kaunas are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Kaunas in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Kiel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Kiel can be very cold during winter. Kaunas can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Kaunas is much colder than Kiel. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kaunas in January average around -5°C (23°F), and Kiel averages at about 0°C (33°F).

Kaunas usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel during winter. Kaunas gets 40 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Kiel. Kaunas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Kaunas or Kiel in the Spring?

Both Kiel and Kaunas during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Kaunas for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Kiel because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

In April, Kaunas is generally around the same temperature as Kiel. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around 7°C (44°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the spring, Kaunas often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel. Kaunas gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets less rain in April than Kiel. Kaunas gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Kiel and Kaunas