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

Should you visit Kiel or Alesund?

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

Should I visit Kiel or Alesund? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Kiel

Kiel is a waterfront, maritime, and authentic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for beaches, shopping, and museums.

Alesund

Alesund is a friendly, scenic, and laid back city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Kiel and Alesund: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kiel or Alesund?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kiel. Although Kiel and Alesund are popular destinations, Kiel has more sights and attractions for tourists. Kiel is very popular for its beaches, while Alesund attracts visitors for its food and impressive beauty. 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. Alesund is famous for its nouveau architecture, beautiful views, and access to the fjords.

How is Kiel different from Alesund?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Kiel and Alesund.

Kiel offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Alesund. Check out the Atlantic Sea-Park and the Sunnmøre Museum. Also visit the small but interesting Fisheries Museum & Ålesund Museum.

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

Alesund 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 Alesund. As Norway's largest fishing port, you'll find plenty of seafood offerings around town. A favorite is bacalao de noruega (dried and salted clipfish), but also make sure you try the lobster soup.

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 Kiel or Alesund Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Kiel and Alesund.

Kiel has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Alesund has a few options to choose from. There are plenty of bars around town as well as nightclubs and live music venues.

Is Kiel or Alesund Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a popular place for its beaches. However, Alesund is not a beach destination.

Kiel is a good option for a beach vacation. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Alesund is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kiel or Alesund?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Alesund and Kiel.

Kiel offers some nice shopping areas. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Alesund has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of shopping streets around town including the shopping areas in Aspøya, which are known for their homemade souvenirs.

Is Kiel or Alesund Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Kiel or Alesund.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Kiel. 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.

Alesund offers lots of family activities. There's an aquarium and several great parks including Tueneset Naturlekeplass, which is near the aquarium. There's also hiking in the area and other outdoor adventures.

Is Kiel or Alesund Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Kiel and Alesund make for a nice place to visit.

Kiel makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Alesund is a good city for couples to visit. It's a beautiful setting with spectacular views and fun restaurants. There are many great hikes in the area, and many visitors like to use this town as a base for exploring nearby places.

Is Kiel or Alesund Better for Students?

Kiel and Alesund are nice places to visit for students.

Kiel is popular with students. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

It's common for students to visit Alesund. There's a small student population, which means that the group stays close and everyone is very welcoming. The town also makes a great base for exploring this part of Norway.

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

Alesund 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 Alesund, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a public bus system around town.

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

Is Kiel or Alesund a more walkable city?

Kiel and Alesund both are nice when exploring on foot.

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

Alesund is a somewhat walkable city. The city center can be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Alesund or Kiel?

How long in Kiel or Alesund?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Kiel and Alesund. In our opinion, Alesund has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Alesund than Kiel. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Kiel, and 2-3 days is enough time in Alesund.

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

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

One day in Kiel or Alesund?

In Kiel, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Alesund. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Kiel or Alesund?

In Kiel, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Kiel has to offer.

Alesund 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.

Five days in Kiel or Alesund?

Kiel is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

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

A week in Kiel or Alesund?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kiel. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Kiel. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The welcoming city of Alesund 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, The Best Tours for Seniors to Norway, and The Best Contiki Tours to Norway.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Kiel or Alesund?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Alesund. When comparing the sizes of Kiel and Alesund, 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 Kiel or Alesund?

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 Kiel or Alesund in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiel and Alesund. The summer months attract visitors to Kiel because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Alesund this time of year.

In July, Kiel is generally a little warmer than Alesund. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 16°C (61°F), and Alesund fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In July, Kiel usually receives around the same amount of rain as Alesund. Kiel gets 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Kiel or Alesund in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Kiel as well as Alesund. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kiel this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Alesund for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Kiel is a little warmer than Alesund in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kiel averages around 10°C (50°F) in October, and Alesund fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

It's quite rainy in Alesund. Kiel usually gets less rain in October than Alesund. Kiel gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Alesund in the Winter?

Both Alesund and Kiel are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Kiel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Alesund in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Alesund can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Kiel. In the winter, Kiel is much colder than Alesund. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kiel in January average around 0°C (33°F), and Alesund averages at about 3°C (37°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Alesund. In January, Kiel usually receives less rain than Alesund. Kiel gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Kiel or Alesund in the Spring?

Both Alesund and Kiel during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Kiel in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Alesund for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

Alesund can be very cold during spring. In April, Kiel is generally a little warmer than Alesund. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 7°C (44°F), and Alesund fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Kiel usually gets less rain in April than Alesund. Kiel gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Alesund and Kiel