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

Should you visit Kiel or Auxerre?

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

Should I visit Kiel or Auxerre? 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 off-the-beaten-path, waterfront, and maritime city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Auxerre

Auxerre is a under-rated, undiscovered, and authentic town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Kiel and Auxerre: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kiel or Auxerre?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Kiel. Although Kiel and Auxerre are both popular with visitors, Kiel has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Kiel is more popular for its nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Auxerre is known for its small town charm. Kiel is more touristy than Auxerre and is popular for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also home to The Kiel Castle. Auxerre is popular for its food, wine, and art history.

How is Kiel different from Auxerre?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Auxerre 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 Auxerre?

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Kiel and Auxerre.

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 Auxerre. Although the town is often overlooked by tourists, there are many nice cathedrals and churches around town.

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

Both Kiel and Auxerre offer a number of good restaurants to choose from.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in 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)

Auxerre is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The town is a the heart of the wine industry, so you'll find many great restaurants where you can enjoy local food and wine.

Is Kiel or Auxerre Better for Nightlife?

Kiel is very good for its evening party scene. However, Auxerre is not a good destination for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Kiel has a few options to choose from. 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.

Most people don't head to Auxerre specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It has a quiet nightlife with some nice bars and pubs.

Is Kiel or Auxerre Better for Beaches?

Kiel is very good for the beach. However, Auxerre 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.

Auxerre is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kiel or Auxerre?

Kiel is very good for its shopping areas. However, Auxerre is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Kiel has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Auxerre is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Kiel or Auxerre Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Kiel or Auxerre.

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.

Auxerre offers lots of family activities. There's the Zoo de La Fleche and the Aquarium de Touraine. You can also wander through Musee de l'Avallon or des Plantes.

Is Kiel or Auxerre Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Kiel and Auxerre make for a good 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.

Auxerre is a good city for couples to visit. There are many great eateries as well nice architecture and, of course, excellent wine.

Is Kiel or Auxerre Better for Students?

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

It's common for students to visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

Auxerre is not popular with students.

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

Auxerre 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 Auxerre, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses around town.

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

Is Kiel or Auxerre a more walkable city?

Kiel and Auxerre both are good when exploring on foot.

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

Auxerre is a somewhat walkable city. The center is walkable but it is a bit more difficult to navigate than some nearby towns.

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

Should I spend more time in Auxerre or Kiel?

How long in Kiel or Auxerre?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Kiel or Auxerre to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Kiel than Auxerre because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Kiel, and 1-2 days is enough time in Auxerre.

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

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

One day in Kiel or Auxerre?

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

A weekend in Kiel or Auxerre?

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.

Auxerre 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 Auxerre?

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 food around the under-rated destination of Auxerre. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Kiel or Auxerre?

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 authentic town of Auxerre offers food and museums. 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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, and The Best 2-Week Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Kiel or Auxerre?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Auxerre. When comparing the sizes of Kiel and Auxerre, 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 Auxerre?

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 Kiel or Auxerre in the Summer?

Both Auxerre and Kiel during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kiel this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Auxerre for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Kiel is cooler than Auxerre. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kiel in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Auxerre averages at about 19°C (66°F).

In Auxerre, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kiel. In the summer, Kiel often gets less sunshine than Auxerre. Kiel gets 219 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auxerre receives 255 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets more rain in July than Auxerre. Kiel gets 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Auxerre in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiel and Auxerre. Many travelers come to Kiel for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Auxerre in the autumn for the small town atmosphere.

In October, Kiel is generally cooler than Auxerre. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 10°C (50°F), and Auxerre fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Kiel usually receives less sunshine than Auxerre during autumn. Kiel gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Auxerre receives 126 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kiel usually receives more rain than Auxerre. Kiel gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kiel or Auxerre in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kiel as well as Auxerre. Many visitors come to Kiel in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Auxerre for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Auxerre can be very cold during winter. Kiel can get quite cold in the winter. Kiel is much colder than Auxerre in the winter. The daily temperature in Kiel averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and Auxerre fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Kiel often gets less sunshine than Auxerre. Kiel gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auxerre receives 53 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Auxerre. Kiel gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Auxerre in the Spring?

Both Auxerre and Kiel are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Kiel for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Auxerre because of the small town charm.

In the spring, Kiel is cooler than Auxerre. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kiel in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Auxerre averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Kiel usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Auxerre during spring. Kiel gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Auxerre receives 167 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kiel usually receives around the same amount of rain as Auxerre. Kiel gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Auxerre receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Auxerre and Kiel