Should you visit Kiel or Bonn?
Should I visit Kiel or Bonn? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Kiel
Kiel is a port city on Germany's Baltic Sea coast. Much of the city center it was obliterated during WWII by bombing raids on its U-boat pens. In the old town, the rebuilt, medieval St. Nikolai Church hosts classical concerts and Holstenstrasse and Danische Strasse are streets lined with shops. The city also has several indoor malls linked by pedestrian bridges. Along the Kiel Fjord, the Maritime Museum displays model ships and nautical instruments in a former fish auction hall. Nearby, cruise ships dock at the Ostseekai Terminal in Germania Harbor. This grand harbor in Kiel continues on as it has for centuries and should be the focus of your visit. Huge ferries transport millions of passengers to and from Scandinavia, while summer sees locals strolling the long waterfront promenade.
Bonn
Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (previously, West Germany) and it has a population of about 315,000 people. It sits on the Rhine River just twenty kilometers away from Cologne. Many people travel to Bonn for conferences and business, but Bonn also has a lot of cultural and historical sights to offer visitors. The city is also famous as the birth place of Ludwig van Beethoven. There's a strong student culture in the city as well, and it actually shares many characteristics with Italian cities because of its many cafes and restaurants which line the streets. Outdoor beer gardens are popular and Bonn is a particular good summer destination when the weather is pleasant and you can enjoy the outdoor setting. The city's location also makes it a great base for day trips to Cologne, Dusseldorf, and the Rhine and Eifel regions.
Which city is cheaper, Bonn or Kiel?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kiel is €110, while the average daily cost in Bonn is €123. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Kiel and Bonn in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €54. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Kiel the cost is €108 on average.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €136 in Bonn For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Kiel food costs typically run travelers around €31 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
While meal prices in Bonn can vary, the average travelers spends about €39 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Bonn should cost around €16 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Bonn is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Kiel €31
Bonn €39
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Kiel is €43 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
To get around in Bonn, the average visitor spends €18 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonn
Also for Bonn, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Düsseldorf International Airport to Bonn City - One Way:
$254
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Private Airport Transfer: from Bonn to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN):
$42
Is it cheaper to fly into Kiel or Bonn?
Prices for flights to both Bonn and Kiel 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.
Entertainment
Kiel's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €15 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Bonn, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €27 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Kiel
Here are a few actual costs in Kiel for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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City Sightseeing Kiel Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$25
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Kiel Guided Walking Tour:
$753
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Private Driving Tour of Hamburg, Lüneburg or Lübeck. choose two destinations:
$858
Tours and Activities in Bonn
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bonn.
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Discover Beethoven's birthplace: Bonn Private Walking Tour:
$193
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Bonn Walking Tour (In the footsteps of Ludwig Van Beethoven):
$240
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Kiel may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €9.66 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Bonn, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €18.
When comparing the travel costs between Kiel and Bonn, we can see that Bonn is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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