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

Should you visit Kiel or Versailles?

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

Should I visit Kiel or Versailles? 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. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Versailles

Versailles is a extensive, beautiful, and grand palace. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the museums.

Kiel and Versailles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kiel or Versailles?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Kiel than Versailles. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Kiel is very popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Versailles attracts visitors for its museums and impressive beauty. Versailles is more touristy than Kiel and is popular for its long running history and its grand architecture. 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.

How is Kiel different from Versailles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Versailles is a must-visit destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Versailles are among the most recognizable in the world. The palace is filled with history and impressive items relating to the royal family. Within and near the palace you should make sure you see the Gardens of Versailles, Grand Trianon, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Opera of Versailles.

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.

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

Kiel is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Versailles is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

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)

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Versailles. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes on the grounds.

Is Kiel or Versailles Better for Nightlife?

Kiel is a nice place to visit for nightlife. However, Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy 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.

Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Kiel or Versailles Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a nice place to visit for its beaches. However, Versailles is not a beach destination.

Kiel has a beach worth visiting. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Versailles is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kiel or Versailles?

Kiel is a nice place to visit for shopping. However, Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Kiel. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Kiel or Versailles Better for Families?

Kiel is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not known for its family-friendly activities.

Kiel offers lots of family activities. 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.

Versailles does not offer many kid-friendly activities. While there are those unicorn children who fall in love with the grand setting, for most kids, a visit to Versailles can make for make for a long and draining day.

Is Kiel or Versailles Better for Couples?

Versailles is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Versailles frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's opulence, grandeur, and history make this a wonderful place to explore as a couple. There are gardens and other unique settings that make Versailles very romantic.

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.

Is Kiel or Versailles Better for Students?

Kiel is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not popular with students.

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

Versailles is not popular with students.

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

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

Versailles has some very good public transit options. There are SNCF trains that travel from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers train station and additional trains that travel between Gare Saint Lazare and Versailles Rive Droite.

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

Is Kiel or Versailles a more walkable city?

Versailles is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Versailles is a very walkable palace. It's approximately a 20 minute walk from the Versailles Chantiers train station to the entrance to the palace. Versailles Rive Droite is slightly closer.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Versailles or Kiel?

How long in Kiel or Versailles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Kiel or Versailles to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Kiel than Versailles 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 Versailles.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kiel than Versailles 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 Versailles?

With museums and nightlife around the waterfront city of Kiel, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Kiel, one day is sufficent for most.

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

A weekend in Kiel or Versailles?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Kiel, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Versailles is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the museums. 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 Versailles?

Kiel, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums around the historic destination of Versailles. This palace offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Kiel or Versailles?

Kiel 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.

The grand palace of Versailles offers 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 Sightseeing Tours in France, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kiel and Versailles, we can see that Versailles is more expensive. And not only is Kiel much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kiel would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kiel 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 Versailles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Versailles than you might in Kiel.

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

Which is Bigger, Kiel or Versailles?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Versailles. When comparing the sizes of Kiel and Versailles, 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 Versailles?

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 Versailles in the Summer?

Both Versailles and Kiel during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Kiel for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Kiel is generally cooler than Versailles. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 16°C (61°F), and Versailles fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Versailles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kiel. In the summer, Kiel often gets less sunshine than Versailles. Kiel gets 219 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Versailles receives 239 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets more rain in July than Versailles. Kiel gets 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Versailles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiel and Versailles. Many visitors come to Kiel in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to Versailles for the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Kiel is cooler than Versailles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kiel averages around 10°C (50°F) in October, and Versailles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

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

In October, Kiel usually receives more rain than Versailles. Kiel gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kiel or Versailles in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kiel as well as Versailles. Most visitors come to Kiel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Versailles because of the museums and the cuisine.

The weather in Versailles can be very cold. Kiel can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Kiel is much colder than Versailles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kiel in January average around 0°C (33°F), and Versailles averages at about 5°C (40°F).

In the winter, Kiel often gets less sunshine than Versailles. Kiel gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Versailles receives 56 hours of full sun.

Kiel usually gets more rain in January than Versailles. Kiel gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Versailles receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kiel or Versailles in the Spring?

Both Versailles and Kiel are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Kiel because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Versailles this time of year.

In April, Kiel is generally much colder than Versailles. Daily temperatures in Kiel average around 7°C (44°F), and Versailles fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Kiel usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Versailles during spring. Kiel gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Versailles receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.

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

Typical Weather for Versailles and Kiel