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

Should you visit Lausanne or Auxerre?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lausanne or Auxerre, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Lausanne

Lausanne is a vibrant, cultural, and international city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Auxerre

Auxerre is a undiscovered, authentic, and under-rated town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Lausanne and Auxerre: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lausanne or Auxerre?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Lausanne. Although Lausanne and Auxerre are popular destinations, Lausanne has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lausanne is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Auxerre attracts visitors for its small town charm. Lausanne is famous for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters. It is also well known for The Olympic Museum. Auxerre is famous for its food, wine, and art history.

How is Lausanne different from Auxerre?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Lausanne or Auxerre?

Lausanne is great for its historical sights. Also, Auxerre is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Lausanne specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. You'll find many great museums around town that cover a range of topics. The Olympic Museum is very interesting. You should also check out the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and the Hermitage Foundation.

Auxerre is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Although the town is often overlooked by tourists, there are many nice cathedrals and churches around town.

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

Lausanne is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Auxerre is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Lausanne has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city is filled with delicious chocolate, cheese, and wine. Fondue is a favorite, but you'll also find cured meats on most menus. While food can be expensive, it's also high quality and usually locally produced.

Auxerre offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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 Lausanne or Auxerre Better for Nightlife?

Lausanne 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 Lausanne has a few options to choose from. There are a surprising number of clubs around town and it's not hard to find somewhere to party. The large student population and the international vibe make this a fascinating place for nightlife.

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 Lausanne or Auxerre Better for its Old Town?

Lausanne is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Auxerre does not have a historic old town.

Lausanne has an old town worth visiting. There's a relatively large historic section that has a Gothic cathedral and many quaint shops.

Auxerre does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Lausanne or Auxerre?

Lausanne is great for its shopping areas. However, Auxerre is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Lausanne. You'll find luxury Swiss watch brands, jewelry, chocolate, and many other interesting things to buy. Prices can be high, but so is the quality. It's fun to look, even if you're not planning to purchase.

Auxerre is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Lausanne or Auxerre Better for Families?

Lausanne and Auxerre are both nice destinations for the whole family.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Lausanne. There are kid-friendly museums, petting zoos, and other fun activities in town. You can also take a boat ride or let the kids run around one of the parks in town.

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 Lausanne or Auxerre Better for Couples?

Lausanne and Auxerre are both nice to visit as a couple.

Lausanne is a good city for couples to visit. The medieval old city is fun to explore. The lakefront setting also offers fun activities like boating. There are also a number of museums in town to explore.

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

Is Lausanne or Auxerre Better for Students?

Lausanne is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Auxerre is not popular with students.

Lausanne is very popular with students. There are 11 institutes for higher learning in town, so students make up a significant percentage of the population. The city is also full of culture, making it a very livable city.

Auxerre is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Lausanne and Auxerre.

You'll find some public transit in Lausanne, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a comprehensive network of transportation options available in town including buses and boats.

While Auxerre offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses around town.

Is Lausanne or Auxerre a more walkable city?

Lausanne and Auxerre both are nice when exploring on foot.

Lausanne is a somewhat walkable city. Many parts of the city, including the historic sections, and relatively easy to explore on foot.

Auxerre is somewhat walkable. 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 Lausanne Worth Visiting? and Is Auxerre Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Auxerre or Lausanne?

How long in Lausanne or Auxerre?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Lausanne or Auxerre to fill your time. In our opinion, Lausanne has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Lausanne than Auxerre. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Lausanne or Auxerre?

In Lausanne, 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.

The town of Auxerre offers museums and food. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Lausanne or Auxerre?

In Lausanne, 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 Lausanne has to offer.

Auxerre is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Auxerre, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Lausanne or Auxerre?

Lausanne 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.

Auxerre is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Lausanne or Auxerre?

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

Auxerre is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Switzerland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland, 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 Lausanne and Auxerre, we can see that Lausanne 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 Lausanne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lausanne 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 Lausanne Expensive? and Is Auxerre Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Lausanne or Auxerre?

Lausanne has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Auxerre. When comparing the sizes of Lausanne 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.