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

Should you visit Lausanne or Cork?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lausanne or Cork, 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 cultural, international, and diverse city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Cork

Cork is a cultural, seaside, and youthful city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Lausanne and Cork: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lausanne or Cork?

You'll generally find more things to do in Cork than Lausanne. Cork is bigger than Lausanne, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Cork is better known for its nightlife and big city activities, while Lausanne is more popular for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Cork is more touristy than Lausanne and is known for its friendly personality, its thriving art scene and its local craft beer. Also, Cork is famous for The Blarney Castle and Stone. Lausanne is well known for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters.

How is Lausanne different from Cork?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Lausanne or Cork.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Lausanne can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Cork. The city is filled with historic sights and landmarks. Most notable is the Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone, but also make sure you check out St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Cork Public Museum, Cork City Gaol Heritage Centre, and St. Anne's Church.

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

Foodies will find both Lausanne and Cork both to be high quality destinations.

Dining out in Lausanne is an experience not to be missed. 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.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Cork. You'll find charming seaside cafes and award winning restaurants. Also make sure you check out the English Market, which is among the best in Ireland.

Is Lausanne or Cork Better for Nightlife?

Cork is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Cork is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a university city, so you'll find plenty of students, bars, clubs, and cheap beer. Many pubs also have live music with everything from rock to Irish folk music.

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.

Is Lausanne or Cork Better for its Old Town?

Lausanne is a city with good options for its historic old town. However, Cork does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Lausanne to see the historical old town. There's a relatively large historic section that has a Gothic cathedral and many quaint shops.

Cork does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Lausanne or Cork?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Cork and Lausanne.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity 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.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Cork. It offers a mix of high street shops and boutique vendors. Head to St. Patrick’s Street for some of the city's best shopping. Also check out Opera Lane and Oliver Plunkett Street.

Is Lausanne or Cork Better for Families?

Lausanne and Cork are both notable 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.

Cork offers lots of family activities. For a bit of outside time, head to Fota Wildlife Park, Regional Park Ballincollig, or Inchydoney Beach. Kids will also enjoy exploring Cork City Gaol which is a heritage museum, or the Toy Soldier Factory. And of course, there's the Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone.

Is Lausanne or Cork Better for Couples?

Cork is well known for couples. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Cork frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Visiting Blarney Castle is a highlight, but you can also wander along the river or do the Ballycotton Cliff Walk. There are also several gardens to explore or small theaters where you can see a play.

Lausanne is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Is Lausanne or Cork Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cork is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Lausanne is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Cork. There are plenty of hostels as well as a large student population and an active nightlife.

Lausanne is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular town for backpackers but there are some affordable hotels. It's also more reasonably priced than many Swiss cities.

Is Lausanne or Cork Better for Students?

Lausanne and Cork are high quality places to visit for students.

Lausanne is a great city to visit as a student. 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.

Students come from all over to stay in Cork. It's a university town with many students and plenty to do. The city plays host to many international students.

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

Lausanne is a city with good options for its public transit. However, Cork is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

Lausanne has a few public transit options. There is a comprehensive network of transportation options available in town including buses and boats.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cork. In town you'll find bus service but if you want to explore anywhere else in the county you really need your own vehicle.

Is Lausanne or Cork a more walkable city?

Lausanne and Cork both are notable 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.

Cork is somewhat walkable. The city center is compact and easy enough to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Lausanne Worth Visiting? and Is Cork Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cork or Lausanne?

How long in Lausanne or Cork?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Lausanne and Cork. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Cork than in Lausanne. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Lausanne, and 1-3 days is enough time in Cork.

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

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

One day in Lausanne or Cork?

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

The city of Cork offers food and shopping. 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 Cork?

Lausanne 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.

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

Five days in Lausanne or Cork?

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

Cork 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 Cork?

The diverse city of Lausanne 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.

Cork 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 city 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Lausanne or Cork?

Cork has a larger population, and is about 62% larger than the population of Lausanne. When comparing the sizes of Lausanne and Cork, 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.