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

Should you visit Lausanne or Frankfurt?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lausanne or Frankfurt, 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 international, diverse, and vibrant city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a connected, energetic, and dynamic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Lausanne and Frankfurt: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lausanne or Frankfurt?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Frankfurt than Lausanne. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Frankfurt is very popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Lausanne attracts visitors for its impressive beauty. Frankfurt is more touristy than Lausanne and is popular for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife. It is also well known for The Old Town Center. Lausanne is famous for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters.

The Old Town Center

How is Lausanne different from Frankfurt?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Frankfurt. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

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

Foodies will find both Lausanne and Frankfurt both to be excellent 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 Frankfurt. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

Is Lausanne or Frankfurt Better for Nightlife?

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

Frankfurt is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

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 Frankfurt Better for its Old Town?

Lausanne and Frankfurt both have nice historical old towns that attract visitors.

Lausanne offers a nice historic old town area. There's a relatively large historic section that has a Gothic cathedral and many quaint shops.

Frankfurt is a good destination for visiting its old town. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Is the Shopping Better in Lausanne or Frankfurt?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

Is Lausanne or Frankfurt Better for Families?

Frankfurt is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

Lausanne offers lots of family activities. 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.

Is Lausanne or Frankfurt Better for Couples?

Lausanne and Frankfurt 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.

Frankfurt is a nice destination for couples. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

Is Lausanne or Frankfurt Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Frankfurt is well known for backpackers. However, Lausanne is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Frankfurt is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

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 Frankfurt Better for Students?

Frankfurt is a world-class destination for students. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is a great destination for students. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

Students come from all over to stay in Lausanne. 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.

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

Frankfurt is a world-class destination for its public transit. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

With a huge network, the transit system in Frankfurt can get you around easily. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

While Lausanne offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a comprehensive network of transportation options available in town including buses and boats.

Is Lausanne or Frankfurt a more walkable city?

Frankfurt is well known for its ease of walking around. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Frankfurt is a very walkable destination. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Frankfurt or Lausanne?

How long in Lausanne or Frankfurt?

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

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

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

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

One day in Lausanne or Frankfurt?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Lausanne. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Lausanne has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Frankfurt is a big city with plenty to do. 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 Frankfurt?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Lausanne. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Lausanne or Frankfurt?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse city of Lausanne. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt?

Lausanne is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Frankfurt 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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, and The Best Adventure Tours to Germany.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Lausanne or Frankfurt?

Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Lausanne. When comparing the sizes of Lausanne and Frankfurt, 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.