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

Should you visit Lausanne or Kiel?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lausanne or Kiel, 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 diverse, vibrant, and cultural city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Kiel

Kiel is a authentic, off-the-beaten-path, and waterfront city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food.

Lausanne and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lausanne or Kiel?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kiel than Lausanne, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Kiel is more popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Lausanne is known for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Kiel is more touristy than Lausanne and is known for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. It is also home to The Kiel Castle. Lausanne is popular for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters.

How is Lausanne different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Lausanne is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Lausanne offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

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 Lausanne or Kiel? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lausanne is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Lausanne. 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.

Kiel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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)

Is Lausanne or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Lausanne and Kiel.

Lausanne has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

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.

Is Lausanne or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Lausanne 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.

Lausanne is not a beach destination.

Is Lausanne or Kiel Better for its Old Town?

Lausanne is a popular place for its old town. However, Kiel does not have a historic old town.

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

Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Lausanne or Kiel?

Lausanne is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Lausanne is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Kiel has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Lausanne or Kiel Better for Families?

Lausanne and Kiel are both good 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.

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.

Is Lausanne or Kiel Better for Couples?

Lausanne and Kiel are both good 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.

Kiel is a nice destination for couples. 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 Lausanne or Kiel Better for Students?

Lausanne is well known for students. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Lausanne is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Is Lausanne or Kiel a more walkable city?

Lausanne and Kiel both are good 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.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Lausanne?

How long in Lausanne or Kiel?

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

Families should spend more time in Lausanne than Kiel. 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 Kiel. 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 Kiel 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 Kiel?

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 Kiel 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 Kiel?

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.

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

Five days in Lausanne or Kiel?

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

Kiel 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 Kiel?

The vibrant 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.

Kiel 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lausanne and Kiel, we can see that Lausanne 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 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 Kiel.

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

Which is Bigger, Lausanne or Kiel?

Kiel has a larger population, and is about 99% larger than the population of Lausanne. When comparing the sizes of Lausanne and Kiel, 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.