A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lausanne vs. Lindau for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Lausanne or Lindau?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lausanne or Lindau, 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.

Lindau

Lindau is a picturesque, fun-filled, and scenic town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food.

Lausanne and Lindau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lausanne or Lindau?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Lausanne. Although Lausanne and Lindau are both popular with visitors, Lausanne has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Lausanne is more popular for its museums, nightlife, and shopping, while Lindau is known for its historical sights, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Lindau is more touristy than Lausanne and is known for its lakefront location and quaint old town. Lausanne is popular for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters. It is also home to The Olympic Museum.

How is Lausanne different from Lindau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Lausanne is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Lindau is a town with minimal options for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Lausanne. 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.

While most people don't head to Lindau specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The town is more about it's beautiful setting than landmarks and museums, but there are some interesting sights including the harbor and lighthouse.

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

Foodies will find both Lausanne and Lindau 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 Lindau. Head to the waterfront for the best seafood restaurants. Many restaurants use seasonal ingredients and serve local fish. The local whitefish is particularly popular. Dishes are influenced by the town's proximity to Switzerland and Austria, so you'll enjoy a hybrid of flavors and recipes.

Is Lausanne or Lindau Better for Nightlife?

Lausanne is a city with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Lindau is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

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.

Lindau doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's not known for its nightlife scene but there are bars where you can enjoy a relaxing night out.

Is Lausanne or Lindau Better for its Old Town?

Lindau is well known for its historic old town charm. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town.

Many visitors go to Lindau to see the historical old town. The old town is located on Lindau island in Lake Constance. It has quaint buildings and many waterfront restaurants.

Lausanne is a good destination for visiting its old town. There's a relatively large historic section that has a Gothic cathedral and many quaint shops.

Is the Shopping Better in Lausanne or Lindau?

Lausanne is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Lindau is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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.

Lindau is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Lausanne or Lindau Better for Families?

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

Lindau is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Head to the waterfront where there's a playground, stand up paddleboarding, paddleboats, and more. Kids will also enjoy climbing to the top of the Old Lighthouse or exploring the Museum of Local History.

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 Lindau Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Lindau frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. With its charming old town, beautiful waterfront, great seafood restaurants, and nice hotels, couples will really enjoy a few days away at this lakefront town. It's the perfect place to have a romantic weekend.

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 Lindau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lindau 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 Lindau. The town has a couple of hostels and affordable hotels that make this waterfront town accessible to backpackers and budget travelers.

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 Lindau Better for Students?

Lausanne is a great destination for students. However, Lindau is not popular with students.

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.

Lindau is not popular with students.

Is Lausanne or Lindau 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, Lindau is a town with minimal options 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 Lindau. It's possible to reach town by bus or train and once you're in town you can walk many places.

Is Lausanne or Lindau a more walkable city?

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

Lindau is a very walkable destination. The town is very walkable and there are also many walks into the countryside.

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 Lindau Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lindau or Lausanne?

How long in Lausanne or Lindau?

It's fun to spend time in either Lausanne or Lindau. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Lindau due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Lausanne, and 2-4 days is enough time in Lindau.

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

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

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

One day in Lausanne or Lindau?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Lausanne. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Lindau is a small town where visitors enjoy the food. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Lausanne or Lindau?

Lausanne is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Lindau 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. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Lindau, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Lausanne or Lindau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lausanne. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Lindau 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 Lindau?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the international destination of Lausanne. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Lindau is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Lausanne or Lindau?

Lausanne has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Lindau. When comparing the sizes of Lausanne and Lindau, 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.