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

Should you visit Lausanne or Potsdam?

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

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

Potsdam

Potsdam is a compact, park-filled, and historic city. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Lausanne and Potsdam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lausanne or Potsdam?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Lausanne than Potsdam. While Potsdam is larger than Lausanne, Lausanne has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Lausanne is more popular for its historical sights and shopping, while Potsdam is known for its small town charm. Potsdam is more touristy than Lausanne and is known for its beautiful palaces, scenic town center, and accessibility to Berlin. 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 Potsdam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Potsdam. People visit this city for its high concentration of historic sights. The Renaissance Orangery Palace is a highlight of the visit for many travelers.

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

Foodies will find both Lausanne and Potsdam 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 Potsdam. You'll find a diverse restaurant scene, although the city is quite small. There are international restaurants as well as local venues where you can try regional specialties.

Is Lausanne or Potsdam Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Potsdam has a few options to choose from. The city is not far from Berlin, so head in to Germany's nightlife capital for the most famous clubs and venues. In the town of Potsdam there are cocktail bars and breweries that make for a mellow and relaxed evening.

Is Lausanne or Potsdam Better for its Old Town?

Lausanne is very good for its old town. However, Potsdam 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.

Potsdam does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Lausanne or Potsdam?

Lausanne is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Potsdam 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.

Potsdam has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are plazas and shopping streets that have the standard chain stores as well as antique shops and other boutiques.

Is Lausanne or Potsdam Better for Families?

Lausanne and Potsdam 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.

Potsdam offers lots of family activities. There are a number of playgrounds around town as well as several beaches by lakes that are fun for kids. Another highlight for families is a visit to Babelsberg Film Studios.

Is Lausanne or Potsdam Better for Couples?

Lausanne and Potsdam 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.

Potsdam is a nice destination for couples. Exploring the city and soaking up the sights is the best way for couples to enjoy their time. There are some nice hotels and restaurants in the area that make for a great date night.

Is Lausanne or Potsdam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Potsdam 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 Potsdam. There are a handful of hostels to choose from in town.

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 Potsdam Better for Students?

Lausanne is well known for students. However, Potsdam 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.

Potsdam is not popular with students.

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

Potsdam is well known for its public transit. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Potsdam can get you to most places easily. The city is well connected to Berlin by S-Bahn and bus.

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 Potsdam a more walkable city?

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

Potsdam is a very walkable destination. It's a smaller, compact city that can mostly be explored on foot.

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 Potsdam Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Potsdam or Lausanne?

How long in Lausanne or Potsdam?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Lausanne or Potsdam to fill your time. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

One day in Lausanne or Potsdam?

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 city of Potsdam 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 Potsdam?

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.

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

Five days in Lausanne or Potsdam?

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.

Potsdam 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 Potsdam?

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.

Potsdam 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 Potsdam, we can see that Lausanne is more expensive. And not only is Potsdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Potsdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Potsdam 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 Potsdam.

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

Which is Bigger, Lausanne or Potsdam?

Potsdam has a larger population, and is about 24% larger than the population of Lausanne. When comparing the sizes of Lausanne and Potsdam, 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.