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

Should you visit Lausanne or Rotterdam?

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

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

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a high energy, modern, and trendy port 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 Rotterdam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lausanne or Rotterdam?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rotterdam than Lausanne. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Rotterdam is very popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Lausanne attracts visitors for its museums, food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Lausanne is famous for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters. Rotterdam is famous for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall. It is also well known for The Cube Houses.

The Cube Houses

How is Lausanne different from Rotterdam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Lausanne is great for its historical sights. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around 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.

Rotterdam is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Although many of the historic buildings around town were destroyed during World War II, there are still a number of sights worth checking out. Head to the Old Harbor and Marine Museums, the Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, or the Wereldmuseum to see some interesting places.

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

Lausanne is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Lausanne has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Rotterdam offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Is Lausanne or Rotterdam Better for Nightlife?

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

Rotterdam is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It is a trendy city with an active nightlife. You can relax with a beer or hit up one of the clubs around town. Popular options are Club Vibes, Toffler, and Club Vie.

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 Rotterdam Better for its Old Town?

Lausanne is a good destination for its historic old town charm. However, Rotterdam does not have a historic old town.

Lausanne has an old town worth visiting. There's a relatively large historic section that has a Gothic cathedral and many quaint shops.

Rotterdam does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Lausanne or Rotterdam?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam. You'll find fashion and clothing shops in the area around Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse. This is also where you'll find the shopping mall of Bijenkorf.

Is Lausanne or Rotterdam Better for Families?

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

Rotterdam is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

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 Rotterdam Better for Couples?

Lausanne and Rotterdam 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.

Rotterdam is a nice destination for couples. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Is Lausanne or Rotterdam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

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 Rotterdam Better for Students?

Lausanne and Rotterdam are great 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 Rotterdam. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

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

Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam can get you to most places easily. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

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 Rotterdam a more walkable city?

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

Rotterdam is a very walkable destination. There are broad streets with wide sidewalks that are 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 Rotterdam Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rotterdam or Lausanne?

How long in Lausanne or Rotterdam?

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

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

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

One day in Lausanne or Rotterdam?

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.

Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural 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.

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

Five days in Lausanne or Rotterdam?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant 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.

Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam?

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.

Rotterdam 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 port 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 River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Lausanne or Rotterdam?

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