Should you visit Leiden or Amsterdam?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Leiden and Amsterdam can help you decide which place is right for you.
Leiden
Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital, and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. There are over one million residents in the metro area. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that criss cross across the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The architecture, bridges, and cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
Which city is cheaper, Amsterdam or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €107, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is €133. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Leiden and Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around €124 in Leiden For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
A hotel room in Amsterdam is about €154 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Local Transportation
Leiden's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €21 per person, per day on transportation in Leiden.
The average price of local transportation around Amsterdam is €16 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
-
VIP Local Transfer inside Amsterdam:
$81
-
VIP Amsterdam Airport Departure Transfer:
$67
-
VIP Amsterdam Airport Departure Transfer:
$61
-
Ultra - Amsterdam Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Amsterdam City Centre:
$9.55
-
Ultra - Amsterdam Private Transfer from City Centre to Amsterdam Cruise Port:
$9.55
-
Ultra - Amsterdam Private Airport Transfer City Center to Schiphol Airport AMS:
$73
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Amsterdam City to Airport:
$34
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Amsterdam City to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport:
$46
-
Taxi Transfer from cruise port terminal in Amsterdam to hotel in Amsterdam:
$56
-
Schiphol Airport Transfer - Amsterdam City Center:
$135
-
Roundtrip Transfer Schiphol - Amsterdam:
$104
-
Roundtrip Private Transfer Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam:
$101
Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Amsterdam?
Prices for flights to both Amsterdam and Leiden change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
Leiden food costs typically run travelers around €31 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
In Amsterdam travelers spend around €33 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Leiden €31
Amsterdam €33
Typical Food prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
-
Live online cooking class from Classic European 2-course meal:
$23
-
Amsterdam Evening Pizza Cruise:
$40
-
Three course lunch/dinner voucher:
$42
-
Walking Food Tour:
$43
-
3 Course Dinner in the Dark:
$48
-
Withlocals the 10 Tastings: Amsterdam's Favourite Private Food Tour with a Local:
$50
-
Private Pizza Canal Cruise Amsterdam:
$62
-
Dinner with an Amsterdam artist on the river:
$62
-
Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café:
$63
-
Amsterdam Small Group Food Tour:
$69
-
Food Tour in the Albert Cuyp Market Amsterdam:
$73
-
Delicious Dutch Dinner in an Amsterdam Canalhouse:
$75
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Leiden can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €14 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Amsterdam's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €30 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
American Revolution in Leiden Walking Tour:
$19
-
Cruise around Amsterdam Lakes:
$24
-
Leiden Lake District (Merenwijk) walking tour:
$31
-
Leiden Private Tour and Canal Cruise:
$150
-
Leiden Ancient and Medieval History: Private Tour with Art Historian:
$366
Typical Entertainment prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
1 hour Amsterdam City Tour in Pedicab:
$87
-
1,5 hours Amsterdam Rickshaw Tour:
$174
-
1.5 Hour Walking Tour of Amsterdam’s Red Light District with a Local:
$41
-
1.5-hour Amsterdam Bubbly Bike tour:
$757
-
2 Hours Private Walking Tour of the Highlights of Amsterdam:
$81
-
2 hours Amsterdam City Tour in Pedicab:
$162
-
2-Day Nightclub Admission Ticket: Best Nightlife in Amsterdam:
$13
-
2-Hour Private Anne Frank Walking Tour with Drink:
$162
-
2-Hour Private Custom Amsterdam Walking Tour With A Local Guide:
$70
-
2-Hour Semi Private All-Inclusive Cruise on our Boutique Style boats:
$79
-
2.5 hours Amsterdam Pedicab Tour:
$249
-
2.5-Hour Amsterdam Sightseeing Tour by Bike:
$204
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Leiden spend on average €21 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Amsterdam may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Distillery Tour & Tasting:
$22
-
Amsterdam Bar Crawl:
$27
-
Amsterdam Shared Bar Crawl:
$31
-
Private Amsterdam Red Light District and pub tour:
$61
-
Guided Craft Beer Brewery Bus Tour with Tastings:
$67
-
4 hour Amsterdam Brewery Tour:
$81
-
High Class Culinary Lunch in Amsterdam - Self-Guided Food & Wine Tour:
$102
-
Drew's 3-Hour Amsterdam Brewery and Bar Tour to Top Rated Bars:
$106
-
Discover 3 gastronomic restaurants in Amsterdam - self-guided food & wine tour:
$129
-
Experience 4 Culinary Restaurants in Amsterdam Self-Guided Food & Wine Tour:
$152
-
Amsterdam Bachelor Party Bar Crawl:
$488
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leiden and Amsterdam, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. And not only is Leiden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leiden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leiden 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam than you might in Leiden.
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