A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Leiden vs. Arles for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Leiden or Arles?

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

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 Arles can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Leiden or Arles?

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.

Arles

Arles is a city (and commune) in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhone department. A large part of the Camargue is located on the territory of the commune, making it the largest commune in Metropolitan France in terms of territory. The city has a long history, and was considerably important in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis. The Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981. The Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles from 1888 to 1889 and produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his time there. The Arles area is full of culture and rich in history. It has many treasures, points of interest, and colorful sunbaked houses and is a great introduction into the Camarguais culture.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.


Which place is cheaper, Arles or Leiden?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Arles is €142. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Leiden and Arles in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Leiden 78
    Arles 71
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Leiden 156
    Arles 142
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Arles

Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Arles? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Leiden


Hotels in Arles


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Leiden Hotel Prices and Arles Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Leiden 26
    Arles 23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden

Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Zero Emission Tesla Taxi Transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $93

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arles

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arles:

  • Arles to Marseille Airport (MRS) - Departure Private Transfer: $117

Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Arles?

Prices for flights to both Arles 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Leiden 39
    Arles 52

Typical Food Prices in Arles

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arles:


  • Cooked Clams
    4.50
  • Ice Cream
    1.00

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Leiden 17
    Arles 31

Tours and Activities in Leiden

For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.57
  • Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.62
  • Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
  • The Hidden Stories of Leiden - Self-guided audio tour: $14
  • Self-Guided City Trail Kids Tour in Noordwijk (4-8 years): $21
  • Windmill cruise through Warmond: $21
  • 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $21
  • Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Sea Tour: $26
  • Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
  • Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Leiden Tour: $32
  • Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Tour: $32
  • Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32

Typical Entertainment Prices in Arles

Here are a few typical costs in Arles for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Castle Entrance Fee
    5.50

Tours and Activities in Arles

Here are a few actual costs in Arles for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Arles 2-Hour Private Walking Tour: $187
  • Arles Private guided walking tour from Marseille: $342
  • Arles, Saint-Rémy & Les Baux De Provence: Guided Tour: $1,176
  • 2-Hour Private Walking Tour: $201
  • Art and History Walking Tour: $299
  • City tour 1 hour of the city, its history, its monuments,: $84
  • City tour 45mn of the city, its history, its monuments,: $70
  • From Avignon: Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence & Saint-Rémy Tour: $106
  • Half Day Private Guided Tour of Arles: $202
  • Private Guided Tour of Arles: $218
  • Provence Region Roman Abbey of Montmajour Entrance Ticket: $7.64

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Leiden 26
    Arles 24

Sample the Local Flavors in Leiden

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:

  • Leiden Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21
  • Leiden Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Arles

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Arles:

  • Lavender Field & Distillery Tour between Nimes & Arles: $6.20


When comparing the travel costs between Leiden and Arles, we can see that Arles is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Leiden or Arles?

Leiden has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Arles, 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.


When is the best time to visit Leiden or Arles?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Leiden or Arles in the Summer?

Both Arles and Leiden during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

Leiden is cooler than Arles in the summer. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Leiden. In the summer, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Arles. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets more rain in July than Arles. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Leiden 17°C (62°F) 
    Arles 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Arles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Arles. Furthermore, many travelers come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Leiden is much colder than Arles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leiden in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Arles averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Arles during autumn. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Arles receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Leiden usually receives less rain than Arles. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Leiden 11°C (51°F) 
    Arles 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Arles in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Arles. Additionally, many visitors come to Arles in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Leiden. In January, Leiden is generally much colder than Arles. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 2°C (36°F), and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Arles. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Arles. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Leiden 2°C (36°F) 
    Arles 7°C (44°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Arles in the Spring?

Both Arles and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the natural beauty during these months.

Leiden is much colder than Arles in the spring. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Arles. Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Arles during spring. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Leiden usually receives less rain than Arles. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Leiden 8°C (46°F) 
    Arles 13°C (56°F)

Typical Weather for Arles and Leiden

Leiden Arles
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 7°C (44°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Feb 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 8°C (46°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 10°C (50°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Apr 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in) 13°C (56°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 17°C (63°F) 60 mm (2.3 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 21°C (69°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in) 24°C (75°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 23°C (74°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Sep 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 20°C (69°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 16°C (61°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Nov 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 11°C (51°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Dec 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 7°C (45°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)