Which place is cheaper, Caen or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leiden or Caen?
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 Caen can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Leiden or Caen?
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.
Caen
Caen is a city in France on the coast in the Calvados department of Lower Normandy. Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there. The town was destroyed almost completely in 1944 during WWII and it is a remarkable achievement that Caen has kept so many of its historical monuments given the terrible battle that besieged the town following the Normandy beach landings. After the war the town passed through 15 years of reconstruction, and continued to improve afterwards. In recent years the town has made further significant efforts and Caen now has an attractive, carefully restored, historic center. The city has also preserved the memory of its past by erecting a memorial and a museum dedicated to peace, the Memorial de Caen. The city is often considered the archetype of Normandy.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeiden €133Caen €123
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Caen is €123. 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 Caen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeiden €78Caen €61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeiden €156Caen €122
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Caen
Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Caen? 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.
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 Caen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leiden €26Caen €35
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 Caen
Also for Caen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Round-Trip from Caen Airport (CFR) to Caen: $63
- Caen to Caen Carpiquet Airport (CFR) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Caen Carpiquet Airport (CFR) to Caen - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Caen?
Prices for flights to both Caen 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
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Food Meals for one dayLeiden €39Caen €40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leiden €17Caen €19
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $21
- Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Dutch Windmills & Polder Walking Tour: $33
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour in Leiden: $163
- Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.57
- Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $320
- Leiden City Tour with Live guide in Netherlands: $41
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
- Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.62
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
- Walking City Tour with Live guide: $32
Tours and Activities in Caen
For Caen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Caen Like a Local: Customized Guided Walking Tour: $51
- Guided D-Day Sites Tour & Caen Memorial Museum Ticket: $127
- Memorial Museum Entrance Ticket: $21
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $307
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $160
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $59
- D-Day private tour Juno Beach departing Caen with audio guide. 2Pers. minimum: $268
- D-Day private tour Omaha Beach from Caen with audio guide.: $268
- From Caen or Bayeux: Normandy History Private Full-Day Tour: $1,283
- Guided Tour in an Old Convertible Car on the Côte de Nacre: $93
- Guided Tour of the Landing Sites and the Memorial of Caen: $191
- Mémorial de Caen Museum Admission and Guided Tour of D-Day Sites: $133
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeiden €26Caen €17
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
When comparing the travel costs between Leiden and Caen, we can see that Leiden 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 Caen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leiden or Caen?
Leiden has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Caen. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Caen, 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 Caen?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Leiden or Caen in the Summer?
Both Caen and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Caen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Leiden is around the same temperature as Caen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Leiden in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Caen averages at about 18°C (64°F).
It's quite sunny in Caen. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leiden. Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Caen during summer. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Leiden usually receives more rain than Caen. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeiden 17°C (62°F)Caen 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Caen in the Autumn?
Both Caen and Leiden during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Caen because of the city's sights and attractions.
In October, Leiden is generally cooler than Caen. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 11°C (51°F), and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In the autumn, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Caen. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Caen. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeiden 11°C (51°F)Caen 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Caen in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Caen. Furthermore, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Caen this time of year.
It's quite cold in Caen in the winter. The weather in Leiden can be very cold. Leiden is much colder than Caen in the winter. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Caen during winter. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Leiden usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caen. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeiden 2°C (36°F)Caen 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Caen in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Caen. Additionally, many travelers come to Caen for the activities around the city.
In the spring, Leiden is cooler than Caen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Leiden in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Caen averages at about 9°C (49°F).
In the spring, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Caen. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets more rain in April than Caen. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeiden 8°C (46°F)Caen 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Caen and Leiden
| Leiden | Caen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.