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

Should you visit Leiden or Cairngorms National Park?

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 Cairngorms National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Leiden or Cairngorms National Park?

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.

Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms National Park is an over 1,700 square mile park in the center of Scotland and is home to some of the most beautiful sights in the country. Voted one of the top 20 places to visit in the world by National Geographic Traveler Magazine, the park features everything from castles to wildlife tours to white water rafting. There is really no bad time to visit the park, as you will always have something to see and do here! In the winter, from late November-March, you can ski the slopes and go on snow treks. Summer, from May-September, is fantastic for walking, hiking, and canoeing.

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 from Edinburgh, and The Best 2-Week Tours from London.


Which place is cheaper, Cairngorms National Park 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 Cairngorms National Park is €139. 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 Cairngorms National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Leiden 78
    Cairngorms National Park 65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Leiden 156
    Cairngorms National Park 130
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Cairngorms National Park

Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Cairngorms National Park? 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 Cairngorms National Park


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 Cairngorms National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Leiden 26
    Cairngorms National Park 62

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Cairngorms National Park?

Prices for flights to both Cairngorms National Park 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
    Cairngorms National Park 35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Leiden 17
    Cairngorms National Park 31

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 Cairngorms National Park

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

  • Cairn Gorm Mountain Adventure Private Hike: $168
  • Private Guided Mountain Walking Experience in the Cairngorms: $177
  • Private Guided Ridge Scrambling Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Rock Climbing Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Winter Mountain Walking Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Winter Mountaineering Experience in the Cairngorms: $222
  • Private Walking Tour to Ben Macdui Scotland: $114

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Leiden 26
    Cairngorms National Park 9.83

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 Cairngorms National Park, we can see that Cairngorms National Park 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 Cairngorms National Park Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Leiden or Cairngorms National Park?

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 Cairngorms National Park in the Summer?

Both Cairngorms National Park and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cairngorms National Park this time of year.

Leiden is a little warmer than Cairngorms National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Cairngorms National Park fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leiden. Leiden usually receives more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park during summer. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Cairngorms National Park receives 147 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Leiden usually receives more rain than Cairngorms National Park. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Leiden 17°C (62°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 14°C (58°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Cairngorms National Park in the Autumn?

Both Cairngorms National Park and Leiden during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Cairngorms National Park for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Leiden is a little warmer than Cairngorms National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leiden in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Cairngorms National Park averages at about 9°C (49°F).

In the autumn, Leiden often gets more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairngorms National Park receives 84 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets more rain in October than Cairngorms National Park. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Leiden 11°C (51°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 9°C (49°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Cairngorms National Park in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Cairngorms National Park. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cairngorms National Park in the winter for the cuisine.

Cairngorms National Park can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Leiden. In January, Leiden is generally much colder than Cairngorms National Park. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 2°C (36°F), and Cairngorms National Park fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Leiden usually receives more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park during winter. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while Cairngorms National Park receives 42 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Leiden usually receives more rain than Cairngorms National Park. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Leiden 2°C (36°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 3°C (38°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Cairngorms National Park in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Cairngorms National Park. Additionally, most visitors come to Cairngorms National Park for the natural beauty during these months.

Leiden is a little warmer than Cairngorms National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Cairngorms National Park fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the spring, Leiden often gets more sunshine than Cairngorms National Park. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cairngorms National Park receives 136 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets more rain in April than Cairngorms National Park. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cairngorms National Park receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Leiden 8°C (46°F) 
    Cairngorms National Park 7°C (44°F)

Typical Weather for Cairngorms National Park and Leiden

Leiden Cairngorms National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 3°C (38°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Feb 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 3°C (38°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 5°C (41°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Apr 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in) 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 13°C (55°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in) 14°C (58°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 12°C (54°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 9°C (49°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Nov 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 5°C (42°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 4°C (39°F) 52 mm (2 in)


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