Which place is cheaper, Carcassonne or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leiden or Carcassonne?
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 Carcassonne can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Leiden or Carcassonne?
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.
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a hilltop town in southern France. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Carcassonne is located in the Aude plain between historic trade routes, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrenees. The Romans recognized its strategic importance and occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire and was later taken over in the fifth century by the Visigoths who founded the city. Its desirable location led successive rulers to expand its fortifications until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. It is famous for its medieval citadel, La Cite, which has numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. The first walls were built in Gallo-Roman times, with major additions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. With its position on a rocky hilltop, zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks like something out of a children's storybook when it's seen from afar. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it's most people's idea of the perfect medieval castle. It attracts over four million visitors every year, peaking in high summer. Time your visit for late in the day (or even better in spring or fall) to truly appreciate the old town's medieval charm.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, and The Best Historical Tours in France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeiden €133Carcassonne €106
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Carcassonne is €106. 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 Carcassonne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeiden €78Carcassonne €61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeiden €156Carcassonne €122
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Carcassonne
Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Carcassonne? 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 Carcassonne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leiden €26Carcassonne €7.14
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 Carcassonne?
Prices for flights to both Carcassonne 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 €39Carcassonne €39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leiden €17Carcassonne €14
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 Carcassonne
For Carcassonne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- A Self-Guided Tour of Carcassonne’s Ancient Basilica: $20
- Best of Cathar Country: Full-Day Private Tour.: $207
- Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Tour: $20
- Carcassonne Private Guided Walking Tour: $294
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour : $201
- Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket: $12
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Fortress Walking Tour: $171
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.42
- Medieval Walls Self-Guided Smartphone App Tour: $20
- Photoshoot Experience: $160
- Private Walking Tour with Cité de Carcassonne: $187
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeiden €26Carcassonne €13
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 Carcassonne
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Carcassonne:
- Wine tour Cathar country: $471
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leiden and Carcassonne, we can see that Leiden is more expensive. And not only is Carcassonne much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carcassonne would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carcassonne 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 Leiden would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leiden than you might in Carcassonne.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leiden Expensive? and Is Carcassonne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leiden or Carcassonne?
Leiden has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Carcassonne, 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 Carcassonne?
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 Carcassonne in the Summer?
Both Carcassonne and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Carcassonne for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Leiden is cooler than Carcassonne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Leiden in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Carcassonne averages at about 24°C (75°F).
It's quite sunny in Carcassonne. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leiden. Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during summer. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 275 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Leiden usually receives more rain than Carcassonne. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeiden 17°C (62°F)Carcassonne 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Carcassonne in the Autumn?
Both Carcassonne and Leiden during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Leiden is generally much colder than Carcassonne. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 11°C (51°F), and Carcassonne fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
In the autumn, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Carcassonne. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 161 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets less rain in October than Carcassonne. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeiden 11°C (51°F)Carcassonne 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Carcassonne in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Carcassonne. Furthermore, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Carcassonne this time of year.
The weather in Leiden can be very cold. Leiden is much colder than Carcassonne in the winter. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Carcassonne fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during winter. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Leiden usually receives more rain than Carcassonne. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeiden 2°C (36°F)Carcassonne 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Carcassonne in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Carcassonne. Additionally, many travelers come to Carcassonne for the small town charm and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Leiden is much colder than Carcassonne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Leiden in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Carcassonne averages at about 14°C (56°F).
In the spring, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Carcassonne. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 178 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Carcassonne. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeiden 8°C (46°F)Carcassonne 14°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Carcassonne and Leiden
| Leiden | Carcassonne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.