Which place is cheaper, Dresden or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leiden or Dresden?
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 Dresden can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Leiden or Dresden?
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.
Dresden
As towering baroque architecture and verdant woodlands surround your vision, this cityscape works almost as a time capsule of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, untouched by the burdens of modernity. With a melange of cultures and histories, Dresden, Germany stands before you. The capital of the eastern German state of Saxony, Dresden is globally known for its celebrated art museums and classic architecture of its reconstructed Old Town. From the baroque church Frauenkirche to the Versailles-inspired Zwinger palace, the aesthetic value of this Germany city is simply immeasurable. Located on the gorgeous Elbe River, Dresden receives about ten million tourists a year, most of them from Germany. Nevertheless, despite the traditional German culture its most historic buildings exude, Dresden is still touched by the present-day generation with its abundance of restaurants, clubs, shops, and theaters. Whether you wish to gaze at the Raphael's "Sistine Madonna" or simply go for a quick shopping run, Dresden obliges its guests most satisfactorily.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeiden €133Dresden €135
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Dresden is €135. 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 Dresden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeiden €78Dresden €61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeiden €156Dresden €122
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Dresden
Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Dresden? 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 Dresden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leiden €26Dresden €11
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 Dresden
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dresden:
- Private Transfer from Dresden to Prague with 2 hours for sightseeing: $158
- Private Transfer from Dresden City to Leipzig City: $83
- One-Way Transfer from Dresden Airport (DRS) to Dresden: $146
- Airport transfer from/to DRESDEN (DRS) - First Class: $136
- Airport transfer from/to DRESDEN (DRS) - Business Van: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Dresden?
Prices for flights to both Dresden 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 €39Dresden €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dresden
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dresden.
- Evening River Cruise with Dinner: $51
- Winterlights Evening River Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Dinner-Show "INDUSTRIELLE REVOLUTION": $117
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leiden €17Dresden €9.56
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
Tours and Activities in Dresden
Here are a few actual costs in Dresden for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hour GDR Walking Tour in Dresden: $44
- 2 Hour Historical Walking Tour in Dresden: $44
- 2 day ticket Grand City Tour Hop on Hop off 22 stops: $24
- 3H Private Walking Tour: Dresden city centre and Old Masters Painting Gallery: $300
- Astonishing Dresden - Guided Walking Tour: $427
- Bad Schandau Scooter Tour in Saxon, Switzerland: $52
- Best of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip from Dresden - Hiking Tour: $171
- Best of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip from Dresden- Fantasy Tour: $171
- Best of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip from Dresden- Winter Tour: $171
- Bicycle tour of Dresden: $32
- Big Sightseeing Tour in Dresden with Liveguide: $21
- Big city tour hop on hop off 22 stops: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeiden €26Dresden €16
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 Dresden
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dresden:
- Dresden Bike Tour with Wine Tasting: $53
- Radeberger Brewery Tour in German: $57
- Private Pub Crawl Tour: $401
When comparing the travel costs between Leiden and Dresden, we can see that Dresden 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 Dresden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leiden or Dresden?
Dresden has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Dresden, 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 Dresden?
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 Dresden in the Summer?
Both Dresden and Leiden during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Dresden because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Leiden is cooler than Dresden in the summer. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Dresden fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
Leiden usually gets more rain in July than Dresden. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeiden 17°C (62°F)Dresden 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Dresden in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Dresden. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Dresden this time of year.
In the autumn, Leiden is around the same temperature as Dresden. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leiden in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Dresden averages at about 11°C (51°F).
In October, Leiden usually receives more rain than Dresden. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeiden 11°C (51°F)Dresden 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Dresden in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Dresden. Also, many travelers come to Dresden for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Dresden. It's quite cold in Leiden in the winter. In January, Leiden is generally much warmer than Dresden. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 2°C (36°F), and Dresden fluctuates around 1°C (33°F).
Leiden usually gets more rain in January than Dresden. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeiden 2°C (36°F)Dresden 1°C (33°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Dresden in the Spring?
Both Dresden and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Dresden in the spring for the activities around the city.
Leiden is cooler than Dresden in the spring. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Dresden fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In April, Leiden usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dresden. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeiden 8°C (46°F)Dresden 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Dresden and Leiden
| Leiden | Dresden | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 46 mm (1.8 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.