Which place is cheaper, Kiel or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leiden or Kiel?
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 Kiel can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Leiden or Kiel?
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.
Kiel
Kiel is a port city on Germany's Baltic Sea coast. Much of the city center it was obliterated during WWII by bombing raids on its U-boat pens. In the old town, the rebuilt, medieval St. Nikolai Church hosts classical concerts and Holstenstrasse and Danische Strasse are streets lined with shops. The city also has several indoor malls linked by pedestrian bridges. Along the Kiel Fjord, the Maritime Museum displays model ships and nautical instruments in a former fish auction hall. Nearby, cruise ships dock at the Ostseekai Terminal in Germania Harbor. This grand harbor in Kiel continues on as it has for centuries and should be the focus of your visit. Huge ferries transport millions of passengers to and from Scandinavia, while summer sees locals strolling the long waterfront promenade.
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 €133Kiel €138
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Kiel is €138. 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 Kiel in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeiden €78Kiel €67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeiden €156Kiel €134
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Kiel
Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Kiel? 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 Kiel Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leiden €26Kiel €54
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 Kiel
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kiel:
- Private Transfer from Ostseekai Kiel Port to Hamburg Airport: $79
- Private Transfer from Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port to Hamburg city: $79
- Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Hamburg: $645
- Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port to Hamburg hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $235
- Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port to Hamburg hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $118
- Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port to Hamburg Airport (HAM) - Departure Private Transfer: $118
Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Kiel?
Prices for flights to both Kiel 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 €39Kiel €39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leiden €17Kiel €19
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 Kiel
Here are a few actual costs in Kiel for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bicycle tour to Friedrichshafen with a visit to the Zeppelin & Dornier Museum: $141
- Bike Tour of Lubeck with Top Attractions and Private Guide: $244
- Boat Cruise and a Private Walking Tour of Lubeck's Old Town: $205
- Christmas Stories of Lubeck – Private Walking Tour: $256
- City Sightseeing Kiel Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $22
- Discovering Lubeck – Private Walking Tour for Couples: $202
- Fascinating Pearls of Lubeck - Guided Walking Tour: $191
- Kiel - Private Historic Walking Tour: $384
- Kiel Crime Experience: self-guided crime tour: $42
- Kiel Private Guided Walking Tour: $281
- Kiel Self-Guided Audio Tour: Explore this Historic Port: $12
- Kiel's Historical Port: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeiden €26Kiel €12
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 Kiel, we can see that Kiel 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 Kiel Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leiden or Kiel?
Kiel has a larger population, and is about 94% larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Kiel, 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 Kiel?
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 Kiel in the Summer?
Both Kiel and Leiden during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Kiel because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Leiden is generally around the same temperature as Kiel. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 17°C (62°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In Kiel, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Leiden. In the summer, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets less rain in July than Kiel. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeiden 17°C (62°F)Kiel 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Kiel in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Kiel. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.
Leiden is around the same temperature as Kiel in the autumn. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Kiel fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Leiden usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel during autumn. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Leiden usually receives more rain than Kiel. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeiden 11°C (51°F)Kiel 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Kiel in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Kiel. Additionally, many travelers come to Kiel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Kiel. It's quite cold in Leiden in the winter. In the winter, Leiden is much warmer than Kiel. Typically, the winter temperatures in Leiden in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Kiel averages at about 0°C (33°F).
In the winter, Leiden often gets more sunshine than Kiel. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets more rain in January than Kiel. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeiden 2°C (36°F)Kiel 0°C (33°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Kiel in the Spring?
Both Kiel and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Kiel in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Leiden is generally a little warmer than Kiel. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 8°C (46°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
Leiden usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel during spring. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Leiden usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kiel. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeiden 8°C (46°F)Kiel 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Kiel and Leiden
| Leiden | Kiel | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 73 mm (2.9 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.