A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Leiden vs. La Rochelle for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Leiden or La Rochelle?

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 La Rochelle can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Leiden or La Rochelle?

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.

La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a lovely French city in the province of Charente-Maritime. It's located in western France and is a seaport on the Bay of Biscay. Most people who visit the city enjoy exploring the "Vieux Port" or Old Harbour area. This area is the heart of the city and it is a beautiful neighborhood that has many seafood restaurants and nice architecture. It's particularly enjoyable to walk around during the evening hours. Ile de Re is connected to the city by a bridge and is also a nice place to visit. If you head out of town, the surrounding countryside is very rural. North of the city is Venise Verte, which is very marshy and has many small canals. It's a popular area for inland boating.

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 Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.


Which place is cheaper, La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle is €114. 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 La Rochelle in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Leiden 78
    La Rochelle 67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Leiden 156
    La Rochelle 134
Compare Hotels in Leiden and La Rochelle

Looking for a hotel in Leiden or La Rochelle? 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 La Rochelle


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 La Rochelle Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Leiden 26
    La Rochelle 17

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 La Rochelle

Also for La Rochelle, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from La Rochelle Port to Nantes Airport (NTE): $88
  • Private Transfer from La Rochelle Cruise Port to Nantes Hotels: $88

Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or La Rochelle?

Prices for flights to both La Rochelle 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
    La Rochelle 34

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Leiden 17
    La Rochelle 13

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 La Rochelle

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for La Rochelle.

  • 3 Hour La Rochelle Private Tour: $90
  • 1.5 Hour Guided Tour in Poitiers: $98
  • Discover Discovery Walking Tour of La Rochelle: $44
  • Guided tour of La Rochelle The splendor of merchants in the 18th century: $22
  • La Rochelle "The Heritage" Segway Tour - 1h30: $59
  • La Rochelle : Discovery Stroll and Reading Walking Tour: $2.13
  • La Rochelle : Private Custom Private Walking Tour With a local: $60
  • La Rochelle : Private Custom Walking Tour With a Local Guide: $50
  • La Rochelle Grand Format Segway Tour: $87
  • La Rochelle Heritage Segway Tour: $60
  • La Rochelle Lighthouse at the end of the world Segway Tour: $44
  • La Rochelle Seaside Segway Tour: $44

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Leiden 26
    La Rochelle 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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leiden and La Rochelle, we can see that Leiden is more expensive. And not only is La Rochelle much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Rochelle would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leiden Expensive? and Is La Rochelle Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Leiden or La Rochelle?

Leiden has a larger population, and is about 56% larger than the population of La Rochelle. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and La Rochelle, 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 La Rochelle?

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 La Rochelle in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and La Rochelle. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to La Rochelle because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Leiden is generally cooler than La Rochelle. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 17°C (62°F), and La Rochelle fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Rochelle this time of the year. In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. Leiden usually receives less sunshine than La Rochelle during summer. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while La Rochelle receives 267 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Leiden usually receives more rain than La Rochelle. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Leiden 17°C (62°F) 
    La Rochelle 20°C (67°F)

Should I visit Leiden or La Rochelle in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Leiden as well as La Rochelle. Additionally, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to La Rochelle this time of year.

Leiden is cooler than La Rochelle in the autumn. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and La Rochelle fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In the autumn, Leiden often gets less sunshine than La Rochelle. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Rochelle receives 141 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as La Rochelle. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Leiden 11°C (51°F) 
    La Rochelle 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Leiden or La Rochelle in the Winter?

Both La Rochelle and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to La Rochelle for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Leiden in the winter. In the winter, Leiden is much colder than La Rochelle. Typically, the winter temperatures in Leiden in January average around 2°C (36°F), and La Rochelle averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Leiden usually receives less sunshine than La Rochelle during winter. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while La Rochelle receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Leiden usually receives less rain than La Rochelle. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Leiden 2°C (36°F) 
    La Rochelle 7°C (44°F)

Should I visit Leiden or La Rochelle in the Spring?

Both La Rochelle and Leiden during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to La Rochelle in the spring for the beaches and the small town charm.

In April, Leiden is generally cooler than La Rochelle. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 8°C (46°F), and La Rochelle fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Leiden often gets less sunshine than La Rochelle. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Rochelle receives 187 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets more rain in April than La Rochelle. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while La Rochelle receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Leiden 8°C (46°F) 
    La Rochelle 11°C (52°F)

Typical Weather for La Rochelle and Leiden

Leiden La Rochelle
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 7°C (44°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Feb 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 7°C (45°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 9°C (48°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Apr 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in) 11°C (52°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 14°C (58°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in) 20°C (67°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 20°C (67°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Sep 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 18°C (64°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 15°C (59°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 10°C (51°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Dec 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 7°C (45°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)


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