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

Should you visit Leiden or Le Mans?

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 Le Mans can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Leiden or Le Mans?

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.

Le Mans

Le Mans is a city in France, on the Sarthe River. Le Mans is found about 80 kilometers north of Tours, and south of Alencon. To many of course, Le Mans is famous only for a 24 hour racing event once a year. If you are not interested in cars and car racing, it is best to avoid visiting Le Mans in the middle of June. However, Le Mans also has a fantastic old town and is well worth the visit. Known as the Cite Plantagenet, this is where in 1129 Geoffrey Plantagenet married Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England and gave birth to Henry II.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Adventure Tours to France, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Leiden or Le Mans?

Le Mans has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Le Mans, 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 Le Mans?

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 Le Mans in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Le Mans. Furthermore, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Le Mans this time of year.

In the summer, Leiden is cooler than Le Mans. Typically, the summer temperatures in Leiden in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Le Mans averages at about 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Le Mans this time of the year. In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Le Mans during summer. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 231 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Leiden usually receives more rain than Le Mans. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Leiden or Le Mans in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Le Mans. Additionally, many travelers come to Le Mans for the small town atmosphere.

In October, Leiden is generally cooler than Le Mans. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 11°C (51°F), and Le Mans fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Le Mans. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 117 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Leiden or Le Mans in the Winter?

Both Le Mans and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Le Mans in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Le Mans can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Leiden. Leiden is much colder than Le Mans in the winter. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Le Mans fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Le Mans during winter. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 54 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Leiden usually receives less rain than Le Mans. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Leiden or Le Mans in the Spring?

Both Le Mans and Leiden during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Le Mans for the small town charm during these months.

In the spring, Leiden is cooler than Le Mans. Typically, the spring temperatures in Leiden in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Le Mans averages at about 10°C (50°F).

In the spring, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Le Mans. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 168 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Le Mans. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Le Mans and Leiden