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

Should you visit Leiden or Leipzig?

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 Leipzig can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Leiden or Leipzig?

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.

Leipzig

Leipzig is a city in the eastern German state of Saxony. Leipzig is Saxony's coolest city, called "The New Berlin" by many. It is a playground for nomadic young creatives, but it's also a city of enormous history, a trade-fair mecca and foundational in the eyes of music lovers due to its intrinsic connection to the lives and work of Bach, Mendelssohn, and Wagner. When it comes to art, the neo-realistic New Leipzig School has stirred up the international art world for well over 10 years.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, and The Best Walking Tours in Germany.


Which place is cheaper, Leipzig 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 Leipzig is €166. 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 Leipzig in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Leiden 78
    Leipzig 91
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Leiden 156
    Leipzig 182
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Leipzig

Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Leipzig? 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 Leipzig


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 Leipzig Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Leiden 26
    Leipzig 27

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 Leipzig

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

  • Private Transfer from Leipzig City to Dresden City: $83
  • Leipzig hotels to Leipzig Halle Airport (LEJ) - Departure Private Transfer: $34
  • Leipzig Halle Airport (LEJ) to Leipzig hotels - Round-Trip Private Car Transfer: $68
  • Leipzig Halle Airport (LEJ) to Leipzig hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $34
  • Arrival Transfer Leipzig Airport LEJ to Leipzig by Car or Van: $93

Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Leipzig?

Prices for flights to both Leipzig 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
    Leipzig 53

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leipzig

For Leipzig, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 3-Hour Sightseeing and Food Tour: $64

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Leiden 17
    Leipzig 36

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 Leipzig

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

  • 1.5-Hour Historical Tour of Leipzig with Costumed Guide: $21
  • 2 hours Leipzig exclusive: Private city tour with Panorama Tower: $217
  • Big city tour Leipzig Hop on hop off: $20
  • City game scavenger hunt Leipzig Südvorstadt - independent discovery tour: $44
  • City game scavenger hunt Leipzig city center - independent city tour: $44
  • City tour on foot, by S-Bahn and tram: $24
  • Combo Tour in Guided City Tour & City Sightseeing: $21
  • Corpses, Leprosy, Lucifer 75-minute Tour at the Old Cemetery: $19
  • From Day Tour to the Green Belt: $631
  • From Markkleeberg: Full-Day Guided Cycling Tour by the Lakes: $48
  • Gruseltour Leipzig 90-minute walking tour about the Dark Secrets of Leipzig: $19
  • Gruseltour A Haunted Guided Tour: $18

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Leiden 26
    Leipzig 26

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 Leipzig, we can see that Leipzig is more expensive. And not only is Leiden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leiden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leiden 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 Leipzig would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leipzig than you might in Leiden.

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


Which is Bigger, Leiden or Leipzig?

Leipzig has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Leipzig, 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 Leipzig?

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 Leipzig in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Leipzig. Furthermore, many travelers come to Leipzig for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Leiden is cooler than Leipzig. Typically, the summer temperatures in Leiden in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Leipzig averages at about 19°C (67°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leipzig this time of the year. In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. Leiden usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leipzig during summer. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Leipzig receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Leiden usually receives more rain than Leipzig. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Leipzig receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Leiden 17°C (62°F) 
    Leipzig 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Leipzig in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Leipzig. Additionally, many visitors come to Leipzig in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Leiden is generally around the same temperature as Leipzig. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 11°C (51°F), and Leipzig fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Leipzig. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leipzig receives 107 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets more rain in October than Leipzig. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Leipzig receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Leiden 11°C (51°F) 
    Leipzig 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Leipzig in the Winter?

Both Leipzig and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Leipzig for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Leipzig can be very cold during winter. Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. Leiden is much warmer than Leipzig in the winter. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Leipzig fluctuates around 1°C (33°F).

Leiden usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leipzig during winter. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while Leipzig receives 45 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Leiden usually receives more rain than Leipzig. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Leipzig receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Leiden 2°C (36°F) 
    Leipzig 1°C (33°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Leipzig in the Spring?

Both Leipzig and Leiden during the spring are popular places to visit.

In the spring, Leiden is cooler than Leipzig. Typically, the spring temperatures in Leiden in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Leipzig averages at about 10°C (49°F).

In the spring, Leiden often gets more sunshine than Leipzig. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leipzig receives 143 hours of full sun.

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


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Leiden 8°C (46°F) 
    Leipzig 10°C (49°F)

Typical Weather for Leipzig and Leiden

Leiden Leipzig
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Feb 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 2°C (35°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 5°C (42°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Apr 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in) 10°C (49°F) 50 mm (2 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 14°C (58°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in) 19°C (67°F) 52 mm (2.1 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 19°C (66°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Sep 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 16°C (60°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 11°C (52°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Nov 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 6°C (42°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Dec 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 2°C (36°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)