Which place is cheaper, Lyon or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leiden or Lyon?
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 Lyon can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Leiden or Lyon?
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.
Lyon
Lyon, located within the region of Southeastern France, is France's third largest city in terms of population, with just over 500,000 inhabitants. This makes the city large, yet still small and personable enough to be explored properly in a short visit. Known as the gastronomic capital of Europe, your culinary needs are exceptionally well catered to here, and for those with historical and cultural interests, you will never be at a loss for new things to do and see.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeiden €133Lyon €125
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Lyon is €125. 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 Lyon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeiden €78Lyon €53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeiden €156Lyon €106
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Lyon
Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Lyon? 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 Lyon Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leiden €26Lyon €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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:
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Funiculaire€5.20
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Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus€19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:
- Superior Private Transfer From Lyon City to Geneva City: $295
- Private transfer from or to Lyon train stations - Lyon city by car or luxury van: $46
- Private arrival OR departure transfer in Lyon (hotel OR airport pick-up): $177
- Private Transfer: Port of LYON to Lyon Airport LYS in Sedan Car: $97
- Private Transfer: Port of LYON to Lyon Airport LYS in Luxury Van: $103
- Private Transfer: Lyon to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS): $124
- Private Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Luxury Van: $103
- Private Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Business Car: $97
- Private Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City in Business Car: $97
- Private Transfer: (LYS) Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport to Lyon: $124
- Private Transfer between Lyon Satolas Airport and Lyon: $86
- Private Transfer Grenoble Airport GNB - Grenoble Ski Resort: $229
Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Lyon?
Prices for flights to both Lyon 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 €39Lyon €41
Typical Food Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:
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Pastry€1.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lyon.
- Street Food Tour: $64
- Croix-Rousse District Vegan Food Tour with Tastings: $64
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $66
- Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $76
- Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise: $80
- Cultural Walking Food Tour in the Vieux Lyon District: $86
- Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch: $93
- Old Town Food Tour: $96
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings and Wine: $102
- Guided Evening Food Tour: $102
- Lyon Evening Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Food Tour in Lyon - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leiden €17Lyon €20
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:
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Lunch for 2€45
Tours and Activities in Lyon
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lyon are as follows:
- 1 or 2-Hour Pedicab tour of Lyon: $27
- 1-hour tourist walk with guide: $38
- Access to a Self-Guided Tour of the archaeological site of Lyon: $8.72
- Access to a Self-Guided Tour to Traboules de Croix-Rousse: $8.72
- Alternative Tour: Murals and Hidden Frescoes of Lyon: $46
- An unusual city tour with sketches: $64
- Audio-Guided Tour of the United States Quarter and Painted Walls: $11
- Audio-guided tour of Old Lyon: $11
- Audio-guided tour of the Fourvière and the Sacred Hill: $11
- Beaujolais & Perouges Medieval Town (9:00 am to 5:15 pm - Small Group Tour Lyon: $136
- Beaujolais Wines & Castles - Private Tour - Half Day: $268
- Best Intro Tour of Lyon with a Local: $141
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeiden €26Lyon €24
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:
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Drinks for 2€6.80
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Bottle of Wine€15
Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon
Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Lyon : Music & Wine tasting tour: $96
- Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $98
- Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $98
- Lyon Music & Wine tasting: $104
- Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon: $106
- Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour: $106
- From Wine tasting and visits of the Beaujolais: $106
- Half-Day Côte-Rotie Wine Tasting Tour: $106
- From Beaujolais Region Wine Tour with Tastings: $106
- Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $108
- Beaujolais 100% wine tour Small-Group Tour with Tasting from Lyon: $108
- Guided tour and wine tasting Northern Rhône Valley: $108
When comparing the travel costs between Leiden and Lyon, we can see that Leiden 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 Lyon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leiden or Lyon?
Lyon has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Lyon, 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 Lyon?
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 Lyon in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Lyon. Also, many travelers come to Lyon for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Leiden is generally cooler than Lyon. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 17°C (62°F), and Lyon fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lyon. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leiden this time of the year. In the summer, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Lyon. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 285 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets more rain in July than Lyon. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Lyon 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)Lyon 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Lyon in the Autumn?
Both Lyon and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Lyon in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Leiden is cooler than Lyon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Lyon fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Lyon during autumn. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Leiden usually receives less rain than Lyon. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeiden 11°C (51°F)Lyon 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Lyon in the Winter?
Both Lyon and Leiden during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Lyon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Lyon can be very cold during winter. Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Leiden is much colder than Lyon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Leiden in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Lyon averages at about 4°C (39°F).
In the winter, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Lyon. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 62 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets more rain in January than Lyon. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeiden 2°C (36°F)Lyon 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Lyon in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Lyon. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Lyon because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Leiden is generally much colder than Lyon. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 8°C (46°F), and Lyon fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).
Leiden usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lyon during spring. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 174 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Leiden usually receives less rain than Lyon. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeiden 8°C (46°F)Lyon 11°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Lyon and Leiden
| Leiden | Lyon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 57 mm (2.3 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.