Which place is cheaper, Mainz or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leiden or Mainz?
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 Mainz can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Leiden or Mainz?
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.
Mainz
On the Rhine River, the ages of the medieval stand before you in their half-timbered constructions, giving this quaint, old town a hint of the spellbinding. A time capsule of Germany, Mainz is enriched by its vast history as well as its cosmopolitan air. Dating back to around 38 BC, Mainz was built by Romans and founded as the the episcopal seat of the influential Prince-Electors. With its history spanning more than 2,000 years, Mainz is rich in its exquisite architecture, such as its stunning cathedrals, medieval market squares, and Renaissance fountains. However, Mainz also has been blessed with the joys and comforts of modernization, giving way to fantastic shopping centers, tasty restaurants, and absolutely fascinating museums. A media hub and regional capital, Mainz is also known as the wine capital of Germany as its civilians have a long history of winegrowing throughout the city. Whether you seek to oogle at artifacts at the Gutenberg Museum or sit a spell at one of the town's fine eateries, the possibilities are endless in Mainz!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeiden €133Mainz €142
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Mainz is €142. 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 Mainz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeiden €78Mainz €74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeiden €156Mainz €148
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Mainz
Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Mainz? 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 Mainz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leiden €26Mainz €37
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Mainz?
Prices for flights to both Mainz 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 €39Mainz €41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leiden €17Mainz €33
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 Mainz
For Mainz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hour Private Guided Walking Tour: Jewish Mainz: $207
- 1 Hour Private Guided Tour: Cathedral and Diocesan Museum Mainz: $131
- 1 Hour Private Guided Tour: Chagall Windows in Saint Stephan’s Mainz: $131
- 1 Hour Private Guided Tour: Gutenberg Museum Mainz : $131
- 1 Hour Private Guided Tour: Landesmuseum Mainz: $131
- 2 Hour Private Guided Family Walking Tour in Mainz : $207
- 2 Hour Private Guided Gentle Walking Tour: Mainz with the Elderly: $207
- 2 Hour Private Guided Tour: Landesmuseum Mainz: $207
- 2 Hour Private Guided Walking Tour: Cathedral and Old Mainz: $207
- 2 Hour Private Guided Walking Tour: Chagall Windows and Mainz Cathedral : $197
- 2 Hour Private Guided Walking Tour: Chagall Windows and Old Mainz: $197
- 2 Hour Private Guided Walking Tour: Gutenberg and Mainz Cathedral: $207
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeiden €26Mainz €22
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 Mainz, we can see that Mainz 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 Mainz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leiden or Mainz?
Mainz has a larger population, and is about 55% larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Mainz, 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 Mainz?
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 Mainz in the Summer?
Both Mainz and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Mainz in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Leiden is cooler than Mainz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Leiden in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Mainz averages at about 19°C (66°F).
It's quite sunny in Mainz. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leiden. Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Mainz during summer. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Mainz receives 225 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Leiden usually receives more rain than Mainz. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeiden 17°C (62°F)Mainz 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Mainz in the Autumn?
Both Mainz and Leiden during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Mainz for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Leiden is generally around the same temperature as Mainz. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 11°C (51°F), and Mainz fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mainz. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mainz receives 103 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets more rain in October than Mainz. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeiden 11°C (51°F)Mainz 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Mainz in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Mainz. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Mainz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Mainz can be very cold. Leiden can be very cold during winter. Leiden is a little warmer than Mainz in the winter. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Mainz fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).
Leiden usually receives more sunshine than Mainz during winter. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while Mainz receives 41 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Leiden usually receives more rain than Mainz. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeiden 2°C (36°F)Mainz 2°C (35°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Mainz in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Mainz. Additionally, the natural beauty are the main draw to Mainz this time of year.
In the spring, Leiden is cooler than Mainz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Leiden in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Mainz averages at about 11°C (51°F).
In the spring, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mainz. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mainz receives 163 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Mainz. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeiden 8°C (46°F)Mainz 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Mainz and Leiden
| Leiden | Mainz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.