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

Should you visit Leiden or Saint-Etienne?

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 Saint-Etienne can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Leiden or Saint-Etienne?

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.

Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne (Saint Stephen), a city southwest of Lyon, is drawing on its Industrial Revolution origins and its history of arms, bicycle, textile and ribbon production, to reinvent itself as design city. And the change is noticeable. After almost 30 years of decline, the city is now looking optimistically towards the future. Its center and suburbs are smartening up at a rapid pace. There are plenty of good surprises, including two great museums and a great eating scene.

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.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Leiden or Saint-Etienne?

Saint-Etienne has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Saint-Etienne, 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 Saint-Etienne?

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 Saint-Etienne in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Saint-Etienne. Furthermore, most visitors come to Saint-Etienne for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Leiden is generally cooler than Saint-Etienne. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 17°C (62°F), and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint-Etienne this time of the year. In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Saint-Etienne during summer. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Saint-Etienne receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Leiden usually receives more rain than Saint-Etienne. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Leiden or Saint-Etienne in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Saint-Etienne. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Saint-Etienne because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Leiden is cooler than Saint-Etienne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Saint-Etienne. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint-Etienne receives 127 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets less rain in October than Saint-Etienne. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Leiden or Saint-Etienne in the Winter?

Both Saint-Etienne and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Saint-Etienne this time of year.

It's quite cold in Saint-Etienne in the winter. The weather in Leiden can be very cold. In the winter, Leiden is much colder than Saint-Etienne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Leiden in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Saint-Etienne averages at about 4°C (39°F).

Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Saint-Etienne during winter. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while Saint-Etienne receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Leiden usually receives more rain than Saint-Etienne. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Leiden or Saint-Etienne in the Spring?

Both Saint-Etienne and Leiden during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Saint-Etienne for the natural beauty.

In April, Leiden is generally much colder than Saint-Etienne. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 8°C (46°F), and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In the spring, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint-Etienne. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint-Etienne receives 174 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets less rain in April than Saint-Etienne. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Saint-Etienne and Leiden