A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers London vs. Kiel for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit London or Kiel?

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 London and Kiel can help you decide which place is right for you.

London

London is a historic, diverse, and iconic city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife.

Kiel

Kiel is a off-the-beaten-path, waterfront, and maritime city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

London and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in London or Kiel?

Travelers will usually find more to do in London than Kiel, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. London is more popular for its museums, theatre productions, food, nightlife, music, shopping, christmas markets, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Kiel is known for its beaches. London is more touristy than Kiel and is popular for its international reputation, its world-renowned theater productions, and its many different markets. It is also home to Big Ben. Kiel is popular for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival.

Big Ben

How is London different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Kiel and London. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in London or Kiel?

London is a must-visit destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in London are among the most recognizable in the world. The city has so many iconic sights that we can't list them all, but some of the most famous include the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the British Museum. You can fill many days exploring the treasures found at each of the venues.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Kiel. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

Is London or Kiel Better for Theater?

London is a must-visit destination for its theatre productions. However, Kiel is not a theatre destination.

The theater and performance venues in London draw crowds from around the world. The West End theater district is where you'll find the most popular musicals. Famous theaters include Apollo Theatre, Palace Theatre, and Piccadilly Theatre. There are often Wednesday matinees that are a bit cheaper than the evening shows. You may also be able to get discounted last minute tickets if you're visiting during the less touristy times.

Kiel is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in London or Kiel? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

London is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit London. Although food here was once the butt of a number of jokes, the restaurant scene has come a long way, and you can find anything and everything around town. Head to Chinatown to try dim sum or hot pot. There are no shortage of Indian restaurants as well. If you want the best food for the lowest prices, your best bet is to get out of the touristy areas and discover where the locals eat. There are also many markets that are perfect for grabbing a unique lunch or snack. Burrough Market has a number of ethnic and seafood vendors as well as fresh produce and snack options.

Kiel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Is London or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

London is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

London is a world class party destination. Some of the best neighborhoods for nightlife are Camden, West End, Soho, and Shoreditch. There are many festivals, concerts, and shows worth checking out and the nightlife scene is diverse enough that there really is something for everyone.

If you're looking for night time activities Kiel has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

Is London or Kiel Better for Music?

London is a must-visit destination for its live music scene. However, Kiel is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in London Famous music venues include Dominion Theatre, the Roundhouse, and Dublin Castle.

Kiel is not a live music destination.

Is London or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is very good for the beach. However, London is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Kiel to enjoy the beach. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

London is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in London or Kiel?

London is a must-visit destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in London make it a world-class shopping destination. With so much iconic shopping around town, it's hard to decide where to go. Head to Oxford Street, Regent Street, or Piccadilly Circus for a quintessential British shopping experience.

Kiel has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is London or Kiel Better for Christmas?

London is a must-visit destination for its Christmas activities. However, Kiel does not offer Christmas activities.

During Christmas, London is not to be missed. There's Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, outdoor ice skating, and beautiful Christmas lights throughout the city. You can also listen to Christmas Carols in Trafalgar Square or see a classic Christmas show.

Kiel does not offer Christmas activities.

Is London or Kiel Better for Christmas Markets?

London is a must-visit destination for its Christmas markets. However, Kiel does not offer Christmas markets.

The active Christmas markets during the holiday season make London very popular during this season. The city has many Christmas markets. There is Winter Wonderland Christmas market, Southbank Centre Winter Market, and Selfridges Christmas Market, among many others.

Kiel does not offer Christmas markets.

Is London or Kiel Better for Families?

London is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, London is a very family-friendly destination. Whether you do a Harry Potter Tour, take a ride on the London Eye, or enjoy afternoon tea, there are plenty of activities for kids around town. The Harry Potter Studio Tour is fun for everyone, but should be booked well in advance as it sells out. Theatre enthusiasts will enjoy catching a musical in West End and sampling dim sum or a hot pot in Chinatown. There are often Wednesday matinee showings that are perfect for kids with early bedtimes.

Kiel offers lots of family activities. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

Is London or Kiel Better for Couples?

London is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

London makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With every type of entertainment that you can imagine, this city is the ultimate couple's getaway. There are world class musicals, evening concerts, and restaurants of every style, cuisine, and budget. It's easy for couples to fill days in this vibrant city.

Kiel is a good city for couples to visit. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is London or Kiel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

London is a must-visit destination for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit London. Although the city is very expensive, it has tons of hostels, affordable restaurant options, and great public transit. There's a huge backpacker network here and it's easy to meet other travelers. The nightlife scene is also second to none.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is London or Kiel Better for Students?

London is a must-visit destination for students. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Many students frequent London. The city has a number of universities and is a popular study abroad destination. It's also a very diverse city, so international students will feel right at home.

It's common for students to visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

Is London or Kiel Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

London is a must-visit destination for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

London has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. From the iconic double decker buses to the Tube, there are plenty of options throughout the city.

Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is London or Kiel a more walkable city?

London is a must-visit destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around London on foot is easy. With many walkable areas, it is considered to be one of the world's most walkable major cities.

Kiel is a somewhat walkable city. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is London Worth Visiting? and Is Kiel Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Kiel or London?

How long in London or Kiel?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both London and Kiel. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in London than in Kiel. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for London, and 1-3 days is enough time in Kiel.

Families should spend more time in London than Kiel. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in London, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in London than Kiel. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in London that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in London than Kiel if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in London.

One day in London or Kiel?

London is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kiel. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in London or Kiel?

London is a fun place to experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Kiel is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in London or Kiel?

London is a iconic big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kiel. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in London or Kiel?

London is a iconic city where you can fill many days. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the maritime destination of Kiel. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between London and Kiel, we can see that London is more expensive. And not only is Kiel much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kiel would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kiel 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London than you might in Kiel.

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

Which is Bigger, London or Kiel?

London has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Kiel. When comparing the sizes of London and Kiel, 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 London or Kiel?

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 London or Kiel in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to London as well as Kiel. Most visitors come to London for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Kiel because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, London is generally around the same temperature as Kiel. Daily temperatures in London average around 18°C (64°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kiel. In the summer, London often gets less sunshine than Kiel. London gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun.

London usually gets less rain in July than Kiel. London gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit London or Kiel in the Autumn?

Both Kiel and London are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to London because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.

London is a little warmer than Kiel in the autumn. The daily temperature in London averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Kiel fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

London usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel during autumn. London gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, London usually receives less rain than Kiel. London gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit London or Kiel in the Winter?

Both Kiel and London during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to London this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Kiel for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Kiel. It's quite cold in London in the winter. In the winter, London is much warmer than Kiel. Typically, the winter temperatures in London in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Kiel averages at about 0°C (33°F).

In the winter, London often gets more sunshine than Kiel. London gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun.

London usually gets less rain in January than Kiel. London gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit London or Kiel in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both London and Kiel. Many travelers come to London for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Kiel in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In April, London is generally a little warmer than Kiel. Daily temperatures in London average around 9°C (48°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

London usually receives less sunshine than Kiel during spring. London gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, London usually receives less rain than Kiel. London gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kiel and London