A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Odense vs. Lyon for Food, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Odense or Lyon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Odense and Lyon. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Odense

And you can't forget about the food.

Lyon

Lyon is a beautiful, cultural, and quaint city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. You'll find world class beauty here as well. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Odense and Lyon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Odense or Lyon?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Lyon than Odense, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Lyon is more touristy than Odense and is known for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town. It is also home to The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Odense is popular for

How is Odense different from Lyon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Odense or Lyon?

Lyon is terrific for its sights and museums. However, Odense does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Lyon on the map. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

Odense does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Odense or Lyon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lyon is terrific for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Odense is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Eat your way through Lyon, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Known as "the Gastronomic Capital of the World" this city stands above the rest when it comes to Michelin star restaurants (there are 17!), fresh ingredients, and unique local flavors. Favorite local dishes include pâté en croûte, rosette de Lyon, and saucisson brioché.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Odense. You'll find local restaurants serving local favorites such as smoked salmon. You'll also find burger joints and international options such as sushi.

Is Odense or Lyon Better for Nightlife?

Lyon is notable for its evening party scene. However, Odense is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Lyon has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The city has enough diverse neighborhoods that you'll find a scene that is great for everyone. There are dance clubs, cocktail bars, and wine bars that meet every personality and style.

Odense is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Odense or Lyon Better for its Old Town?

Lyon is terrific for its historic old town charm. However, Odense does not have a historic old town.

Lyon has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.

Odense does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Odense or Lyon?

Lyon is notable for its shopping areas. However, Odense is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Lyon. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.

Odense is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Odense or Lyon Better for Families?

Both Odense and Lyon are great family-friendly destinations.

Odense is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. As the home of Hans Christian Andersen, this town is a child's playhouse. You can visit the H.C. Andersen House, which will bring his fairytale mind to life. The city also has more than 200 playgrounds, an amazing zoo, and the Funen Village, which is an open air museum. There's also a castle to explore and paddle boating on the water.

Lyon is a very family-friendly destination. The city has many kid-friendly museums including Musée des Confluences and the Cinema and Miniature Museum. There are also playgrounds, patisseries, and river cruises that you can enjoy as a family. Puppet shows are also fun, but do note that they're usually in French. While the restaurants are amazing for adults, it can be tricky to find a kid-friendly option with early opening hours that are convenient for little ones.

Is Odense or Lyon Better for Couples?

Lyon is notable for couples. However, Odense is a mediocre city for romance.

Lyon is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.

Odense is not the best destination for a couple to visit. It's a charming city with a lot of green space and paddle boating on the water, but it lacks some of the romance that you find in many European cities.

Is Odense or Lyon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lyon is notable for backpackers. However, Odense is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Lyon is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.

Odense is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's a hostel or two in town, but most backpackers don't make the time to visit this off-the-beaten-path destination.

Is Odense or Lyon Better for Students?

Lyon is terrific for students. Also, Odense is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Lyon is a very popular place to visit for students. It is a very livable city with many fun cultural activities for students. There are many different entertainment options during the day, and during the evening there are plenty of places to hang out.

Plenty of students visit Odense. It's a charming and friendly city that makes a fun place to learn and live. There's a fascinating culture and a number of things to do.

Is Odense or Lyon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Lyon is terrific for its public transit. However, Odense does not have public transit.

The thorough and effecient public transit system of Lyon can take you anywhere. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.

Odense does not have public transit.

Is Odense or Lyon a more walkable city?

Lyon is notable for its ease of walking around. However, Odense is not a walkable destination.

Lyon is a very walkable destination. The old town is particularly walkable, but the hills can make things a bit challenging. There are also a number of pedestrian streets around town.

Odense is not a walkable destination.

Should I spend more time in Lyon or Odense?

How long in Odense or Lyon?

In either Odense or Lyon, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Lyon than Odense because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Odense, and 2-5 days is enough time in Lyon.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lyon than Odense 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 Lyon.

One day in Odense or Lyon?

Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the destination of Odense. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Lyon is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Odense or Lyon?

Odense is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Lyon 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 Odense or Lyon?

You'll find food around the destination of Odense. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lyon. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Odense or Lyon?

The city of Odense offers food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic big city of Lyon. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Copenhagen, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Denmark, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Odense or Lyon?

Lyon has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Odense. When comparing the sizes of Odense 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.