A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Orkney Islands vs. Leiden for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Orkney Islands or Leiden?

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 Orkney Islands and Leiden can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Orkney Islands or Leiden?

Orkney Islands

The Orkney Islands are located off the north coast of mainland Scotland, offering incredible sights and activities set against the Atlantic Ocean. Having been inhabited for over 5,000 years, Orkney is an archaeologist's dream as ancient relics are discovered all the time, meaning there are endless places for tourists to explore. The best time to visit Orkney is from May-October, when temperatures tend to stay between 50-65° Fahrenheit and rainfall is at it's lowest. Although, with their location on the sea, rain and heavy winds are very common, so be sure to always have waterproof clothing and shoes around!

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.


Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Orkney Islands?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Orkney Islands is £128, while the average daily cost in Leiden is £114. 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 Orkney Islands and Leiden in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Orkney Islands £60
    Leiden £66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Orkney Islands £120
    Leiden £132
Compare Hotels in Orkney Islands and Leiden

Looking for a hotel in Orkney Islands or Leiden? 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.

Hotels in Orkney Islands


Hotels in Leiden


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Orkney Islands £56
    Leiden £22

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 Orkney Islands or Leiden?

Prices for flights to both Leiden and Orkney Islands 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Orkney Islands £34
    Leiden £33

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Orkney Islands £27
    Leiden £15

Tours and Activities in Orkney Islands

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Orkney Islands.

  • From Kirkwall - Orkney Mainland Private Tour: $275
  • Semi Private Tour - Orkney and Kirkwall : $246

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Orkney Islands £6.43
    Leiden £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 Orkney Islands and Leiden, we can see that Orkney Islands 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 Orkney Islands Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Orkney Islands or Leiden?

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 Orkney Islands or Leiden in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Orkney Islands and Leiden. The summer months attract visitors to Orkney Islands because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Orkney Islands is cooler than Leiden in the summer. The daily temperature in Orkney Islands averages around 12°C (54°F) in July, and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leiden this time of the year. Orkney Islands usually receives less sunshine than Leiden during summer. Orkney Islands gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Orkney Islands usually receives less rain than Leiden. Orkney Islands gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Orkney Islands 12°C (54°F) 
    Leiden 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Orkney Islands or Leiden in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Orkney Islands as well as Leiden. The hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Orkney Islands this time of year.

In the autumn, Orkney Islands is cooler than Leiden. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Orkney Islands in October average around 9°C (48°F), and Leiden averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In the autumn, Orkney Islands often gets less sunshine than Leiden. Orkney Islands gets 73 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun.

Orkney Islands receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Orkney Islands usually gets more rain in October than Leiden. Orkney Islands gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Orkney Islands 9°C (48°F) 
    Leiden 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Orkney Islands or Leiden in the Winter?

Both Leiden and Orkney Islands are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Orkney Islands for the museums and the cuisine.

Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Orkney Islands. In January, Orkney Islands is generally much warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Orkney Islands average around 4°C (39°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

Orkney Islands usually receives less sunshine than Leiden during winter. Orkney Islands gets 29 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Orkney Islands. In January, Orkney Islands usually receives more rain than Leiden. Orkney Islands gets 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Orkney Islands 4°C (39°F) 
    Leiden 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit Orkney Islands or Leiden in the Spring?

Both Leiden and Orkney Islands during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Orkney Islands in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Orkney Islands is cooler than Leiden in the spring. The daily temperature in Orkney Islands averages around 6°C (43°F) in April, and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the spring, Orkney Islands often gets less sunshine than Leiden. Orkney Islands gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun.

Orkney Islands usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Leiden. Orkney Islands gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Orkney Islands 6°C (43°F) 
    Leiden 8°C (46°F)

Typical Weather for Leiden and Orkney Islands

Orkney Islands Leiden
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 4°C (39°F) 106 mm (4.2 in) 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Feb 4°C (38°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 5°C (40°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 6°C (43°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 9°C (47°F) 50 mm (2 in) 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 11°C (52°F) 52 mm (2 in) 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 12°C (54°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aug 13°C (55°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 11°C (52°F) 102 mm (4 in) 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 9°C (48°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 6°C (42°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 4°C (40°F) 113 mm (4.4 in) 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)