A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Oxford vs. Lausanne for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Oxford or Lausanne?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Oxford or Lausanne, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Oxford

Oxford is a beautiful, historic, and scholarly college town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Lausanne

Lausanne is a international, diverse, and vibrant city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Oxford and Lausanne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Oxford or Lausanne?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Lausanne than Oxford. While Oxford is larger than Lausanne, Lausanne has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lausanne is better known for its food, historical sights, and shopping, while Oxford is more popular for its nightlife, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Oxford is more touristy than Lausanne and is popular for being home to one of the world's most notable universities. Lausanne is well known for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters. Also, Lausanne is famous for The Olympic Museum.

How is Oxford different from Lausanne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Oxford or Lausanne?

Spend time exploring the superb sights and museums in either Oxford or Lausanne.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Oxford can be an interesting and educational experience. This town is filled with culture, history, and world class museums. Check out the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Modern Art, Ashmolean Museum, or the Museum of Oxford.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Lausanne. You'll find many great museums around town that cover a range of topics. The Olympic Museum is very interesting. You should also check out the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and the Hermitage Foundation.

Is the Food Better in Oxford or Lausanne? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lausanne is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Oxford is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Lausanne. The city is filled with delicious chocolate, cheese, and wine. Fondue is a favorite, but you'll also find cured meats on most menus. While food can be expensive, it's also high quality and usually locally produced.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Oxford. In addition to the typical British pubs and fish and chips shops, you'll find a wide diversity of ethnic food around town. Thai, sushi, Indian, and more are common dining options. Head to the Oxford Covered Market to try a traditional British breakfast or have some delicious ice cream.

Is Oxford or Lausanne Better for Nightlife?

Oxford is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Oxford is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. As a college town, you'll find an active nightlife scene with trivia nights and plenty of parties. There are pubs around town where you can grab a drink or find out if there's a concert while you're in town.

If you're looking for night time activities Lausanne has a few options to choose from. There are a surprising number of clubs around town and it's not hard to find somewhere to party. The large student population and the international vibe make this a fascinating place for nightlife.

Is Oxford or Lausanne Better for its Old Town?

Lausanne is a nice place to visit for its historic old town. However, Oxford does not have a historic old town.

Lausanne is a good destination for visiting its old town. There's a relatively large historic section that has a Gothic cathedral and many quaint shops.

Oxford does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Oxford or Lausanne?

Lausanne is a very popular place for shopping. Also, Oxford is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Lausanne. You'll find luxury Swiss watch brands, jewelry, chocolate, and many other interesting things to buy. Prices can be high, but so is the quality. It's fun to look, even if you're not planning to purchase.

Oxford offers some nice shopping areas. Shops around town offer the perfect opportunity to pick up some Oxford gear or by a few items from the Harry Potter franchise.

Is Oxford or Lausanne Better for Families?

Oxford and Lausanne are both notable destinations for the whole family.

Oxford is a family-friendly college town. Families will enjoy taking a paddle boat out on the water and exploring the beautiful setting. There are also a number of sights that were influential in the making of Harry Potter. In particular, you'll find the inspiration for the "Great Hall" if you take a tour of Christ Church College. The tour must be booked in advance and they often sell out. Older kids will also enjoy exploring the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Lausanne. There are kid-friendly museums, petting zoos, and other fun activities in town. You can also take a boat ride or let the kids run around one of the parks in town.

Is Oxford or Lausanne Better for Couples?

Oxford is well known for couples. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Oxford frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The beautiful campus and striking architecture make this a great destination for romance. Hire a boat and explore the water or wander through one of the impressive gardens.

Lausanne is a nice destination for couples. The medieval old city is fun to explore. The lakefront setting also offers fun activities like boating. There are also a number of museums in town to explore.

Is Oxford or Lausanne Better for Students?

Oxford is a world-class destination for students. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Oxford is a great destination for students. At its heart, Oxford is a college town and students are at the heart of the city and its culture.

Students come from all over to stay in Lausanne. There are 11 institutes for higher learning in town, so students make up a significant percentage of the population. The city is also full of culture, making it a very livable city.

Is Oxford or Lausanne Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find notable public transit in both Oxford and Lausanne.

Oxford has some public transit options. There are buses available if your legs get tired.

You'll find some public transit in Lausanne, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a comprehensive network of transportation options available in town including buses and boats.

Is Oxford or Lausanne a more walkable city?

Oxford is well known for its ease of walking around. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Oxford is a very walkable destination. The best way to explore most of the town is on foot, so you can soak up the full collegiate atmosphere.

Lausanne is somewhat walkable. Many parts of the city, including the historic sections, and relatively easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Oxford Worth Visiting? and Is Lausanne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lausanne or Oxford?

How long in Oxford or Lausanne?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Oxford or Lausanne to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Oxford than Lausanne because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Oxford, and 1-2 days is enough time in Lausanne.

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

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

One day in Oxford or Lausanne?

Oxford is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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

A weekend in Oxford or Lausanne?

Oxford is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this college town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Oxford, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Lausanne 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 Oxford or Lausanne?

Oxford is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lausanne. 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 Oxford or Lausanne?

Oxford is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This college town offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Lausanne. 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 Luxury Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Oxford or Lausanne?

Oxford has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Lausanne. When comparing the sizes of Oxford and Lausanne, 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.