A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rotterdam vs. Lindau for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Rotterdam or Lindau?

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 Rotterdam and Lindau. 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.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a trendy, high energy, and modern port city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Lindau

Lindau is a fun-filled, scenic, and alpine town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food.

Rotterdam and Lindau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rotterdam or Lindau?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rotterdam. Although Rotterdam and Lindau are both popular with visitors, Rotterdam has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Rotterdam is more popular for its museums, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Lindau is known for its food, historical sights, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Lindau is more touristy than Rotterdam and is popular for its lakefront location and quaint old town. Rotterdam is popular for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall. It is also home to The Cube Houses.

The Cube Houses

How is Rotterdam different from Lindau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Rotterdam or Lindau?

Rotterdam is a port city with good options for its museums and landmarks. However, Lindau is a town with minimal options for its historical sights.

Rotterdam offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Although many of the historic buildings around town were destroyed during World War II, there are still a number of sights worth checking out. Head to the Old Harbor and Marine Museums, the Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, or the Wereldmuseum to see some interesting places.

While most people don't head to Lindau specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The town is more about it's beautiful setting than landmarks and museums, but there are some interesting sights including the harbor and lighthouse.

Is the Food Better in Rotterdam or Lindau? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lindau is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Lindau has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Head to the waterfront for the best seafood restaurants. Many restaurants use seasonal ingredients and serve local fish. The local whitefish is particularly popular. Dishes are influenced by the town's proximity to Switzerland and Austria, so you'll enjoy a hybrid of flavors and recipes.

Rotterdam offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Is Rotterdam or Lindau Better for Nightlife?

Rotterdam is a great destination for nightlife and partying. However, Lindau is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

The people in Rotterdam know how to have a good time. It is a trendy city with an active nightlife. You can relax with a beer or hit up one of the clubs around town. Popular options are Club Vibes, Toffler, and Club Vie.

Lindau doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's not known for its nightlife scene but there are bars where you can enjoy a relaxing night out.

Is Rotterdam or Lindau Better for its Old Town?

Lindau is great for its historic old town charm. However, Rotterdam does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Lindau. The old town is located on Lindau island in Lake Constance. It has quaint buildings and many waterfront restaurants.

Rotterdam does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Rotterdam or Lindau?

Rotterdam is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Lindau is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Rotterdam is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. You'll find fashion and clothing shops in the area around Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse. This is also where you'll find the shopping mall of Bijenkorf.

Lindau is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Rotterdam or Lindau Better for Families?

Both Rotterdam and Lindau are very good family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Rotterdam. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

Lindau is a very family-friendly place to visit. Head to the waterfront where there's a playground, stand up paddleboarding, paddleboats, and more. Kids will also enjoy climbing to the top of the Old Lighthouse or exploring the Museum of Local History.

Is Rotterdam or Lindau Better for Couples?

Lindau is great for couples. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for romance.

Lindau is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. With its charming old town, beautiful waterfront, great seafood restaurants, and nice hotels, couples will really enjoy a few days away at this lakefront town. It's the perfect place to have a romantic weekend.

Rotterdam is a nice destination for couples. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Is Rotterdam or Lindau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Rotterdam and Lindau are good places to visit.

Plenty of backpackers visit Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Lindau. The town has a couple of hostels and affordable hotels that make this waterfront town accessible to backpackers and budget travelers.

Is Rotterdam or Lindau Better for Students?

Rotterdam is a great destination for students. However, Lindau is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Rotterdam. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

Lindau is not popular with students.

Is Rotterdam or Lindau Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Rotterdam is a great destination for its public transit. However, Lindau is a town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

Rotterdam has some very good public transit options. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

Public transit is mostly limited in Lindau. It's possible to reach town by bus or train and once you're in town you can walk many places.

Is Rotterdam or Lindau a more walkable city?

Rotterdam and Lindau are very good when it comes to walkability.

Rotterdam is a very walkable destination. There are broad streets with wide sidewalks that are pedestrian friendly.

Lindau is very walkable. The town is very walkable and there are also many walks into the countryside.

For even more information, also check out Is Rotterdam Worth Visiting? and Is Lindau Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lindau or Rotterdam?

How long in Rotterdam or Lindau?

It's fun to spend time in either Rotterdam or Lindau. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Lindau due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Rotterdam, and 2-4 days is enough time in Lindau.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rotterdam than Lindau 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 Rotterdam.

One day in Rotterdam or Lindau?

Rotterdam is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Even though Lindau is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Rotterdam or Lindau?

Rotterdam 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.

Lindau is a small town where visitors enjoy the food. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Rotterdam or Lindau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rotterdam. 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.

Lindau is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Rotterdam or Lindau?

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

Lindau is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany.

When comparing the travel costs between Rotterdam and Lindau, we can see that Lindau 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 Rotterdam Expensive? and Is Lindau Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Lindau?

Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Lindau. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam and Lindau, 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.