A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint Andrews vs. Leiden for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Saint Andrews or Leiden?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saint Andrews or Leiden, 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.

Saint Andrews

Saint Andrews is a quaint, peaceful, and historic university town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. With stunning beauty, Saint Andrews attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Saint Andrews travel costs.

Leiden

Leiden is a cultural, scholarly, and historic city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Leiden travel costs.

Saint Andrews and Leiden: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Andrews or Leiden?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Saint Andrews. Although Saint Andrews and Leiden are both popular with visitors, Saint Andrews has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Saint Andrews is more popular for its beaches, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Leiden is known for its museums and attractions. Saint Andrews is popular for its reputation as the birthplace of golf. It is also home to The Old Course. Leiden is popular for its many museums and renowned university.

The Old Course

How is Saint Andrews different from Leiden?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint Andrews or Leiden?

Leiden is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Leiden can be an interesting and educational experience. There are a huge number of museums around town. Some are affiliated with the museum, while others are not. Some of the favorites include the National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden), Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Boerhaave Museum, the Corpus Museum, and the National Ethnological Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Saint Andrews. For many, a highlight of their trip is to play a round of golf at St. Andrews Links Golf Courses. Golf enthusiasts will also appreciate a visit to the British Golf Museum. Other interesting sights in the area include a visit to the ruins of the Cathedral of St. Andrew, visiting the St. Andrews University Museums, or stopping by St. Andrews Castle.

Is the Food Better in Saint Andrews or Leiden? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Saint Andrews and Leiden.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Saint Andrews. The town holds on to its history and heritage, and that stands out with the restaurant selection. There are a range of of independent cafes and pubs and surprisingly few major chain restaurants and fast food joints.

Leiden has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There's a diverse food scene with many international flavors such as Japanese, Chinese, and French. The cafe culture influences the culinary scene and you'll find many cozy cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a bite to eat.

Is Saint Andrews or Leiden Better for Nightlife?

Both Saint Andrews and Leiden are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Saint Andrews. There are a large number of pubs and bars throughout the town, and you'll find students hanging out and keeping things lively.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Leiden. The large student population means that there is a good nightlife scene. There are a variety of bars, pubs, and cafes where you can enjoy a drink, with options ranging from cozy, intimate spots to larger, more vibrant venues. The Oude Markt area, with its charming historic setting, is a hotspot for nightlife, offering a mix of traditional Dutch bars and international-themed pubs.

Is Saint Andrews or Leiden Better for Beaches?

Saint Andrews is very good for the beach. However, Leiden is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Saint Andrews to enjoy the beach. Adding to the natural beauty is the beautiful coastline around St. Andrews. Some of the best beaches include West Sands Beach, Kingsbarns Beach, Castle Sands, and Saint Andrews Beach.

Leiden is not a beach destination.

Is Saint Andrews or Leiden Better for Hiking?

Saint Andrews is very good for its hiking trails. However, Leiden is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Saint Andrews. There are some beautiful hikes just outside of town. Check out the views from Chamcook Mountain or wander down the Van Horne Trail.

Leiden is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Andrews or Leiden?

Saint Andrews is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Leiden is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Saint Andrews. The town is filled with boutique shops and local markets where you can buy unique items like artisan food, handmade crafts, or local art.

Leiden is a great destination for shopping. There are a mix of unique boutiques, international brands, and charming local stores. The Breestraat and Nieuwe Rijn are popular shopping streets, and they're lined with a variety of shops selling everything from fashion and accessories to books, art, and antiques. The city also has several markets, including a weekly Saturday market near the Pieterskerk, where you can find fresh produce, flowers, and vintage items.

Is Saint Andrews or Leiden More Beautiful?

Saint Andrews is an excellent place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Leiden is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Saint Andrews attracts visitors from all around. From its longstanding history with golf to its stunning landscapes, this is a beautiful and fascinating destination.

Leiden is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Saint Andrews or Leiden Better for Families?

Leiden is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Leiden is a very kid-friendly city. The town has a mix of educational, cultural, and fun activities for all ages. There are many family-friendly museums like Naturalis Biodiversity Center, where kids can explore dinosaurs and wildlife, and the National Museum of Antiquities, which brings history to life. There's also the Corpus Museum, which takes visitors on a unique, interactive journey through the human body.

Saint Andrews is a family-friendly university town. There are some great playgrounds, parks, and gardens that kids will enjoy. Check out Kingbrae Gardens, Ministers Island, and Katy’s Cove. For museums, head to Ross Memorial Museum and Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium.

Is Saint Andrews or Leiden Better for Couples?

Saint Andrews is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Leiden is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Saint Andrews makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The scenic landscapes, stunning views, and quaint charm make this a perfect place for couples to escape to. You can enjoy boat rides, seafood restaurants, golfing, and spas all while you soak up the natural beauty.

Leiden is a nice destination for couples. Couples who enjoy charming towns and world class museums will enjoy their time here. The town also has picturesque canals, historic bridges, and cozy street cafes. Couples can explore places like the Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Netherlands, or enjoy a quiet moment in the scenic Leidse Hout Park.

Is Saint Andrews or Leiden Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Leiden is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Saint Andrews is not a good university town for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Leiden. The city offers affordable accommodations, including hostels and budget-friendly hotels, as well as reasonably priced eateries serving Dutch classics and international cuisine. Many of Leiden’s attractions, like its historic canals, charming streets, and open-air markets, can be enjoyed for free.

Saint Andrews is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really a backpacker's destination, but there are some guesthouses and apartments that are more affordable.

Is Saint Andrews or Leiden Better for Students?

Saint Andrews is a must-visit destination for its student-friendly activities. Also, Leiden is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Saint Andrews. At its heart, this is a university town with a long standing history in teaching. You'll find the town's population doubles when students are in town.

Leiden is a great university town to visit as a student. It feels like a university town and it's home to Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university is known for its academic excellence and vibrant student community. The town also has a young atmosphere with plenty of affordable cafes, bars, and cultural events that influence the student life. Its compact size makes it easy to navigate by bike, and the abundance of libraries, study spaces, and museums provides ample resources for learning and inspiration. Housing can be difficult to find though.

Is Saint Andrews or Leiden Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Saint Andrews and Leiden offer good public transit options.

Saint Andrews has a few public transit options. There are buses through St. Andrews.

Leiden has some public transit options. The Leiden Central Station is the main hub for trains, which connect the city to other towns throughout the country. Around town there are buses that are reliable and convenient.

Is Saint Andrews or Leiden a more walkable city?

Leiden is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its ease of walking around.

Leiden is a very walkable city. The city is compact and easy to navigate on foot, with many of its attractions, cafes, shops, and historical sites located within walking distance of each other.

Saint Andrews is a somewhat walkable university town. Parts of the town are compact enough to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Saint Andrews Worth Visiting? and Is Leiden Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Leiden or Saint Andrews?

How long in Saint Andrews or Leiden?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Saint Andrews or Leiden to fill your time. In our opinion, Saint Andrews has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Saint Andrews than Leiden. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Leiden than Saint Andrews 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 Leiden.

One day in Saint Andrews or Leiden?

Saint Andrews might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the scholarly destination of Leiden. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Saint Andrews or Leiden?

Saint Andrews 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Leiden. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Saint Andrews or Leiden?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic destination of Leiden. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

A week in Saint Andrews or Leiden?

Saint Andrews is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Leiden. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Saint Andrews or Leiden?

Leiden has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Saint Andrews. When comparing the sizes of Saint Andrews and Leiden, 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 Saint Andrews or Leiden?

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 Saint Andrews or Leiden in the Summer?

Both Leiden and Saint Andrews during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Saint Andrews for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Leiden because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Saint Andrews is cooler than Leiden. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Andrews in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Leiden averages at about 17°C (62°F).

In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Andrews often gets less sunshine than Leiden. Saint Andrews gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets less rain in July than Leiden. Saint Andrews gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Leiden in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Andrews and Leiden. The autumn months attract visitors to Saint Andrews because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Leiden this time of year.

In October, Saint Andrews is generally cooler than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Saint Andrews average around 10°C (49°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during autumn. Saint Andrews gets 100 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Leiden. Saint Andrews gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Leiden in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saint Andrews as well as Leiden. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Saint Andrews this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Leiden for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Leiden. It's quite cold in Saint Andrews in the winter. Saint Andrews is much warmer than Leiden in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Andrews averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Leiden fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Saint Andrews often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Saint Andrews gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Leiden. Saint Andrews gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Leiden in the Spring?

Both Leiden and Saint Andrews are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Saint Andrews for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Saint Andrews is around the same temperature as Leiden. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Andrews in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Leiden averages at about 8°C (46°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during spring. Saint Andrews gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Leiden. Saint Andrews gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Leiden and Saint Andrews