A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Southampton vs. Kiel for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Southampton or Kiel?

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

Should I visit Southampton or Kiel? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Southampton

Southampton is a waterfront, dynamic, and up-and-coming port city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Kiel

Kiel is a off-the-beaten-path, waterfront, and maritime city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Southampton and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Southampton or Kiel?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Kiel than Southampton, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Kiel is better known for its beaches and big city activities, while Southampton is more popular for its impressive beauty. Kiel is more touristy than Southampton and is popular for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. Also, Kiel is famous for The Kiel Castle. Southampton is well known for its popularity as a cruise ship port as well as its focus watersports.

How is Southampton different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Southampton or Kiel?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Southampton and Kiel.

Southampton offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Museums are a favorite activity in town. There are a surprising number of options including SeaCity Museum, the Tudor House and Garden, and Southampton City Art Gallery.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Kiel. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

Is the Food Better in Southampton or Kiel? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Southampton and Kiel can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

Southampton has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. While most people used to pass through Southampton on their way somewhere else, the city now offers a dynamic food scene with local restaurants mixed with international options and even fine dining.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Kiel area. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Is Southampton or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find notable options in both Southampton and Kiel.

If you're looking for night time activities Southampton has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is filled with restaurants, pubs, and bars as well as a few nightclubs mixed in.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Kiel. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

Is Southampton or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a popular place for the beache. However, Southampton is not a beach destination.

Kiel is a good option for a beach vacation. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Southampton is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Southampton or Kiel?

If you're looking to go shopping, Southampton and Kiel both offer plenty of notable spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Southampton. The city has two indoor shopping centers, as well as a range of markets and several independent vendors.

Many visitors go to Kiel to go shopping. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Southampton or Kiel Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Southampton or Kiel.

Southampton offers lots of family activities. This cruise port city offers a handful of fascinating activities for kids including learning about the Mayflower and the Titanic. There are also many parks and gardens as well as the Mayflower Theater, which regularly has kid-family productions.

Kiel is a family-friendly place to visit. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

Is Southampton or Kiel Better for Couples?

Southampton is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Southampton frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Museums, parks, gardens, and chartered boats all offer a romantic experience for couples visiting the area.

Kiel is a good port city for couples to visit. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Southampton or Kiel Better for Students?

Kiel is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Southampton is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

Southampton is not popular with students.

Is Southampton or Kiel Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Southampton and Kiel both offer respectable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Southampton. There are buses around town that make some areas accessible even without a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Southampton or Kiel a more walkable city?

Southampton and Kiel are notable when it comes to walkability.

Southampton is a somewhat walkable place. It's possible to walk in parts of Southampton but in general it's easier to take a taxi.

Kiel is a somewhat walkable port city. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Southampton Worth Visiting? and Is Kiel Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Southampton?

How long in Southampton or Kiel?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Southampton and Kiel. In our opinion, Kiel has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Kiel than Southampton. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kiel than Southampton 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 Kiel.

One day in Southampton or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Southampton. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the authentic city of Kiel. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Southampton or Kiel?

Southampton 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the off-the-beaten-path destination of Kiel. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Southampton or Kiel?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the waterfront destination of Southampton. This port city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The waterfront city of Kiel offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Southampton or Kiel?

The up-and-coming port city of Southampton offers nightlife and 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Kiel. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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 from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

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

Which is Bigger, Southampton or Kiel?

Southampton has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Kiel. When comparing the sizes of Southampton and Kiel, 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 Southampton or Kiel?

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 Southampton or Kiel in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Southampton as well as Kiel. The summer months attract visitors to Southampton because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.

Southampton is around the same temperature as Kiel in the summer. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Kiel fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kiel. In the summer, Southampton often gets less sunshine than Kiel. Southampton gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets less rain in July than Kiel. Southampton gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Southampton or Kiel in the Autumn?

Both Kiel and Southampton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Southampton this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Kiel for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Southampton is a little warmer than Kiel. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Southampton in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Kiel averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Southampton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel during autumn. Southampton gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Southampton usually receives less rain than Kiel. Southampton gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Southampton or Kiel in the Winter?

Both Kiel and Southampton during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Southampton for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Kiel in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Kiel can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Southampton. In January, Southampton is generally much warmer than Kiel. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 4°C (40°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

In the winter, Southampton often gets more sunshine than Kiel. Southampton gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets less rain in January than Kiel. Southampton gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Southampton or Kiel in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Southampton and Kiel. Many visitors come to Southampton in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Kiel for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

Southampton is a little warmer than Kiel in the spring. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Kiel fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Southampton usually receives less sunshine than Kiel during spring. Southampton gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Southampton usually receives less rain than Kiel. Southampton gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kiel and Southampton