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

Should you visit Southampton or Lausanne?

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

Should I visit Southampton or Lausanne? 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 dynamic, up-and-coming, and waterfront port city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Lausanne

Lausanne is a vibrant, cultural, and international city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Southampton and Lausanne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Southampton or Lausanne?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Lausanne than Southampton. While Southampton is larger than Lausanne, Lausanne has more sights and attractions for tourists. Southampton is popular for its popularity as a cruise ship port as well as its focus watersports. Lausanne is popular for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters. It is also home to The Olympic Museum.

How is Southampton different from Lausanne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Lausanne 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 Lausanne?

Lausanne is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its sights and museums.

Lausanne offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Southampton. 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.

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

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

Lausanne has a huge number of terrific restaurants. 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Southampton area. 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.

Is Southampton or Lausanne Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Lausanne. 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 Southampton or Lausanne Better for its Old Town?

Lausanne is a popular place for its old town. However, Southampton does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Lausanne. There's a relatively large historic section that has a Gothic cathedral and many quaint shops.

Southampton does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Southampton or Lausanne?

Lausanne is a great city for its shopping opportunities. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its shopping areas.

Lausanne is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Many visitors go to Southampton to go shopping. The city has two indoor shopping centers, as well as a range of markets and several independent vendors.

Is Southampton or Lausanne Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Southampton or Lausanne.

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.

Lausanne is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Southampton or Lausanne Better for Couples?

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

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.

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 Southampton or Lausanne Better for Students?

Lausanne is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Southampton is not popular with students.

Lausanne is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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.

Southampton is not popular with students.

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

Lausanne is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Southampton is not known for its public transit.

While Lausanne offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a comprehensive network of transportation options available in town including buses and boats.

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

Is Southampton or Lausanne a more walkable city?

Southampton and Lausanne are good 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.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Lausanne or Southampton?

How long in Southampton or Lausanne?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Southampton or Lausanne to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Southampton 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 Southampton, and 1-2 days is enough time in Lausanne.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lausanne 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 Lausanne.

One day in Southampton or Lausanne?

The port city of Southampton offers 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.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant city of Lausanne. 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 Lausanne?

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

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the diverse destination of Lausanne. 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 Lausanne?

Southampton 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.

The vibrant city of Lausanne 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 Lausanne?

Southampton 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 port city offers something for everyone.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Lausanne. 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 Luxury Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Southampton and Lausanne, we can see that Lausanne is more expensive. And not only is Southampton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Southampton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Southampton 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 Southampton.

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

Which is Bigger, Southampton or Lausanne?

Southampton has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Lausanne. When comparing the sizes of Southampton 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.