A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tartu vs. Lausanne for Food, Nightlife, Old Town, and Backpackers

Should you visit Tartu or Lausanne?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tartu and Lausanne can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Tartu

Tartu is a student-oriented, cultural, and historical university town. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include nightlife.

Lausanne

Lausanne is a vibrant, cultural, and international city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Tartu and Lausanne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tartu or Lausanne?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Lausanne. Although Tartu and Lausanne are roughly the same size, Lausanne has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lausanne is very popular for its museums, food, and shopping, while Tartu attracts visitors for its nightlife and historical sights. Tartu is famous for its vibrant student population and long running university. Lausanne is famous for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters. It is also well known for The Olympic Museum.

How is Tartu different from Lausanne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Lausanne is a great city for its historical sights. However, Tartu does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Tartu does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Lausanne is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Tartu is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Lausanne has a number of nationally recognized food spots and 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.

Tartu offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The restaurant scene is surprisingly limited because of the large student population. Most students prefer saving their money for a night out drinking over a quiet meal at a restaurant. There are some cafes around town as well as pastry shops and a few good ethnic restaurants to choose between.

Is Tartu or Lausanne Better for Nightlife?

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

Tartu is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. With its huge student population, there is plenty of activity year round. The nightlife scene includes many bars, dance clubs, and pubs that are popular with students and visitors alike. You'll find large parties and music festivals throughout the year that bring crowds to the city.

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 Tartu or Lausanne Better for its Old Town?

Tartu is well known for its historic old town charm. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town.

Many visitors go to Tartu to see the historical old town. The old town is where you'll find one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. There is also Town Hall Square and St. John’s Quarter with many historic buildings and beautiful architecture.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Tartu or Lausanne?

Lausanne is a great city for its shopping areas. However, Tartu is not known for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in 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.

Tartu is a good destination for shopping. While most people don't visit to go shopping, there is an active art scene in town so you can find some creative pieces that are worth checking out.

Is Tartu or Lausanne Better for Families?

Both Tartu and Lausanne are nice to visit with kids.

Tartu offers lots of family activities. Many of the kid-friendly activities are outdoors, so summer visits are better if you're traveling with children. There are adventure parks, animal parks, and educational museums that you can choose from.

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 Tartu or Lausanne Better for Couples?

Lausanne is a city with good options for couples. However, Tartu is not known for romance.

Lausanne is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Tartu is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The city has a young population, so you'll find many activities center around a more youthful vibe. There are some great museums that couples will enjoy, as well as a lively nightlife scene. Outside of old town, couples will enjoy wandering through the Karlova and Supilinn districts.

Is Tartu or Lausanne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Tartu is well known for backpackers. However, Lausanne is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Tartu is a very popular university town for backpackers and budget travelers. With it's young population and budget friendly entertainment options, there are many things that backpackers will enjoy. It's not nearly as popular with backpackers as some other cities, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a lot to offer.

Lausanne is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular town for backpackers but there are some affordable hotels. It's also more reasonably priced than many Swiss cities.

Is Tartu or Lausanne Better for Students?

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

Tartu is a great destination for students. It is a university town and home to one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. The student population is large here, with many activities, museums, and nightlife options to choose from. There always seems to be something going on in this vibrant city.

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

Tartu and Lausanne both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Tartu offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a comprehensive bus system around the town.

Lausanne has a few public transit options. There is a comprehensive network of transportation options available in town including buses and boats.

Is Tartu or Lausanne a more walkable city?

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

Tartu is a very walkable destination. The city is compact with most of its sights and restaurants close together along a couple of streets.

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 Tartu Worth Visiting? and Is Lausanne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lausanne or Tartu?

How long in Tartu or Lausanne?

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

Couples should spend more time in Lausanne than Tartu. 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 Tartu than Lausanne 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 Tartu.

One day in Tartu or Lausanne?

The university town of Tartu offers nightlife. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Lausanne, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this diverse destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Tartu or Lausanne?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lausanne. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Tartu or Lausanne?

Tartu 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.

Lausanne is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Lausanne. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Tartu or Lausanne?

Tartu is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This university town offers something for everyone.

You'll find food and shopping around the diverse destination of Lausanne. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Estonia, The Best Budget Tours to Estonia, The Best Luxury Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Tartu or Lausanne?

Lausanne has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Tartu. When comparing the sizes of Tartu 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.