A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers The Hague vs. Kiel for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit The Hague or Kiel?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between The Hague and Kiel can help you decide which place is right for you.

The Hague

The Hague is a bustling, diverse, and global 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 food, shopping, and nightlife.

Kiel

Kiel is a maritime, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

The Hague and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in The Hague or Kiel?

Tourists will generally find more to do in The Hague than Kiel. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. The Hague is very popular for its food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Kiel attracts visitors for its museums and beaches. Kiel is more touristy than The Hague and is popular for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. The Hague is famous for its large international population and its roll in international politics and diplomacy. It is also well known for The Peace Palace.

How is The Hague different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in The Hague or Kiel?

Kiel is very good for its museums and history. However, The Hague does not have museums and landmarks.

Kiel is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

The Hague does not have museums and landmarks.

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

The Hague is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit The Hague. The city has a diverse population and the large number of ethnic restaurants reflects that.

Kiel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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 The Hague or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

The Hague is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

The Hague is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. Many of the city's restaurants turn into clubs at night. Head to The Grote Markt for some of the most energetic nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Kiel has a few options to choose from. 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 The Hague or Kiel Better for Music?

The Hague is well known for its live music scene. However, Kiel is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in The Hague. There's an active music scene here and the city actually played an active role in the development and popularity of electronic music.

Kiel is not a live music destination.

Is The Hague or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is very good for its beaches. However, The Hague is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Kiel to enjoy the beach. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

The Hague is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in The Hague or Kiel?

The Hague is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The Hague is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There's a dynamic shopping scene with indoor malls, outdoor markets, and a number of neighborhoods that have shops that sell eclectic items.

Kiel has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is The Hague or Kiel Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either The Hague or Kiel.

The Hague is a family-friendly city. This city has a bit more of a family-friendly vibe than nearby Amsterdam. Kids enjoy exploring by bike or heading to the Scheveningen Beach Resort.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Kiel. 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 The Hague or Kiel Better for Couples?

Both The Hague and Kiel are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

The Hague is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy the diverse restaurants and the busting atmosphere that the city offers.

Kiel makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 The Hague or Kiel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

The Hague is a popular place for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit The Hague. While most backpackers head to the more popular city of Amsterdam, The Hague has a fun atmosphere with a diversity of activities and restaurants.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is The Hague or Kiel Better for Students?

The Hague is a must-visit destination for students. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Many students frequent The Hague. This is a very popular study abroad destination so you'll find plenty of international students living here. It's an internationally oriented city so everyone feels right at home.

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

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

The Hague is well known for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

The Hague has some very good public transit options. There are bus and tram lines throughout the city.

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

Is The Hague or Kiel a more walkable city?

The Hague and Kiel are nice when it comes to walkability.

The Hague is somewhat walkable. There are a number of walk tours through the city center.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Kiel or The Hague?

How long in The Hague or Kiel?

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

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

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

One day in The Hague or Kiel?

The Hague is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Kiel. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Kiel has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in The Hague or Kiel?

The Hague 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the maritime destination of Kiel. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in The Hague or Kiel?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the diverse big city of The Hague. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the waterfront city of Kiel. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in The Hague or Kiel?

The diverse city of The Hague offers nightlife and live music. 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.

Kiel is a popular choice for travelers. 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 Luxury Tours to Netherlands, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Netherlands, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

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

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

Which is Bigger, The Hague or Kiel?

The Hague has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kiel. When comparing the sizes of The Hague 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 The Hague 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 The Hague or Kiel in the Summer?

Both Kiel and The Hague during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to The Hague for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Kiel because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, The Hague is around the same temperature as Kiel. Typically, the summer temperatures in The Hague in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Kiel averages at about 16°C (61°F).

In Kiel, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in The Hague. In the summer, The Hague often gets less sunshine than Kiel. The Hague gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun.

The Hague usually gets less rain in July than Kiel. The Hague gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit The Hague or Kiel in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both The Hague and Kiel. The autumn months attract visitors to The Hague because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.

In October, The Hague is generally around the same temperature as Kiel. Daily temperatures in The Hague average around 11°C (51°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

The Hague usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kiel during autumn. The Hague gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, The Hague usually receives more rain than Kiel. The Hague gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit The Hague or Kiel in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Kiel. It's quite cold in The Hague in the winter. The Hague is much warmer than Kiel in the winter. The daily temperature in The Hague averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Kiel fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

In the winter, The Hague often gets more sunshine than Kiel. The Hague gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun.

The Hague usually gets more rain in January than Kiel. The Hague gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit The Hague or Kiel in the Spring?

Both Kiel and The Hague are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to The Hague for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Kiel in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, The Hague is a little warmer than Kiel. Typically, the spring temperatures in The Hague in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Kiel averages at about 7°C (44°F).

The Hague usually receives less sunshine than Kiel during spring. The Hague gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, The Hague usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kiel. The Hague gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kiel and The Hague