Which place is cheaper, Leiden or The Hague?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit The Hague or Leiden?
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 Leiden can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: The Hague or Leiden?
The Hague
The Hague is a metropolitan city in the province of South Holland, where the Dutch government is located. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima currently reside there with their three children. The Hague is home to the U.N.'s International Court of Justice, as well as the International Criminal Court. It is the third largest city in the country, with a population of just over 500,000.
Leiden
Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Netherlands, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Netherlands, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Netherlands, and The Best Adventure Tours to Netherlands.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayThe Hague €178Leiden €133
The average daily cost (per person) in The Hague is €178, while the average daily cost in Leiden is €133. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for The Hague and Leiden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThe Hague €104Leiden €78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThe Hague €208Leiden €156
Compare Hotels in The Hague and Leiden
Looking for a hotel in The Hague or Leiden? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: The Hague Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.The Hague €19Leiden €26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in The Hague
Also for The Hague, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Utrecht: Train Transfer Utrecht from/to Den Haag: $16
- Taxi Transfer from The Hague to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: $125
- Private Transfer from The Hague to Amsterdam: $136
- Private Transfer from The Hague City to Schiphol Airport : $136
- From One-Way Private Transfer to Schiphol Airport: $256
- Eindhoven: Train Transfer Eindhoven from/to Den Haag: $27
- Den Haag: Train Transfer Den Haag from/to Rotterdam: $8.20
- Amsterdam: Train Transfer Schiphol Airport from/to Den Haag: $20
- Amsterdam: Train Transfer Amsterdam from/to Den Haag: $17
- Amsterdam: Private Transfer to/from The Hague: $277
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden
Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zero Emission Tesla Taxi Transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $92
Is it cheaper to fly into The Hague or Leiden?
Prices for flights to both Leiden and The Hague change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayThe Hague €55Leiden €39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in The Hague
For The Hague, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- WALKING DINNER DELFT | 3 courses incl. 3 drinks and a lot of fun: $87
- WALKING DINNER ZOETERMEER | 3 courses + 3 drinks and a lot of fun: $87
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.The Hague €34Leiden €17
Tours and Activities in The Hague
For The Hague, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Delft: $3.24
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in The Hague: $3.24
- Amsterdam: The Hague, Delft and Rotterdam Private Day Tour: $533
- Bicycle tour The Hague Highlights: $27
- Boattour The Hague and Scheveningen: $160
- Delft: Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $11
- Den Haag: Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive Tour: $74
- Discover Delft with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Discover The Hague's city center with an Outside Escape game tour: $27
- Drive it yourself electric Dune & Summer Flower GPS audio tour: $96
- Drive it yourself electric Dutch Countryside GPS audio tour: $96
- Drive it yourself electric History and Castle GPS audio tour: $96
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $27
- Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Dutch Windmills & Polder Walking Tour: $33
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour in Leiden: $163
- Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.55
- Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $319
- Leiden City Tour with Live guide in Netherlands: $41
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
- Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.59
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
- Walking City Tour with Live guide: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayThe Hague €30Leiden €26
Sample the Local Flavors in The Hague
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in The Hague:
- The Hague Pub Trail: Pub crawl with interactive online game: $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Leiden
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:
- Leiden Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21
- Leiden Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between The Hague and Leiden, we can see that The Hague 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 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 Leiden.
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 Leiden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, The Hague or Leiden?
The Hague has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of The Hague 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 The Hague or Leiden?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit The Hague or Leiden in the Summer?
Both Leiden and The Hague are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to The Hague because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, The Hague is generally around the same temperature as Leiden. Daily temperatures in The Hague average around 17°C (62°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It's quite sunny in Leiden. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in The Hague. The Hague usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during summer. The Hague gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, The Hague usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leiden. The Hague gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyThe Hague 17°C (62°F)Leiden 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit The Hague or Leiden in the Autumn?
Both Leiden and The Hague during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to The Hague this time of year.
The Hague is around the same temperature as Leiden in the autumn. The daily temperature in The Hague averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, The Hague often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden. The Hague gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun.
The Hague usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Leiden. The Hague gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberThe Hague 11°C (51°F)Leiden 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit The Hague or Leiden in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both The Hague and Leiden. Many travelers come to The Hague for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in The Hague. In the winter, The Hague is around the same temperature as Leiden. Typically, the winter temperatures in The Hague in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Leiden averages at about 2°C (36°F).
The Hague usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during winter. The Hague gets 47 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, The Hague usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leiden. The Hague gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryThe Hague 2°C (36°F)Leiden 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit The Hague or Leiden in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to The Hague as well as Leiden. Many visitors come to The Hague in the spring for the activities around the city.
In April, The Hague is generally around the same temperature as Leiden. Daily temperatures in The Hague average around 8°C (46°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In the spring, The Hague often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden. The Hague gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun.
The Hague usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Leiden. The Hague gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilThe Hague 8°C (46°F)Leiden 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Leiden and The Hague
| The Hague | Leiden | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.