Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Utrecht?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Utrecht or Leiden?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Utrecht or Leiden? 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.
Where Should I go: Utrecht or Leiden?
Utrecht
Utrecht is both a province and a city in the Netherlands. The city is a unique university city with a lively atmosphere. Imagine Amsterdam but smaller, and with fewer tourists. Utrecht has the same underlying historical/magical feel as Amsterdam, but is full of locals rather than crowds of tourists. It has a population of about 300,000 making it the fourth largest city in the Netherlands.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Netherlands, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Netherlands, The Best River Cruises in Netherlands, and The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUtrecht €189Leiden €133
The average daily cost (per person) in Utrecht is €189, 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 Utrecht and Leiden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUtrecht €106Leiden €78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUtrecht €212Leiden €156
Compare Hotels in Utrecht and Leiden
Looking for a hotel in Utrecht 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: Utrecht Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Utrecht €23Leiden €26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Utrecht
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Utrecht:
- Train Transfer Utrecht from/to Rotterdam: $15
- Private taxi transfer from Utrecht to Amsterdam: $101
- Private transfer from Utrecht to AMS Schiphol Airport: $119
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 Utrecht or Leiden?
Prices for flights to both Leiden and Utrecht 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 dayUtrecht €58Leiden €39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Utrecht
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Utrecht.
- City Boat Tour & Balkan Restaurant Lunch OR Dinner: $31
- Vegan Food Tour like a local. Eat, walk, enjoy.: $69
- Vegan Food Tour by bike in get of the beaten track! : $70
- Vegan Food Tour like a Local: eat, walk, enjoy Utrecht: $70
- Guided Food Tour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Utrecht €44Leiden €17
Tours and Activities in Utrecht
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Utrecht are as follows:
- Castles, Canals and Good Folk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Utrecht: $8.99
- Christmas Joy in Utrecht Walking Tour: $209
- Christmas Joy in Utrecht Walking Tour: $446
- Cultural and Historical Audio Guided Walking Tour of Utrecht: $11
- Cultural and Historical Audio Guided Walking Tour of Utrecht: $13
- Discover Utrecht with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour: $27
- Discover Utrecht’s Zocherpark in this Outside Escape game tour!: $27
- Discover Utrecht’s city center in this Outside Escape game tour!: $22
- Explore Gems of Utrecht Walking Tour for Couples: $339
- Explore Gems of Utrecht Walking Tour for Couples: $174
- From Amsterdam: Castle De Haar Guided Tour: $133
- Highlights walking Tour in Utrecht with Audio and GPS Guide: $6.03
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.54
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.58
- Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
- The Hidden Stories of Leiden - Self-guided audio tour: $14
- Self-Guided City Trail Kids Tour in Noordwijk (4-8 years): $21
- Windmill cruise through Warmond: $21
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Sea Tour: $26
- 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $27
- Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Leiden Tour: $31
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Tour: $31
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUtrecht €24Leiden €26
Sample the Local Flavors in Utrecht
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Utrecht:
- Utrecht Pub Trail: Pub crawl with interactive online game: $12
- Utrecht Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21
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 Utrecht and Leiden, we can see that Utrecht 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 Utrecht would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Utrecht 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 Utrecht Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Utrecht or Leiden?
Utrecht has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Utrecht 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 Utrecht or Leiden?
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 Utrecht or Leiden in the Summer?
Both Leiden and Utrecht during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Utrecht this time of year.
In July, Utrecht is generally around the same temperature as Leiden. Daily temperatures in Utrecht average around 17°C (62°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Utrecht often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden. Utrecht gets 194 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun.
Utrecht usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Leiden. Utrecht gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyUtrecht 17°C (62°F)Leiden 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Utrecht or Leiden in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Utrecht and Leiden. Many travelers come to Utrecht for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Utrecht is around the same temperature as Leiden in the autumn. The daily temperature in Utrecht averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Utrecht usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during autumn. Utrecht gets 100 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Utrecht usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leiden. Utrecht gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberUtrecht 11°C (51°F)Leiden 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Utrecht or Leiden in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Utrecht as well as Leiden. Many visitors come to Utrecht in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Leiden can be very cold during winter. Utrecht can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Utrecht is around the same temperature as Leiden. Typically, the winter temperatures in Utrecht in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Leiden averages at about 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Utrecht often gets less sunshine than Leiden. Utrecht gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun.
Utrecht usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Leiden. Utrecht gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryUtrecht 2°C (36°F)Leiden 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Utrecht or Leiden in the Spring?
Both Leiden and Utrecht are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Utrecht for the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Utrecht is generally around the same temperature as Leiden. Daily temperatures in Utrecht average around 8°C (46°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Utrecht usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during spring. Utrecht gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Utrecht usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leiden. Utrecht gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilUtrecht 8°C (46°F)Leiden 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Leiden and Utrecht
| Utrecht | 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.