A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vienna vs. Kiel for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Vienna or Kiel?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vienna or Kiel, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Vienna

Vienna is a traditional, artistic, and musical city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the food, shopping, and museums.

Kiel

Kiel is a maritime, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Vienna and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Vienna or Kiel?

You'll generally find more things to do in Vienna than Kiel. Vienna is bigger than Kiel, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Vienna is better known for its museums, food, music, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Kiel is more popular for its beaches and big city activities. Vienna is more touristy than Kiel and is popular for its strong classical music roots including being home to both Mozart and Beethoven. Also, Vienna is famous for The Imperial Schönbrunn Palace. Kiel is well known for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival.

The Imperial Schönbrunn Palace

How is Vienna different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Vienna or Kiel?

Vienna is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Vienna offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Filled with palaces, museums, and parks, there are many things to see around town. Make sure you check out the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg, and Kunsthistorisches Museum.

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

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

Vienna 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 Vienna. The city's cuisine has been influenced by many different flavors. Pastries are ubiquitous so make sure you try the apfelstrudel and kaiserschmarrn. Other common dishes include wiener schnitzel and goulash.

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 Vienna or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

The notable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Vienna and Kiel.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Vienna. The music and dance scene is diverse and fun. There are clubs that cater to different crowds and personalities.

Kiel has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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 Vienna or Kiel Better for Music?

Vienna is a must-visit destination for its live music scene. However, Kiel is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Vienna On the surface, the city seems locked in the past, with ballet dancing and classical concerts filling the evenings. But the city also has a famous jazz scene, as well as techno, hip-hop, and rock all having a strong presence.

Kiel is not a live music destination.

Is Vienna or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Kiel is a nice place to visit for the beache. However, Vienna is not a beach destination.

Kiel has a beach worth visiting. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Vienna is not a beach destination.

Is Vienna or Kiel Better for its Old Town?

Vienna is a must-visit destination for its old town. However, Kiel does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Vienna can be explored in its historical center. Innere Stadt, as it is known, is encircled by Ringstrasse and filled with many shops and cafes. Head to Kärntner Strasse and Graben for popular pedestrian streets.

Kiel does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Vienna or Kiel?

Vienna is a must-visit destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Vienna make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is filled with pedestrian streets that are lined with designer shops, jewelry stores, and art galleries.

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 Vienna or Kiel Better for Families?

Vienna and Kiel are both notable destinations for the whole family.

Vienna is a family-friendly city. Families enjoy taking carriage rides or dressing up in costumes at Schönbrunn Palace. The city also has children's museums, parks, and playgrounds where you can let little legs run around.

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 Vienna or Kiel Better for Couples?

Vienna is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Vienna makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With it's Baroque architecture and classical concerts, this city is filled with romance. Explore the palaces, take a carriage ride, or enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant.

Kiel is a good city for couples to visit. 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 Vienna or Kiel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Vienna. The city flies under the radar for many backpackers, but those who visit will be rewarded with beautiful buildings, charming cafes, and fun hostels.

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 Vienna or Kiel Better for Students?

Vienna 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 Vienna. The city is a popular destination for international students who are interested in art, architecture, and music.

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

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

Vienna is a must-visit destination for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Vienna has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. The system includes buses, trains, trams and underground lines.

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

Is Vienna or Kiel a more walkable city?

Vienna is a must-visit destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Vienna on foot is easy. The city center is particularly walkable with pedestrian areas and low traffic zones.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Vienna?

How long in Vienna or Kiel?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Vienna and Kiel. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Vienna than in Kiel. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Vienna, and 1-3 days is enough time in Kiel.

Families should spend more time in Vienna than Kiel. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Vienna, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

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

One day in Vienna or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of Vienna. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kiel. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Vienna or Kiel?

Vienna is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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.

Kiel is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Vienna or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the traditional destination of Vienna. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kiel. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Vienna or Kiel?

The traditional city of Vienna offers shopping and museums. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the waterfront destination of Kiel. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

When comparing the travel costs between Vienna and Kiel, we can see that Vienna is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Vienna or Kiel?

Vienna has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Kiel. When comparing the sizes of Vienna 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 Vienna 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 Vienna or Kiel in the Summer?

Both Kiel and Vienna during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Vienna in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Kiel for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Vienna is a little warmer than Kiel in the summer. The daily temperature in Vienna averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Kiel fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In Kiel, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vienna. In the summer, Vienna often gets more sunshine than Kiel. Vienna gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun.

Vienna usually gets less rain in July than Kiel. Vienna gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vienna or Kiel in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vienna and Kiel. Most visitors come to Vienna for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Kiel because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Vienna is a little warmer than Kiel. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vienna in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Kiel averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Vienna usually receives more sunshine than Kiel during autumn. Vienna gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Vienna usually receives less rain than Kiel. Vienna gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Vienna or Kiel in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Vienna as well as Kiel. The winter months attract visitors to Vienna because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.

It's quite cold in Kiel in the winter. The weather in Vienna can be very cold. In January, Vienna is generally much warmer than Kiel. Daily temperatures in Vienna average around 2°C (36°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

In the winter, Vienna often gets more sunshine than Kiel. Vienna gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun.

Vienna usually gets less rain in January than Kiel. Vienna gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vienna or Kiel in the Spring?

Both Kiel and Vienna are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Vienna this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Kiel for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Vienna is much warmer than Kiel in the spring. The daily temperature in Vienna averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Kiel fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vienna. Vienna usually receives more sunshine than Kiel during spring. Vienna gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Vienna usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kiel. Vienna gets 51 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 Vienna