A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Windsor vs. Lausanne for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Windsor or Lausanne?

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

Should I visit Windsor or Lausanne? 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.

Windsor

Windsor is a traditional, touristy, and beautiful town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food.

Lausanne

Lausanne is a diverse, vibrant, and cultural city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Windsor and Lausanne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Windsor or Lausanne?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Lausanne. Although Windsor and Lausanne are both popular with visitors, Lausanne has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Lausanne is more popular for its food and shopping, while Windsor is known for its small town charm and impressive beauty. Windsor is more touristy than Lausanne and is known for being home to the largest and oldest operating castle in the world. Lausanne is popular for being the home of the International Olympic Committee headquarters. It is also home to The Olympic Museum.

How is Windsor different from Lausanne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the very good sights and museums in both Windsor and Lausanne.

Windsor offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The main draw is the Windsor Castle, which many people explore in a few hours. Then you can pass some time wandering around the town.

Many visitors head to Lausanne specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

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

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

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Lausanne. 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.

Windsor is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are cafes, pubs, and local restaurants that let you sample regional dishes. There are also chain restaurants and international options including Japanese and Thai food.

Is Windsor or Lausanne Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Windsor and Lausanne.

Windsor has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There's a low key nightlife scene with local pubs and a theater. Dinner cruises are also a fun activity.

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 Windsor or Lausanne Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the good old towns in both Windsor and Lausanne.

Many people head to Windsor to see the old town. The old town is opposite the castle and caters specifically to tourists with its restaurants, pubs, and a few shops.

Lausanne has an old town worth visiting. There's a relatively large historic section that has a Gothic cathedral and many quaint shops.

Is the Shopping Better in Windsor or Lausanne?

Lausanne is well known for its shopping opportunities. However, Windsor is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Lausanne is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Windsor is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Windsor or Lausanne Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Windsor or Lausanne.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Windsor. Kids will enjoy seeing a working castle when they visit Windsor Castle. While a visit to Windsor Castle is the obvious draw to the town, there are also river cruises, parks, and even the Royal Windsor Maze at the Goswells Park that the whole family will enjoy. There is also a Legoland in the area for those who have more time.

Lausanne offers lots of family activities. 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 Windsor or Lausanne Better for Couples?

Windsor is well known for couples. Also, Lausanne is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Windsor frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Exploring the Windsor Castle, taking a river cruise, and wandering the parks and gardens hand in hand make this a great place for a couples retreat.

Lausanne is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Is Windsor or Lausanne Better for Students?

Lausanne is well known for students. However, Windsor is not popular with students.

Lausanne is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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.

Windsor is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Windsor and Lausanne.

You'll find some public transit in Windsor, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a bus system around town.

While Lausanne offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a comprehensive network of transportation options available in town including buses and boats.

Is Windsor or Lausanne a more walkable city?

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

Windsor is a very walkable destination. The town is compact and relatively easy to walk around. There are also several walking routes in the area.

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 Windsor Worth Visiting? and Is Lausanne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lausanne or Windsor?

How long in Windsor or Lausanne?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Windsor or Lausanne to fill your time. In our opinion, Lausanne has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Lausanne than Windsor. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lausanne than Windsor 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 Lausanne.

One day in Windsor or Lausanne?

Windsor is a small town where visitors enjoy the nightlife and food. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Lausanne, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Windsor or Lausanne?

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

In Lausanne, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Lausanne has to offer.

Five days in Windsor or Lausanne?

Windsor 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 great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Windsor or Lausanne?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lausanne. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Lausanne. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in United Kingdom, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Luxury Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Windsor or Lausanne?

Lausanne has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Windsor. When comparing the sizes of Windsor 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.