A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers York vs. Interlaken for Food, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit York or Interlaken?

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

Should I visit York or Interlaken? 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.

York

York is a historic, medieval, and fanciful city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Interlaken

Interlaken is a adrenaline-filled, breathtaking, and world-class town. You'll find world class beauty here as well. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for skiing, food, and hiking.

York and Interlaken: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in York or Interlaken?

Tourists will generally find more to do in York. Although York and Interlaken are both popular with visitors, York has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. York is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Interlaken is known for its skiing, hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Interlaken is more touristy than York and is popular for its adventure sports, alpine setting, and beautiful lakes. York is popular for its markets, old town, and its many ghost tours. It is also home to The Shambles.

How is York different from Interlaken?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is York or Interlaken Better for Skiing?

Interlaken is a popular place for snow skiing. However, York is not a skiing destination.

Interlaken is a great destination for skiing with plenty areas to explore. While the city itself has no skiing, there is access to several ski areas in Jungfrau. There are several different resorts in the area near Grindelwald, Wengen, and Mürren. You'll need to take a train or ski bus to get most places.

York is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in York or Interlaken?

York is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Interlaken does not have museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to York specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Popular museums include the York Castle Museum, the National Railway Museum, Castle Howard, and JORVIK Viking Centre.

Interlaken does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in York or Interlaken? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

York is a world-class destination for its restaurants. Also, Interlaken is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

York has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Meat pies, fudge, and fish and chips are just some of the culinary experiences you'll find here. The Shambles Market has vendors that sell a wide variety of cuisines. There are also food trucks throughout town that offer affordable and delicious meal options.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Interlaken. Restaurants in the area serve local classics like fondue, local meats, cheeses, and chocolate. You can finish your meal off with strudel or head to a local bakery and try their samplings. Meals are expensive but the quality is good. You should also out into the countryside and enjoy a meal looking out over the mountains.

Is York or Interlaken Better for Nightlife?

York is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. However, Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

York has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The young population and thriving tourist scene means there's no shortage of nightlife around town. Check out a pub or music venue to experience everything that city has to offer.

Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is York or Interlaken Better for its Old Town?

York is a world-class destination for its historic old town. However, Interlaken does not have a historic old town.

The historic old town of York is revered around the world. The charming old town is filled with shops and restaurants. There are street performers, fudge shops, and all of the Harry Potter merchandise that a person could need.

Interlaken does not have a historic old town.

Is York or Interlaken Better for Hiking?

Interlaken is a world-class destination for the nearby hiking options. However, York is not a hiking destination.

People visit Interlaken specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. Hikes in the area range from easy to challenging with every option in between. You can experience beautiful waterfalls, breathtaking views, and dramatic ridge hikes. Several of the best hikes in the area include Schynige Platte Ridge Trail, Mt Niesen Panorama Trail, and Giessbach Waterfalls.

York is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in York or Interlaken?

York is very good for shopping. However, Interlaken is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in York. The old town has many great candy stores that sell fudge and other local specialties. There are also Harry Potter stores that sell potions, t-shirts, games, and more.

Interlaken is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is York or Interlaken Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either York or Interlaken.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, York is a very family-friendly destination. The city does an amazing job bringing history to life in a way that kids will enjoy. The JORVIK Viking Centre transports visitors back in time and introduces them to a fully immersive viking experience. The York Dungeon is great for older kids as long as they don't scare easily. Actors and special effects offer a terrifying and entertaining visit through a York dungeon. Harry Potter fans will enjoy exploring the potion shops and broomstick stores along the iconic Shambles, which is said to be an inspiration for J.K. Rowling's Diagon Alley.

Interlaken is one of the most popular family destinations. While the city is beautiful, it's really the surrounding areas that you and your family will enjoy. There are amazing hikes, stunning views, playgrounds, lakes, and more. There's also an impressive ropes course that adventurous kids will love, funiculars, gondolas, and so many water sports!

Is York or Interlaken Better for Couples?

Interlaken is a world-class destination for romance. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Interlaken makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The mountaintop views, breathtaking hikes, and beautiful lakes make this a top destination for couples. Make sure you head out of town and fully immerse yourself in everything that the area has to offer. Kayaking, canoeing, paragliding, and more will make this a trip of a lifetime.

York makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples can explore the history and entertainment venues that make York an enjoyable destination. There are museums, restaurants, and outdoor markets that make this a great weekend getaway.

Is York or Interlaken Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

York is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Interlaken is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

York is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are a few hostels around town as well as nightlife venues and entertainment spots that appeal to backpackers and younger travelers. For great and affordable food, grab a meal at one of the many food trucks around town.

It's common for backpackers to visit Interlaken. It's a world class destination with so many activities that backpackers will love, but it's also one of the most expensive areas in one of the most expensive countries. There are hostels in town as well as a few in the nearby towns and countryside, but prices are steep. Cook when you can and enjoy all of the free activities that the area has to offer.

Is York or Interlaken Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Interlaken is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Interlaken is fairly effecient and thorough. Buses travel around town, but to get into the mountains there are trains, cog railways, funiculars, and gondolas.

York has some public transit options. There is a reliable and efficient bus system around town.

Is York or Interlaken a more walkable city?

York and Interlaken both are good when exploring on foot.

York is somewhat walkable. The old town has many pedestrian streets that are easily explored on food.

Interlaken is a somewhat walkable place. The old town is relatively walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is York Worth Visiting? and Is Interlaken Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Interlaken or York?

How long in York or Interlaken?

In either York or Interlaken, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Interlaken than York because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for York, and 2-5 days is enough time in Interlaken.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in York than Interlaken 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 York.

One day in York or Interlaken?

With museums and nightlife around the medieval city of York, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the food and skiing when visiting the destination of Interlaken. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in York or Interlaken?

With nightlife and food around the destination of York, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the food. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Interlaken is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the hiking. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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.

Five days in York or Interlaken?

York, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the food and skiing when visiting the world-class destination of Interlaken. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in York or Interlaken?

York is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the food. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The breathtaking town of Interlaken offers skiing and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Geneva, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich.

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

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

Which is Bigger, York or Interlaken?

York has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of York and Interlaken, 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 York or Interlaken?

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 York or Interlaken in the Summer?

Both Interlaken and York during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to York this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Interlaken for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

York is cooler than Interlaken in the summer. The daily temperature in York averages around 16°C (62°F) in July, and Interlaken fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

In Interlaken, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, York often gets less sunshine than Interlaken. York gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 241 hours of full sun.

York usually gets less rain in July than Interlaken. York gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit York or Interlaken in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both York and Interlaken. Many travelers come to York for the shopping scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Interlaken in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, York is cooler than Interlaken. Typically, the autumn temperatures in York in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Interlaken averages at about 13°C (56°F).

York usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Interlaken during autumn. York gets 112 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 120 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, York usually receives less rain than Interlaken. York gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit York or Interlaken in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to York as well as Interlaken. Many visitors come to York in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Interlaken for the skiing and the cuisine during these months.

Interlaken can be very cold during winter. York can get quite cold in the winter. In January, York is generally a little warmer than Interlaken. Daily temperatures in York average around 4°C (39°F), and Interlaken fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, York often gets more sunshine than Interlaken. York gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 55 hours of full sun.

York usually gets less rain in January than Interlaken. York gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit York or Interlaken in the Spring?

Both Interlaken and York are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Interlaken because of the natural beauty.

York is cooler than Interlaken in the spring. The daily temperature in York averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Interlaken fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

York usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Interlaken during spring. York gets 151 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, York usually receives less rain than Interlaken. York gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Interlaken and York