Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Zermatt?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zermatt 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 Zermatt and Leiden can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Zermatt or Leiden?
Zermatt
Located at the foot of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a Swiss village best known for its skiing, climbing, and hiking opportunities. It has become a popular mountain resort town due to its location and also features a number of boutique shops, hotels, and restaurants that cater to the vacationers who come to enjoy the many winter activities of the Alps.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZermatt $223Leiden $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Zermatt is $223, while the average daily cost in Leiden is $143. 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 Zermatt and Leiden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZermatt $126Leiden $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZermatt $252Leiden $166
Compare Hotels in Zermatt and Leiden
Looking for a hotel in Zermatt 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: Zermatt Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zermatt $53Leiden $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zermatt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zermatt:
- Zermatt to Malpensa Airport (MXP) - Departure Private Transfer: $141
- Private Transfer Zurich Airport to Zermatt Tasch Station: $1,087
- Cervinia, Italy to Malpensa Airport (MXP) - Departure Private Transfer: $127
- Breuil-Cervinia to Milan Malpensa Airport MXP-Departure Transfer: $118
- 3-Hour Private Transfer from Zermatt and Saa to Geneva Airport: $235
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: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Zermatt or Leiden?
Prices for flights to both Leiden and Zermatt 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 dayZermatt $57Leiden $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zermatt
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zermatt.
- Evening Tapas Tour with Dinner and Drinks: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zermatt $56Leiden $18
Tours and Activities in Zermatt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zermatt are as follows:
- Basel Private Tour: Zermatt & Gornergrat Scenic Railway: $885
- Basel: Gornergrat Railway & Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Tour: $1,067
- Bern Private Tour: Zermatt & Gornergrat Scenic Railway: $856
- Bern Private Tour: Zermatt Village & Glacier Paradise: $801
- Bern: Gornergrat Railway & Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Tour: $984
- From Basel: Zermatt and Mt. Gornergrat Small Group Tour: $530
- From Bern: Zermatt Guided Tour with Matterhorn Railway Pass: $530
- From Zurich: Zermatt Village & Glacier Paradise Private Tour: $885
- Interlaken Private Tour to Gornergrat & Matterhorn Paradise: $1,026
- Interlaken Private Tour: Zermatt & Gornergrat Scenic Railway: $843
- Interlaken Private Tour: Zermatt Village & Glacier Paradise: $801
- Majestic Hiking Private Tour in Zermatt with pick up: $1,692
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: $7.57
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.62
- 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
- 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $21
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Sea Tour: $26
- Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Leiden Tour: $32
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Tour: $32
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZermatt $28Leiden $28
Sample the Local Flavors in Zermatt
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Zermatt:
- Wine Tasting in Valais: $84
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 Zermatt and Leiden, we can see that Zermatt 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 Zermatt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zermatt 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 Zermatt Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zermatt or Leiden?
Leiden has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Zermatt. When comparing the sizes of Zermatt 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 Zermatt 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 Zermatt or Leiden in the Summer?
Both Leiden and Zermatt during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Zermatt because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Zermatt is generally a little warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Zermatt average around 23°C (73°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zermatt. In the summer, Zermatt often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Zermatt gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zermatt. Zermatt usually gets more rain in July than Leiden. Zermatt gets 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZermatt 23°C (73°F)Leiden 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Zermatt or Leiden in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zermatt and Leiden. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Zermatt this time of year.
Zermatt is a little warmer than Leiden in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zermatt averages around 15°C (58°F) in October, and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Zermatt usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during autumn. Zermatt gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Zermatt gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Zermatt usually receives more rain than Leiden. Zermatt gets 140 mm (5.5 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 OctoberZermatt 15°C (58°F)Leiden 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Zermatt or Leiden in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zermatt as well as Leiden. Many travelers come to Zermatt for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Zermatt. In the winter, Zermatt is much warmer than Leiden. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zermatt in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Leiden averages at about 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Zermatt often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Zermatt gets 119 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun.
Zermatt usually gets more rain in January than Leiden. Zermatt gets 76 mm (3 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 JanuaryZermatt 5°C (41°F)Leiden 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Zermatt or Leiden in the Spring?
Both Leiden and Zermatt are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Zermatt in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.
In April, Zermatt is generally much warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Zermatt average around 13°C (55°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Zermatt usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during spring. Zermatt gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Zermatt. In April, Zermatt usually receives more rain than Leiden. Zermatt gets 152 mm (6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZermatt 13°C (55°F)Leiden 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Leiden and Zermatt
| Zermatt | Leiden | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (49°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 194 mm (7.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (69°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (67°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (58°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (49°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (42°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.