A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Odense vs. Basel for Nightlife, Families, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Odense or Basel?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Odense and Basel. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Odense

Odense is a beautiful, historic, and European city. And you can't forget about the nightlife and food. See Odense travel costs.

Basel

Basel is a historic, cultural, and museum-filled city. With stunning beauty, Basel attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Basel travel costs.

Odense and Basel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Odense or Basel?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Basel. Although Odense and Basel are about the same size, Basel has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Basel is more popular for its museums and attractions, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Odense is known for its nightlife. Basel is more touristy than Odense and is known for its many museums and its nice old town. It is also home to The Kunstmuseum Basel. Odense is popular for

How is Odense different from Basel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Odense or Basel?

Basel is notable for its sights and museums. However, Odense does not have museums and landmarks.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Basel. The city is filled with history. Head to Minster Hill to see the beautiful historic church and Münsterplatz. There are also several unique museums around town including Jean Tinguely Museum, the Paper Mill Museum, the Historical Museum, and the Museum of Art.

Odense does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Odense or Basel? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Odense and Basel.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Odense area. You'll find local restaurants serving local favorites such as smoked salmon. You'll also find burger joints and international options such as sushi.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Basel. Food around town can be expensive, but there are some outdoor markets where you can buy fruit and a bratwurst for a reasonable price. The city is known for its breads, soups, and pastries, which are all delicious.

Is Odense or Basel Better for Nightlife?

Odense is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Odense has plenty to do after the sun goes down. You'll find a number of bars and clubs around town. Many are conveniently close together so you can hit up several places in one night. Start your night at a pub before heading out dancing in the club a few hours later.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Basel. The city's nightlife comes alive as the sun sets. There are bars, pubs, and dance clubs that stay active until the early morning hours.

Is Odense or Basel Better for its Old Town?

Basel is notable for its historic old town charm. However, Odense does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Basel. The charming old town is fun to explore on foot with its quaint streets and meandering alleys. The beautiful architecture and ornate fountains give the area a unique personality. On the hottest days you may even see locals swimming in some of the fountains.

Odense does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Odense or Basel?

Basel is notable for its shopping areas. However, Odense is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Basel. The old town is filled with shops that you can wander through as you explore. Popular shopping streets include Freie Strasse and the area around Marktplatz, where you'll find boutique shops and interesting trinkets. You can also head to the city's oldest department store - Manor.

Odense is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Odense or Basel More Beautiful?

Basel is notable for its scenery and beauty. However, Odense is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Basel attracts visitors from all around. Situated along the river, this city is beautiful to explore on foot.

Odense is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Odense or Basel Better for Families?

Both Odense and Basel are great family-friendly destinations.

Odense is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. As the home of Hans Christian Andersen, this town is a child's playhouse. You can visit the H.C. Andersen House, which will bring his fairytale mind to life. The city also has more than 200 playgrounds, an amazing zoo, and the Funen Village, which is an open air museum. There's also a castle to explore and paddle boating on the water.

Basel is a very family-friendly destination. The city has an impressive zoo, a really unique toy museum, as well as Aquabasilea with its pools and slides. It's also compact enough that little legs can explore and enjoy everything that it has to offer. If the weather's warm, head for the river to cool off.

Is Odense or Basel Better for Couples?

Basel is a good destination for couples. However, Odense is a mediocre city for romance.

Basel is a good city for couples to visit. Nice restaurants, interesting museums, and several great spas make this a nice place for a romantic trip.

Odense is not the best destination for a couple to visit. It's a charming city with a lot of green space and paddle boating on the water, but it lacks some of the romance that you find in many European cities.

Is Odense or Basel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Basel is a good destination for backpackers. However, Odense is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Basel. There are a few hostels and a really useful City Pass that make this city an option for backpackers and budget travelers. It's also a major transit center so accessibility is convenient. If you're traveling around Europe by train, you'll likely pass through Basel at some point.

Odense is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's a hostel or two in town, but most backpackers don't make the time to visit this off-the-beaten-path destination.

Is Odense or Basel Better for Students?

Basel is notable for students. Also, Odense is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Many students visit Basel. The University of Basel brings in international students from around the world. The city makes a nice base for exploring Europe, but it's also a bit expensive which can be challenging on a student income.

Plenty of students visit Odense. It's a charming and friendly city that makes a fun place to learn and live. There's a fascinating culture and a number of things to do.

Is Odense or Basel Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Basel is notable for its public transit. However, Odense does not have public transit.

The public transit in Basel can get you to most places easily. Trams and buses make it easy to get around town.

Odense does not have public transit.

Is Odense or Basel a more walkable city?

Basel is terrific for its ease of walking around. However, Odense is not a walkable destination.

It is easy to get around Basel on foot. The old town and most of the major attractions are easily accessible on foot.

Odense is not a walkable destination.

Should I spend more time in Basel or Odense?

How long in Odense or Basel?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Odense and Basel. In our opinion, Basel has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Basel than Odense. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Odense, and 1-3 days is enough time in Basel.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Basel than Odense 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 Basel.

One day in Odense or Basel?

In Odense, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this beautiful destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Basel. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Odense or Basel?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Odense. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Basel 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 Odense or Basel?

Odense is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Odense. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Basel. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Odense or Basel?

You'll find food and nightlife around the beautiful destination of Odense. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the museum-filled destination of Basel. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 from Copenhagen, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Denmark, The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Odense or Basel?

Basel has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Odense. When comparing the sizes of Odense and Basel, 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.