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

Should you visit Odense or Leiden?

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 Leiden. 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 historic, European, and progressive city. It's also popular because of the nightlife and food. See Odense travel costs.

Leiden

Leiden is a scholarly, historic, and cultural city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Leiden travel costs.

Odense and Leiden: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Odense or Leiden?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Leiden than Odense. While Odense is larger than Leiden, Leiden has more sights and attractions for tourists. Leiden is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, and shopping, while Odense attracts visitors for its nightlife. Leiden is more touristy than Odense and is popular for its many museums and renowned university. It is also well known for the Hortus Botanicus. Odense is famous for

How is Odense different from Leiden?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Leiden 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 Leiden?

Leiden 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 Leiden. There are a huge number of museums around town. Some are affiliated with the museum, while others are not. Some of the favorites include the National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden), Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Boerhaave Museum, the Corpus Museum, and the National Ethnological Museum.

Odense does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Leiden is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Odense is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Leiden is an experience not to be missed. There's a diverse food scene with many international flavors such as Japanese, Chinese, and French. The cafe culture influences the culinary scene and you'll find many cozy cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a bite to eat.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Odense. You'll find local restaurants serving local favorites such as smoked salmon. You'll also find burger joints and international options such as sushi.

Is Odense or Leiden Better for Nightlife?

Odense is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Leiden is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Odense has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

Leiden has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The large student population means that there is a good nightlife scene. There are a variety of bars, pubs, and cafes where you can enjoy a drink, with options ranging from cozy, intimate spots to larger, more vibrant venues. The Oude Markt area, with its charming historic setting, is a hotspot for nightlife, offering a mix of traditional Dutch bars and international-themed pubs.

Is the Shopping Better in Odense or Leiden?

Leiden is a good destination for its shopping areas. However, Odense is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Many visitors go to Leiden to go shopping. There are a mix of unique boutiques, international brands, and charming local stores. The Breestraat and Nieuwe Rijn are popular shopping streets, and they're lined with a variety of shops selling everything from fashion and accessories to books, art, and antiques. The city also has several markets, including a weekly Saturday market near the Pieterskerk, where you can find fresh produce, flowers, and vintage items.

Odense is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Odense or Leiden Better for Families?

Both Odense and Leiden are high quality 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.

Leiden is a very family-friendly destination. The town has a mix of educational, cultural, and fun activities for all ages. There are many family-friendly museums like Naturalis Biodiversity Center, where kids can explore dinosaurs and wildlife, and the National Museum of Antiquities, which brings history to life. There's also the Corpus Museum, which takes visitors on a unique, interactive journey through the human body.

Is Odense or Leiden Better for Couples?

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

Leiden is a good city for couples to visit. Couples who enjoy charming towns and world class museums will enjoy their time here. The town also has picturesque canals, historic bridges, and cozy street cafes. Couples can explore places like the Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Netherlands, or enjoy a quiet moment in the scenic Leidse Hout Park.

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 Leiden Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of backpackers visit Leiden. The city offers affordable accommodations, including hostels and budget-friendly hotels, as well as reasonably priced eateries serving Dutch classics and international cuisine. Many of Leiden’s attractions, like its historic canals, charming streets, and open-air markets, can be enjoyed for free.

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 Leiden Better for Students?

Leiden 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 Leiden. It feels like a university town and it's home to Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university is known for its academic excellence and vibrant student community. The town also has a young atmosphere with plenty of affordable cafes, bars, and cultural events that influence the student life. Its compact size makes it easy to navigate by bike, and the abundance of libraries, study spaces, and museums provides ample resources for learning and inspiration. Housing can be difficult to find though.

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 Leiden Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Leiden is a good destination for its public transit. However, Odense does not have public transit.

Leiden has a few public transit options. The Leiden Central Station is the main hub for trains, which connect the city to other towns throughout the country. Around town there are buses that are reliable and convenient.

Odense does not have public transit.

Is Odense or Leiden a more walkable city?

Leiden is notable for its ease of walking around. However, Odense is not a walkable destination.

Leiden is a very walkable destination. The city is compact and easy to navigate on foot, with many of its attractions, cafes, shops, and historical sites located within walking distance of each other.

Odense is not a walkable destination.

Should I spend more time in Leiden or Odense?

How long in Odense or Leiden?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Odense or Leiden to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Odense than Leiden because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Odense, and 1-2 days is enough time in Leiden.

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

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

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

One day in Odense or Leiden?

Many travelers enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the destination of Odense. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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

A weekend in Odense or Leiden?

Odense 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.

Leiden 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 Leiden?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Odense. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Leiden. 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 Leiden?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the European destination of Odense. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Leiden. 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 from Copenhagen, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Denmark, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.

When comparing the travel costs between Odense and Leiden, we can see that Odense 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 Odense Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Odense or Leiden?

Odense has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Odense 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.