A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Petra vs. Leiden for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Petra 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 Petra and Leiden can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Petra or Leiden?

Petra

Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.

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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.


Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Petra?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Leiden is $189. 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 Petra and Leiden in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Petra $59
    Leiden $91
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Petra $118
    Leiden $182
Compare Hotels in Petra and Leiden

Looking for a hotel in Petra 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.

Hotels in Petra


Hotels in Leiden


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: Petra Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Petra $23
    Leiden $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:

  • Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $140
  • Private Transfer from Ma'in Hotel to Aqaba Airport: $120
  • Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
  • Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
  • Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
  • Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
  • From Eilat: Petra Full-Day Guided Tour with Transfers: $219
  • Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
  • Airport Transfer to and from Petra: $92

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden

Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Premium electric transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $101
  • Private Tour of The Hague and Leiden including Transfer: $251
  • Historical Private Tour of Delft and Leiden including Transfer: $262

Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Leiden?

Prices for flights to both Leiden and Petra 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Petra $66
    Leiden $78
Typical Food Prices in Petra

Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:


  • Dinner for Two
    $12
  • Juice
    $1.76

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.

  • Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $50
  • Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Petra $47
    Leiden $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:


  • Entry to Petra for One
    $71

Tours and Activities in Petra

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:

  • 2-Day Amman to Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea Adventure Tour: $220
  • 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
  • 3-Hour Private Petra Tour: Exclusive Classical Guided Experience: $55
  • 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
  • 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
  • Amman: Petra by Night Tour with Optional Day Visit: $99
  • From Petra Wadi Rum Private 8 hours roundtrip tour : $140
  • Hike Tour of Petra: $10
  • Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour | Guide Sami Nawafleh: $225
  • Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
  • Petra Secret Backdoor Tour: Hidden Gems & Exclusive Experience: $240
  • Private Full Day Tour to Aqaba Red Sea from Petra Hotels: $200

Tours and Activities in Leiden

For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Pilgrims and Painters of Leiden A Self Guided Walking Tour: $6.94
  • Discover Leiden's Highlights: Your Self-Guided GPS Tour: $8.29
  • Pub Trail an adventure full of surprises: $13
  • Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $14
  • Cruise through the Historic City Center with Guide: $15
  • Guided City Canal Cruise: $15
  • The Best of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Self-Guided City Trail Kids Tour in Noordwijk (4-8 years): $23
  • Windmill cruise through Warmond: $23
  • 90 minutes Self-Guided Walking tour with puzzles in Leiden: $23
  • historical and entertaining city tour in German: $24
  • Escape Tour Leiden -selfguided citygame- find the secret exit!: $24

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Petra $15
    Leiden $30


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Leiden, we can see that Leiden is more expensive. And not only is Petra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Leiden is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Petra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Petra 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 Leiden would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leiden than you might in Petra.

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


Which is Bigger, Petra or Leiden?

Leiden has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra 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 Petra or Leiden?

Leiden has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Petra experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Petra or Leiden in the Summer?

Both Leiden and Petra during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Leiden this time of year.

It's very hot in Petra this time of the year. Petra is much warmer than Leiden in the summer. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Petra. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun.

Petra usually gets less rain in July than Leiden. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Petra 33°C (91°F) 
    Leiden 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Petra or Leiden in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Leiden. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Leiden for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Petra is much warmer than Leiden. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Petra in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Leiden averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Leiden. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Petra 27°C (80°F) 
    Leiden 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Petra or Leiden in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Petra as well as Leiden. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Leiden in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Petra is generally much warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 15°C (59°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the winter, Petra often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun.

Petra usually gets less rain in January than Leiden. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Petra 15°C (59°F) 
    Leiden 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit Petra or Leiden in the Spring?

Both Leiden and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year.

Petra is much warmer than Leiden in the spring. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 25°C (76°F) in April, and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Leiden. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Petra 25°C (76°F) 
    Leiden 8°C (46°F)

Typical Weather for Leiden and Petra

Petra Leiden
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 15°C (59°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Feb 17°C (62°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 20°C (68°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 25°C (76°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 31°C (88°F) 0 mm (0 in) 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 33°C (91°F) 0 mm (0 in) 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aug 32°C (90°F) 0 mm (0 in) 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 30°C (87°F) 0 mm (0 in) 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 21°C (70°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 16°C (62°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)


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