A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Berlin vs. Krakow for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Berlin or Krakow?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Berlin or Krakow, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Berlin or Krakow?

Berlin

Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. As such, travelers can expect typical European prices for everything from hotels to food to sights and attractions. While it's possible to experience this city on a cheaper budget, don't expect to get much without paying a decent amount.

With a population of about 4.5 million, Berlin is a very international city that is well known for its high level of tolerance, an eclectic nightlife, an artistic vibe and many historical sights. There are museums, palaces and landmarks spread throughout the city. Despite having a significant amount of damage during the last few years of World War II, Berlin has been rebuilt with an interesting diversity of architecture styles. This is particularly true after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Architecture in the city represents many different historical periods ranging from medieval buildings through modern, glass structures.

Krakow

Krakow is Poland's second largest city. It sits on both sides of the Wisla River at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. There are more than 1.4 million residents in the metropolitan area. Krakow is known as a historical and beautiful city that is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Tourism makes up a large part of the city's economy, but there is also a university and several local colleges which are major employers as well. Technology has grown in recent years and the city has some notable employees including Google, IBM and Motorola. Other important industries include steel, pharmaceuticals and tobacco.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Cultural Tours in Germany, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Berlin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Berlin is €137, while the average daily cost in Krakow is €60. 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 Berlin and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Berlin 64
    Krakow 39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Berlin 128
    Krakow 78
Compare Hotels in Berlin and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Berlin or Krakow? 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 Berlin


Hotels in Krakow


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: Berlin Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Berlin 18
    Krakow 6.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Berlin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Berlin:


  • Short Trip Metro Ticket
    1.40
  • Bahn Ticket
    3.00
  • Short Taxi Ride
    20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berlin

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

  • Arrival Private Transfer from Berlin Airport BER to Berlin City by Luxury Van: $141
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Berlin Airport BER to Berlin City in Business Car: $133
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Brandenburg Airport BER to Berlin in Luxury Car: $141
  • Arrival Transfer from Berlin Train Station to Berlin by Sedan: $72
  • Arrival Transfer: Berlin Airport BER to Berlin in Business Car: $108
  • Arrival Transfer: Berlin Airport BER to Berlin in Luxury Van: $112
  • Berlin Airport (BER) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
  • Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer : $31
  • Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $63
  • Berlin Airport Arrival Transfer to Potsdam Hotels: $173
  • Berlin Airporttransfer, Driver, Chauffeur, Limousinenservice: $107
  • Berlin City Departure Private Transfer to Berlin Train Station in Luxury Car: $78

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:

  • Private Transfer to or from Berlin: $929
  • Private Transfer to or from Budapest: $867
  • Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $747
  • From Gdansk or One-Way Private Transfer: $669
  • Private Transfer to or from Bratislava: $619
  • Private transfer! Warsaw Chopin Airport - Krakow City Center: $470
  • Private transfer from Krakow to Budapest or from Budapest to Krakow: $299
  • Private door-to-door transfer from Krakow to Budapest: $291
  • Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
  • Transfer from Krakow (Balice airport) to Krynica Zdroj : $283
  • Private Transfer Airport to Warszawa OkÄ™cie: $278
  • Private transfer from Katowice AirPort to Krakow City: $272

Is it cheaper to fly into Berlin or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Berlin 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
    Berlin 52
    Krakow 12
Typical Food Prices in Berlin

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Berlin:


  • Sandwich and Coffee To Go
    5.00
  • Turkish Sandwich
    2.00
  • Currywurst
    2.00
  • 2 Pho Noodles
    9.00
  • Restaurant Dinner and Beers (for 2)
    60
  • Mauer Park (2)
    11
  • Coffees at Impala
    7.80

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berlin

For Berlin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • English Stand-Up Comedy with Pizza and Shots: $19
  • Hard Rock Cafe Berlin with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
  • English Comedy Showcase Including Pizza in Berlin Mitte: $28
  • Hard Rock Cafe Berlin With Set Lunch or Dinner : $34
  • Kreuzberg kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
  • Berlin Mitte kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
  • No Diet Club - Street Food Tour with many Tastings !: $59
  • Evening Yacht Cruise with Aperitif & Optional Dinner: $63
  • Sicilian Cooking Workshop with unlimited drinks: $70
  • Evening Food Tour by Bike: $70
  • Sharing plate food tour in Berlin: $76
  • Dinner Cruise on the Spree with Prosecco: $79

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krakow

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

  • Walking Street Food Tour: $22
  • From Polish Folk Show with All-You-Can-Eat Dinner: $32
  • Polish Folk Show and Dinner From Krakow: $40
  • Folk Show & 3-Course Dinner at Jama Michalika Café: $44
  • Romantic Dinner with a Cruise on the Vistula River: $47
  • Brewery Dinner -center of Krakow : $49
  • Krakow : Folk Show Dinner Drinking and Fun ! Book Now!: $59
  • Folk Show Dinner Drinking and Fun in Krakow: $63
  • Cabaret Show with Optional Dinner: $69
  • Half-Day Krakow Food Tour in Old Town and Kazimierz: $83
  • 4-Hour Polish Food Tour: $88
  • Polish Pierogi Cooking Class with Farmer's Market Shopping: $97

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Berlin 22
    Krakow 19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Berlin

For Berlin, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Berlin Zoo (2)
    20

Tours and Activities in Berlin

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Berlin.

  • Self-Guided Photo Tour with Digital hybrid Photobook: $0.53
  • Berlin Walking Tour: $2.62
  • Berlin Alternative Street Art Tour: $2.62
  • Selfguided Audiotour "Old Berlin": $3.20
  • Selfguided Audiotour "Center of Power": $3.20
  • Third Reich and Holocaust Self Guided Audio Tour: $3.21
  • Rude Bastards Tour of Berlin: $3.21
  • Rude Bastards tour of Medieval Berlin: $3.21
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • Escape Game and Tour: $3.74
  • Museum Island Self Guided Audio Tour: $3.74
  • Berlin tour - Free offer - in Italian: $3.74

Tours and Activities in Krakow

Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Guided Tour from Krakow: $64
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Wieliczka Salt Mine 1-Day Tour: $141
  • Rynek Underground Museum Guided Tour: $25
  • Rynek Underground Museum, Old Town and St. Mary's Basilica Tour: $50
  • 1 Day Auschwitz Birkenau Museum Guided Tour Hotel Pick up: $44
  • 1 Day Trip Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Guided Tour from Krakow: $34
  • 1-Hour Tour to Krakow's Old Town by Electric Golf Cart: $21
  • 120 min Old Town Segway Tour in Krakow: $49
  • 2 Days Tour in Wawel Hill, Jewish Quarter and Wieliczka with Guide and Lunch: $187
  • 2 Hour Private Pinball and Arcade Museum Tour from Krakow: $273
  • 2 Hours Old Town Guided Bike Tour in Krakow: $27
  • 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in The Old Town of Krakow: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Berlin 16
    Krakow 6.32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Berlin

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Berlin from other travelers:


  • Drinks at a Show
    14

Sample the Local Flavors in Berlin

Also in Berlin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Original One80 Berlin Pub Crawl: $16
  • VIP Pub Crawl with Drinks and Challenges: $16
  • brewery tour with beer tasting: $19
  • Vagabund Brauerei Beer Tasting & Guided Brewery Tour: $24
  • Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Club Entry: $24
  • Berlin Pub Crawl and Nightlife Clubbing tour: $26
  • The Showgirls of Burlesque: $46
  • Showgirls of Burlesque Entry Ticket: $69
  • Berlin:sunset boat trip with Argentine wine tasting and food: $214
  • German Wine Tasting Tour at the Best Wine Bars in Berlin: $250
  • German Wine Tasting Tour at the Best Wine Bars in Berlin: $255
  • Bachelor(ette) Party with Pub Crawl: $401

Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:


  • Vodka
    13

Sample the Local Flavors in Krakow

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Krakow:

  • Pub Crawl with 1 Hour of Unlimited Alcoholic Drinks: $22
  • Kazimierz Pub Crawl with 1-Hour of Unlimited Drinks: $22
  • Pub Crawl - 1-hour Open Bar then Vip to 5 Clubs - Krakow: $24
  • Halloween Pub Crawl - Krawl Through Krakow: $24
  • Pub tour in Old Town with 1 hour open bar with a guide.: $25
  • Kazimierz Pub Crawl + 1-hour Open Bar: $25
  • Pub Crawl with Shots, Drinks & Skip-the-Line Entry: $25
  • Pub Crawl of Kazimierz Jewish Quarter with a Local Guide : $25
  • Three-Hour Pub Crawl: $39
  • Wieliczka Vineyard: Wine tasting with local snacks: $44
  • Hoppy tours - Krakow brewery tour : $56
  • Krakow Wine Tasting Private Tour with Wine Expert: $176


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

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


Which is Bigger, Berlin or Krakow?

Berlin has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Berlin and Krakow, 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 Berlin or Krakow?

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 Berlin or Krakow in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Berlin as well as Krakow. Many visitors come to Berlin in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Berlin is around the same temperature as Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Berlin in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Krakow averages at about 19°C (67°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Berlin this time of the year. In the summer, Berlin often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Berlin gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Berlin usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Berlin gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Berlin 19°C (66°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Berlin or Krakow in the Autumn?

Both Krakow and Berlin are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Berlin for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.

In October, Berlin is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Berlin average around 10°C (50°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Berlin usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Berlin gets 106 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Berlin usually receives less rain than Krakow. Berlin gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Berlin 10°C (50°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Berlin or Krakow in the Winter?

Both Krakow and Berlin during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Berlin because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Krakow in the winter. The weather in Berlin can be very cold. Berlin is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Berlin averages around -0°C (31°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

In the winter, Berlin often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Berlin gets 42 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

Berlin usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Berlin gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Berlin -0°C (31°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Berlin or Krakow in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Berlin and Krakow. The activities around the city are the main draw to Berlin this time of year.

In the spring, Berlin is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Berlin in April average around 9°C (47°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Berlin usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Berlin gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Berlin usually receives less rain than Krakow. Berlin gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Berlin 9°C (47°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Berlin

Berlin Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -0°C (31°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb 1°C (33°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 4°C (40°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 9°C (47°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 14°C (57°F) 52 mm (2 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 17°C (63°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 50 mm (2 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 18°C (65°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 15°C (59°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 10°C (50°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 5°C (41°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 2°C (35°F) 51 mm (2 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)