Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Bonn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bonn or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bonn or Krakow? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Bonn or Krakow?
Bonn
Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (previously, West Germany) and it has a population of about 315,000 people. It sits on the Rhine River just twenty kilometers away from Cologne. Many people travel to Bonn for conferences and business, but Bonn also has a lot of cultural and historical sights to offer visitors. The city is also famous as the birth place of Ludwig van Beethoven. There's a strong student culture in the city as well, and it actually shares many characteristics with Italian cities because of its many cafes and restaurants which line the streets. Outdoor beer gardens are popular and Bonn is a particular good summer destination when the weather is pleasant and you can enjoy the outdoor setting. The city's location also makes it a great base for day trips to Cologne, Dusseldorf, and the Rhine and Eifel regions.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBonn €154Krakow €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Bonn is €154, 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 Bonn and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBonn €85Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBonn €170Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Bonn and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Bonn 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.
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: Bonn Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bonn €23Krakow €6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonn
Also for Bonn, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bonn hotels Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
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 Okęcie: $278
- Private transfer from Katowice AirPort to Krakow City: $272
Is it cheaper to fly into Bonn or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Bonn 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 dayBonn €49Krakow €12
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bonn €34Krakow €19
Tours and Activities in Bonn
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bonn.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Free Walking Tour Bonn - City Center: $3.21
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $4.28
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Bonn Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $8.02
- Bonn Self Guided City Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $11
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $11
- Bonn Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Autumn tours with a live guide: $20
- 1.5-Hour River Cruise on the Rhine: $20
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBonn €23Krakow €6.32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:
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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 Bonn and Krakow, we can see that Bonn 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 Bonn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonn 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 Bonn Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bonn or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bonn. When comparing the sizes of Bonn 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 Bonn 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 Bonn or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Bonn as well as Krakow. The summer months attract visitors to Bonn because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Bonn is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Bonn average around 19°C (66°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. In the summer, Bonn often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Bonn gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Bonn usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Bonn gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBonn 19°C (66°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Bonn or Krakow in the Autumn?
Both Krakow and Bonn are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Bonn this time of year.
Bonn is a little warmer than Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bonn averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Bonn usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Bonn gets 109 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Bonn usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Bonn gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBonn 12°C (53°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Bonn or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Bonn during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bonn for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bonn. In the winter, Bonn is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bonn in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Bonn often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Bonn gets 45 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Bonn usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Bonn gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBonn 3°C (37°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Bonn or Krakow in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bonn and Krakow.
In April, Bonn is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Bonn average around 10°C (50°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Bonn usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Bonn gets 145 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bonn usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Bonn gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBonn 10°C (50°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Bonn
| Bonn | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.