Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Carcassonne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Carcassonne or Krakow?
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 Carcassonne and Krakow. 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.
Where Should I go: Carcassonne or Krakow?
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a hilltop town in southern France. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Carcassonne is located in the Aude plain between historic trade routes, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrenees. The Romans recognized its strategic importance and occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire and was later taken over in the fifth century by the Visigoths who founded the city. Its desirable location led successive rulers to expand its fortifications until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. It is famous for its medieval citadel, La Cite, which has numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. The first walls were built in Gallo-Roman times, with major additions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. With its position on a rocky hilltop, zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks like something out of a children's storybook when it's seen from afar. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it's most people's idea of the perfect medieval castle. It attracts over four million visitors every year, peaking in high summer. Time your visit for late in the day (or even better in spring or fall) to truly appreciate the old town's medieval charm.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, The Best Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCarcassonne €106Krakow €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Carcassonne is €106, 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 Carcassonne and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCarcassonne €61Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCarcassonne €122Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Carcassonne and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Carcassonne 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: Carcassonne Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Carcassonne €7.14Krakow €6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- Zakopane to Chocholow Thermal Pools 3h Ticket with Hotel Transfer: $93
- Zakopane and Sleigh Ride with Transfers and Lunch Option: $186
- Zakopane Tour from Krakow with Transfers and Lunch Option: $65
- Zakopane Private Transfer from to Krakow or Krakow Airport: $253
- Wroclaw: Private Transfer from/to Krakow: $248
- Wooden Architecture Museum Private Transfer Round Trip: $153
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour with Hotel Transfers: $65
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour from Krakow with Hotel Transfer: $77
- Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $747
- Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
- VAN Private transfer: Krakow Airport - Krakow City: $43
- Two Krakow Airport Transfers, Auschwitz-Birkenau & Salt Mine: $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Carcassonne or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Carcassonne 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 dayCarcassonne €39Krakow €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.Carcassonne €14Krakow €19
Tours and Activities in Carcassonne
For Carcassonne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.42
- Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket: $12
- A Self-Guided Tour of Carcassonne’s Ancient Basilica: $20
- Medieval Walls Self-Guided Smartphone App Tour: $20
- Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Tour: $20
- Languedoc: Tour and Tasting at Domaine de Baronarques: $21
- Unusual guided tour of Carcassonne at the time of the Builders: $22
- Unusual Guided Tour of the Medieval City of Carcassonne: $22
- Small group tour of the Cité de Carcassonne: $49
- Complete Private Tour City and Castle of Carcassonne: $109
- Cité de Private Guided Tour: $160
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 dayCarcassonne €13Krakow €6.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Carcassonne
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Carcassonne:
- Wine tour Cathar country: $471
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 Carcassonne and Krakow, we can see that Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Carcassonne or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne or Krakow in the Summer?
Both Krakow and Carcassonne during the summer are popular places to visit. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Carcassonne this time of year.
In July, Carcassonne is generally a little warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 24°C (75°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
In Krakow, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Carcassonne. In the summer, Carcassonne often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Carcassonne gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Carcassonne usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Carcassonne gets 17 mm (0.7 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 JulyCarcassonne 24°C (75°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Carcassonne or Krakow in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Carcassonne and Krakow. Many travelers come to Carcassonne for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.
Carcassonne is much warmer than Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Carcassonne usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Carcassonne gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Carcassonne usually receives more rain than Krakow. Carcassonne gets 90 mm (3.5 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 OctoberCarcassonne 17°C (62°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Carcassonne or Krakow in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Carcassonne as well as Krakow. Many visitors come to Carcassonne in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.
Krakow can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Carcassonne is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in Carcassonne in January average around 8°C (47°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Carcassonne often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Carcassonne gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Carcassonne usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Carcassonne gets 51 mm (2 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 JanuaryCarcassonne 8°C (47°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Carcassonne or Krakow in the Spring?
Both Krakow and Carcassonne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Carcassonne for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Carcassonne is generally a little warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 14°C (56°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Carcassonne usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Carcassonne gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Carcassonne usually receives more rain than Krakow. Carcassonne gets 56 mm (2.2 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 AprilCarcassonne 14°C (56°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Carcassonne
| Carcassonne | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (56°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 54 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.