Which place is cheaper, Plzen or Cologne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cologne or Plzen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cologne or Plzen? 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: Cologne or Plzen?
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
Plzen
Renowned as the home of the pilsner beer, Plzen is a city located in the West Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Beyond beer, it also features a number of impressive landmarks some of which include St. Bartholomew's Cathedral and the Great Synagogue.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Germany, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Czech Republic, and The Best Cultural Tours in Czech Republic.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCologne €161Plzen €95
The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €161, while the average daily cost in Plzen is €95. 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 Cologne and Plzen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCologne €91Plzen €57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCologne €182Plzen €114
Compare Hotels in Cologne and Plzen
Looking for a hotel in Cologne or Plzen? 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: Cologne Hotel Prices and Plzen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cologne €19Plzen €7.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plzen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Plzen:
- Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague: $87
- Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague with 2 hours for sightseeing: $116
- Private Transfer from Pilsen(Plzen) to Prague: $271
Is it cheaper to fly into Cologne or Plzen?
Prices for flights to both Plzen and Cologne 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 dayCologne €50Plzen €29
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner€14
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Donner Kebab€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $481
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cologne €20Plzen €20
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cologne Walking Tour: The essential and unmissable one: $3.20
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Original funky-fun Free Tour of Cologne: $3.21
- Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.28
- Smartphone Scavenger Hunt Sightseeing Tour: $5.88
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.36
- Cologne Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.95
- Horrors of World War II Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.48
- Cologne Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
Tours and Activities in Plzen
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Plzen are as follows:
- Pilsen: Historic Underground Tour with a Glass of Beer: $8.56
- Pilsen Historic Underground Tour with a Glass of Beer: $8.74
- Pilsen: Old Town Gastronomy Tour: $32
- Pilsen Private Walking Tour: $201
- Experience Best Prague Tandem Skydiving : $250
- Private Tour to Pilsner Urquell from Prague: $272
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCologne €23Plzen €22
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Public brewery tour in Cologne in English: $18
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $29
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
Sample the Local Flavors in Plzen
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plzen:
- Brewery Museum Entrance including a Glass of Beer: $6.55
- Pilsen: Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $17
- Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $17
- Pilsen Highlights Small-Group Tour and Pilsner Brewery Tour including Lunch and Beer Tasting: $108
- Pilsner brewery tour incl beer tasting & Czech town Pilsen: $140
- Day trip to Pilsner Urquell brewery and Bohemian glassworks: $207
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cologne and Plzen, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Plzen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Plzen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Plzen 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne than you might in Plzen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cologne Expensive? and Is Plzen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cologne or Plzen?
Cologne has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Plzen. When comparing the sizes of Cologne and Plzen, 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 Cologne or Plzen?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Cologne or Plzen in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cologne and Plzen. Many visitors come to Cologne in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Cologne is around the same temperature as Plzen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cologne in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Plzen averages at about 20°C (67°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Plzen this time of the year. Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Plzen during summer. Cologne gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Plzen receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Cologne usually receives around the same amount of rain as Plzen. Cologne gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCologne 19°C (66°F)Plzen 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Plzen in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cologne as well as Plzen. Most visitors come to Cologne for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Cologne is generally a little warmer than Plzen. Daily temperatures in Cologne average around 12°C (54°F), and Plzen fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Plzen. Cologne gets 104 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plzen receives 120 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets more rain in October than Plzen. Cologne gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCologne 12°C (54°F)Plzen 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Plzen in the Winter?
Both Plzen and Cologne are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Cologne because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Plzen in the winter. The weather in Cologne can be very cold. Cologne is much warmer than Plzen in the winter. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Plzen fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
Cologne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Plzen during winter. Cologne gets 43 hours of sunny skies, while Plzen receives 45 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cologne usually receives more rain than Plzen. Cologne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCologne 3°C (37°F)Plzen -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Plzen in the Spring?
Both Plzen and Cologne during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
In the spring, Cologne is around the same temperature as Plzen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cologne in April average around 10°C (50°F), and Plzen averages at about 11°C (51°F).
In the spring, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Plzen. Cologne gets 152 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plzen receives 164 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets more rain in April than Plzen. Cologne gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCologne 10°C (50°F)Plzen 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Plzen and Cologne
| Cologne | Plzen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 23 mm (0.9 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.