Which place is cheaper, Tihany or Cologne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cologne or Tihany?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cologne or Tihany? 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 Tihany?
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.
Tihany
Located on the northern coast of Lake Balaton in Hungary, Tihany is a historic village with quaint streets and bustling squares - all centered on the twin-towered Tihany Benedictine Abbey which dates back to the 11th century.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Germany, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Hungary, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCologne €161Tihany €41
The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €161, while the average daily cost in Tihany is €41. 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 Tihany in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCologne €91Tihany €18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCologne €182Tihany €36
Compare Hotels in Cologne and Tihany
Looking for a hotel in Cologne or Tihany? 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 Tihany Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cologne €19Tihany €10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Cologne or Tihany?
Prices for flights to both Tihany 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 €50Tihany €17
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 €20Tihany €4.52
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
- 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
- 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
- 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
- Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
- Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
- Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $395
- Beethoven and Bonn Highlights Tour from Cologne by Car: $840
- Best of Cologne in 1-Day Private Guided Tour with Transport: $438
Tours and Activities in Tihany
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tihany.
- Erotic Renaissance Wax Museum Entrance Ticket: $5.45
- Lake Balaton: Paddle Board Tour of Tihany National Park: $43
- Lake Balaton: Sunset SUP Tour Tihany: $43
- The best of Keszthely walking tour: $98
- Romantic tour around Keszthely for couples: $98
- Special Magical Christmas Walking Tour in Keszthely: $218
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCologne €23Tihany €6.17
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 Tihany
Also in Tihany, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- From Budapest: Wine Tasting At Balaton Full Day Private Tour: $1,219
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cologne and Tihany, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Tihany much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tihany would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tihany 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 Tihany.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cologne Expensive? and Is Tihany Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cologne or Tihany?
Cologne has a larger population, and is about 670 times larger than the population of Tihany. When comparing the sizes of Cologne and Tihany, 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 Tihany?
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 Cologne or Tihany in the Summer?
Both Tihany and Cologne during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Cologne because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Cologne is generally cooler than Tihany. Daily temperatures in Cologne average around 19°C (66°F), and Tihany fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In Tihany, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Tihany. Cologne gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tihany receives 278 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets more rain in July than Tihany. Cologne gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Tihany receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCologne 19°C (66°F)Tihany 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Tihany in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cologne and Tihany. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
Cologne is around the same temperature as Tihany in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Tihany fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Tihany during autumn. Cologne gets 104 hours of sunny skies, while Tihany receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Cologne usually receives more rain than Tihany. Cologne gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Tihany receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCologne 12°C (54°F)Tihany 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Tihany in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cologne as well as Tihany. Many travelers come to Cologne for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Tihany can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Cologne. In the winter, Cologne is much warmer than Tihany. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cologne in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Tihany averages at about -1°C (31°F).
In the winter, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Tihany. Cologne gets 43 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tihany receives 61 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets more rain in January than Tihany. Cologne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Tihany receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCologne 3°C (37°F)Tihany -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Tihany in the Spring?
Both Tihany and Cologne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Cologne in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Cologne is generally cooler than Tihany. Daily temperatures in Cologne average around 10°C (50°F), and Tihany fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Tihany during spring. Cologne gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Tihany receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cologne usually receives more rain than Tihany. Cologne gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Tihany receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCologne 10°C (50°F)Tihany 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Tihany and Cologne
| Cologne | Tihany | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 27 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 1°C (34°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.