Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Dusseldorf?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dusseldorf 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 Dusseldorf 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: Dusseldorf or Krakow?
Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf is a city in western Germany divided by the Rhine River, with its Altstadt (Old Town) on the east bank and modern commercial areas to the west. Dusseldorf is a university town and a center of art and fashion. This old electoral capital is also a city of wide streets lined by elegant shops, with a ring of parks and gardens encircling its vibrant downtown area. As an important cultural center, Dusseldorf has dozens of museums and in excess of 100 art galleries encompassing everything from internationally renowned facilities, such as the impressive Art Collection North Rhine-Westphalia, to the smaller installations found in the city's trendy Konigsallee area. In the Altstadt, St. Lambertus Church and Schlossturm (Castle Tower) both date to the 13th century. Dusseldorf impresses with boundary-pushing architecture, lively nightlife, and an art scene to rival many higher-profile cities. It's a posh and modern city that likes to have a good time with bar-hopping around the Altstadt, the historical quarter along the Rhine. These tourist attractions, along with the city's location on the Rhine and its numerous wide squares and wonderful riverside walkways, make it a particularly pleasant place to spend time.
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 Munich, The Best One-Week (7-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 dayDusseldorf €185Krakow €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Dusseldorf is €185, 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 Dusseldorf and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDusseldorf €95Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDusseldorf €190Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Dusseldorf and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Dusseldorf 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: Dusseldorf Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dusseldorf €1.63Krakow €6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dusseldorf
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dusseldorf:
- Arrival Private Transfer Dusseldorf Train Station or Port by Car: $92
- Dusseldorf Airport (DUS) to Dusseldorf - Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- Dusseldorf Airport Transfers : Airport DUS to Dusseldorf in Business Car: $73
- Dusseldorf Airport Transfers : Airport DUS to Dusseldorf in Luxury Car: $86
- Dusseldorf Airport Transfers : Airport DUS to Dusseldorf in Luxury Van: $77
- Dusseldorf Airport Transfers : Dusseldorf to Airport DUS in Luxury Car: $86
- Dusseldorf Arrival Private Transfers from Airport DUS to Dusseldorf: $73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- 1945-1989 Communism Tour of Krakow Nowa Huta with Transfers: $160
- 1945-1989 Communism Tour of Krakow Nowa Huta with Transfers: $171
- Airport Transfer (Krakow - Katowice): $100
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City by Business Car: $39
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City by Luxury Van: $54
- Auschwitz - Birkenau Roundtrip Transfer with assistance: $17
- Auschwitz Birkenau Transfer Service- Private Driver from Krakow: $109
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Transfer from Krakow: $12
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with Private Transfers from Krakow: $217
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Guided Tour with Ticket and Transfer: $35
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour with Transfer, eBook and Optional Guide: $32
- Balice KRK airport OneWay PRIVATE TRANSFER to/from Krakow’s hotel: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Dusseldorf or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Dusseldorf 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 dayDusseldorf €76Krakow €12
Typical Food Prices in Dusseldorf
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dusseldorf:
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Salami€1.99
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Nutella€1.00
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Yogurt€1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dusseldorf
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dusseldorf.
- Culinary Flingern – The Food Tour: $48
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.Dusseldorf €25Krakow €19
Tours and Activities in Dusseldorf
Here are a few actual costs in Dusseldorf for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Düsseldorf Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $7.10
- Düsseldorf Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $11
- Düsseldorf Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Düsseldorf Sightseeing round-trip Cruise: $19
- Night watchman tour: $22
- Guided Walking Tour in Dusseldorf: $22
- Hop-on hop-off tour in Düsseldorf in a double-decker bus: $22
- Dusseldorf Old Town and Altbier Tour: $25
- Düsseldorf 2-Hour Evening Cruise: $27
- Beer tour with tasting in Dusseldorf: $34
- City game scavenger hunt Duisburg - independent city tour I discovery tour: $44
Tours and Activities in Krakow
Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kraków in a nutshell - walking tour: $1.24
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Old Town Audio-Guided Walking Tour with Headset: $3.72
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
- Old Town Audioguided walking Tour: $4.46
- Tadeusz Kościuszko Mound Entry Tickets: $4.71
- From Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour: $4.95
- Wawel Hill Tour with Audio Guide: $5.57
- Tadeusz Kościuszko Mound Entrance Tickets: $5.62
- From Kraków: Wieliczka Salt Mine Trip & Guided Tour: $6.19
- Skip the Line Ticket for Kościuszko Mound in Krakow: $6.59
- Wawel Hill Audioguide Tour: $6.69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDusseldorf €23Krakow €6.32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dusseldorf
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Dusseldorf are as follows:
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Night Out Drinking€25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dusseldorf
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Dusseldorf:
- Brewery Tour Düsseldorf in English (inc. 3 beer): $29
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 Dusseldorf and Krakow, we can see that Dusseldorf 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 Dusseldorf would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dusseldorf 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 Dusseldorf Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dusseldorf or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Dusseldorf. When comparing the sizes of Dusseldorf 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 Dusseldorf or Krakow?
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 Dusseldorf or Krakow in the Summer?
Both Krakow and Dusseldorf are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Dusseldorf this time of year.
In July, Dusseldorf is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Dusseldorf average around 19°C (66°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Krakow. Dusseldorf usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during summer. Dusseldorf gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Dusseldorf usually receives less rain than Krakow. Dusseldorf gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDusseldorf 19°C (66°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Dusseldorf or Krakow in the Autumn?
Both Krakow and Dusseldorf during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Dusseldorf for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Dusseldorf is around the same temperature as Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dusseldorf averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Dusseldorf often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Dusseldorf gets 112 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun.
Dusseldorf usually gets more rain in October than Krakow. Dusseldorf gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDusseldorf 12°C (53°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Dusseldorf or Krakow in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Dusseldorf and Krakow. Many visitors come to Dusseldorf in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Krakow can be very cold during winter. Dusseldorf can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Dusseldorf is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dusseldorf in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).
Dusseldorf usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during winter. Dusseldorf gets 45 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Dusseldorf usually receives more rain than Krakow. Dusseldorf gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDusseldorf 3°C (37°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Dusseldorf or Krakow in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Dusseldorf as well as Krakow. Most visitors come to Dusseldorf for the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Dusseldorf is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Dusseldorf average around 9°C (48°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the spring, Dusseldorf often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Dusseldorf gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun.
Dusseldorf usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Krakow. Dusseldorf gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDusseldorf 9°C (48°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Dusseldorf
| Dusseldorf | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (44°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (53°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 74 mm (2.9 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.