A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Gothenburg vs. Krakow for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Gothenburg or Krakow?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg or Krakow?

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.

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 10-Day Tours in Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Gothenburg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $97, while the average daily cost in Krakow is $64. 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 Gothenburg and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Gothenburg $40
    Krakow $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Gothenburg $80
    Krakow $84
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg 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.

Hotels in Gothenburg


Hotels in Krakow


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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Gothenburg $18
    Krakow $6.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg

Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Are Resort to Trondheim Vaernes Airport(TRD) - Departure Transfer: $114
  • Departure Private Transfers from Gothenburg City to Gothenburg Airport GOT: $120
  • Departure Private Transfers from Gothenburg City to Gothenburg Airport GOT: $153
  • Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
  • Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
  • Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
  • City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $110
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
  • Ostersund Private Transfer from Central Ostersund to Ostersund Airport: $174
  • Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $174
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95

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 Gothenburg or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Gothenburg 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Gothenburg $38
    Krakow $13

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Gothenburg $15
    Krakow $20

Tours and Activities in Gothenburg

For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
  • Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
  • Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
  • Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
  • Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
  • 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
  • City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
  • Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
  • Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
  • Archipelago cruise with guide: $36
  • Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Gothenburg $20
    Krakow $6.75

Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:


  • 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 Gothenburg and Krakow, we can see that Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Krakow?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 50% larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg or Krakow in the Summer?

Both Krakow and Gothenburg during the summer are popular places to visit.

Gothenburg is cooler than Krakow in the summer. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

In Krakow, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Gothenburg. In the summer, Gothenburg often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Gothenburg gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Gothenburg usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Gothenburg 16°C (61°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Gothenburg or Krakow in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and Krakow.

In the autumn, Gothenburg is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Gothenburg in October average around 9°C (47°F), and Krakow averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Gothenburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during autumn. Gothenburg gets 94 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Gothenburg usually receives more rain than Krakow. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Gothenburg 9°C (47°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Gothenburg or Krakow in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as Krakow.

Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Gothenburg. In January, Gothenburg is generally a little warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around -2°C (29°F), and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

In the winter, Gothenburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Gothenburg gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

Gothenburg usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Gothenburg -2°C (29°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Gothenburg or Krakow in the Spring?

Both Krakow and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Gothenburg is much colder than Krakow in the spring. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 5°C (41°F) in April, and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Gothenburg usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Gothenburg gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than Krakow. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Gothenburg 5°C (41°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Gothenburg

Gothenburg Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -2°C (29°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb -2°C (29°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 1°C (34°F) 50 mm (2 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 5°C (41°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 11°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 16°C (61°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 16°C (60°F) 77 mm (3 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 9°C (47°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 4°C (38°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 0°C (32°F) 75 mm (3 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)