Which place is cheaper, Kiel or Heraklion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Heraklion and Kiel can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Heraklion is a accessible, bustling, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and museums.
Kiel is a maritime, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and beaches.
Travelers will generally find more things to do in Heraklion than Kiel. While Kiel is larger than Heraklion, Heraklion has more sights and attractions for tourists. Heraklion is more touristy than Kiel and is popular for its archeological sights, local Cretan restaurants, and its vibrant nightlife scene. Also, Heraklion is famous for The Palace of Knossos. Kiel is well known for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Kiel and Heraklion. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Heraklion is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.
Heraklion offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with historical sights and archeological ruins. The impressive Palace of Knossos is a must-see, but also make sure you visit the Koules Fortress, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Natural History Museum of Crete.
If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Kiel. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.
Heraklion is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Heraklion. The city is home to countless Cretan restaurants that range in style and budget. There are fine dining restaurants as well as local dives with casual street food. The restaurants reflect the island's multi-cultural past with many styles and flavors available.
Kiel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)
Heraklion is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.
Heraklion is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city has some of the best nightlife on the island of Crete. There are many all-night clubs as well as bars that stay open until 2 or 3 in the morning. In particular, there are many British tourists hanging out at the clubs and bars.
If you're looking for night time activities Kiel has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.
Heraklion is well known for the beache. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for the beach.
Heraklion is considered a top beach destination. You'll find world-class beaches just outside of town, if you're willing to explore a little. Agia Pelagia Beach is about half an hour away and Limanakia Beach is also not a bad day trip. If you want to stay closer to town, head to nearby Amnissos Beach.
Many people head to Kiel to enjoy the beach. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.
Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Heraklion and Kiel.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Heraklion. There are a number of unique shops around town that sell everything from traditional pottery to homemade jewelry.
Many visitors go to Kiel to go shopping. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.
Both Heraklion and Kiel are notable to visit with kids.
Heraklion is a family-friendly city. In town you'll find many historical and educational sights such as the Palace of Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Koules Venetian fortress. Kids will also enjoy walking the Venetian Walls that are in town. If you're willing to head a bit outside of town, in about half an hour you can reach the Cretaquarium, Dinosauria Park, or Acqua Plus Water Park.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Kiel. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.
Heraklion is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.
Couples visit Heraklion frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Most couples head outside of town to other parts of the island, but those who linger in town for a while will enjoy world-class museums and fascinating archeological sights.
Kiel is a good city for couples to visit. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.
Heraklion is well known for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.
Heraklion is a great city to visit for backpackers. The city is filled with budget-friendly hostels that often have a social atmosphere and a fun vibe.
Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.
Kiel is a city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Heraklion is not popular with students.
Plenty of students visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.
Heraklion is not popular with students.
Heraklion is a popular place for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.
You'll find some public transit in Heraklion, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. KTEL buses travel both within town and to nearby villages.
Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.
Heraklion is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.
Heraklion is a very walkable city. Many parts of the town are walkable and doing a walking tour is a great way to see many of the city's sights.
Kiel is a somewhat walkable city. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.
For even more information, also check out Is Heraklion Worth Visiting? and Is Kiel Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Heraklion and Kiel. In our opinion, Heraklion has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Heraklion than Kiel. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.
Families should spend more time in Heraklion than Kiel. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Heraklion, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Heraklion than Kiel. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Heraklion that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Heraklion than Kiel if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Heraklion.
Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Heraklion. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.
You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Kiel. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Kiel has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Heraklion is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the waterfront destination of Kiel. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the accessible destination of Heraklion. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the authentic city of Kiel. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
The accessible city of Heraklion offers nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.
Kiel is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Heraklion is €158, while the average daily cost in Kiel is €138. 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 Heraklion and Kiel in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Heraklion or Kiel? 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.
Also for Heraklion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kiel:
Prices for flights to both Kiel and Heraklion 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.
For Heraklion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Heraklion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few actual costs in Kiel for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Heraklion, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Heraklion and Kiel, we can see that Heraklion is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Heraklion Expensive? and Is Kiel Expensive?.
Kiel has a larger population, and is about 70% larger than the population of Heraklion. When comparing the sizes of Heraklion and Kiel, 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.
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.
Both Kiel and Heraklion during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Heraklion for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Kiel in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Heraklion is much warmer than Kiel in the summer. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Kiel fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In Kiel, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Heraklion. In the summer, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Kiel. Heraklion gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 219 hours of full sun.
Heraklion usually gets less rain in July than Kiel. Heraklion gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 88 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Heraklion and Kiel. Many visitors come to Heraklion in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Kiel for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Heraklion is much warmer than Kiel. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Heraklion in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Kiel averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Kiel during autumn. Heraklion gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Heraklion usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kiel. Heraklion gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Heraklion as well as Kiel. Most visitors come to Heraklion for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Kiel because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Kiel can be very cold. In January, Heraklion is generally much warmer than Kiel. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 12°C (54°F), and Kiel fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).
In the winter, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Kiel. Heraklion gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kiel receives 39 hours of full sun.
Heraklion usually gets more rain in January than Kiel. Heraklion gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Kiel and Heraklion are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Kiel this time of year.
Heraklion is much warmer than Kiel in the spring. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 16°C (61°F) in April, and Kiel fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Heraklion. Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Kiel during spring. Heraklion gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Kiel receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Kiel. Heraklion gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Kiel receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Heraklion | Kiel | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
Mar | 14°C (56°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
May | 19°C (67°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Dec | 14°C (58°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |