Which place is cheaper, Sighisoara or Heraklion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Heraklion or Sighisoara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Heraklion and Sighisoara 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.
Where Should I go: Heraklion or Sighisoara?
Heraklion
The largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion on first glance is almost completely modern - a frenzy of traffic, concrete, and dust. Do not expect pristine beaches and glittering waves (those can be found on other parts of Crete). Heraklion is first and foremost a city. Once you get past its grittiness, you will find that there are some attractive features beneath first impressions. The antiquity of the place lies embedded in the modern and is presented in one of the best museums in Greece, the food is excellent, and the people are friendly and welcoming. And though the sea is not great for swimming, its presence along the Venetian port will take you to another time if you need a break from Heraklion's bustling center.
Sighisoara
Located in the historic region of Transylvania in Romania, Sighisoara takes its roots from German craftsmen and merchants, called the Transylvanian Saxons, who were invited by the King of Hungary during the 12th century to settle and defend the area. Today it is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and stands as a preserved example of a small fortified city from the medieval era.
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 Luxury Tours to Romania, and The Best Budget Tours to Romania.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHeraklion €158Sighisoara €57
The average daily cost (per person) in Heraklion is €158, while the average daily cost in Sighisoara is €57. 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 Sighisoara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHeraklion €81Sighisoara €26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHeraklion €162Sighisoara €52
Compare Hotels in Heraklion and Sighisoara
Looking for a hotel in Heraklion or Sighisoara? 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: Heraklion Hotel Prices and Sighisoara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Heraklion €31Sighisoara €17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heraklion
Also for Heraklion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Helicopter Transfer to Greek Islands: $4,006
- Knossos and Arch Museum of Heraklion (Guide+Transfer+Ticket) : $229
- Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer): $217
- KNOSSOS PALACE private tour ( with Transfer from Heraklion Prefecture ): $196
- Semi Private Wine and Olive Oil tour (Transfer & Lunch Incl.): $162
- Transfer Heraklion Airport to RETHIMNO CITY area up to 7 : $157
- Transfer Heraklion Airport to ELOUNTA area up to 7 customers: $139
- Heraklion Int Airport (HER): Transfer to Heraklion hotels: $136
- Heraklion Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Heraklion city: $136
- Transfer Heraklion Airport to Panormos area up to 7 customers: $131
- Transfers in Crete from-to Airports/Ports/Hotels/Villas: $128
- Private Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Georgioupolis: $126
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sighisoara
Also for Sighisoara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sighisoara to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $471
- Bucharest to Sighisoara - Private Transfer: $428
Is it cheaper to fly into Heraklion or Sighisoara?
Prices for flights to both Sighisoara 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayHeraklion €52Sighisoara €20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- From Village Cretan Night, Live Dancers & dinner: $48
- Cretan Night with Dinner & Live Show: $49
- Crete: Olive Oil Festival, Farm Dinner, Live Show & Pickup: $59
- Cretan Farm with scenic view: Olive Mill Festival & dinner: $64
- Amazing Sunset Safari Route with Dinner: $83
- Cook with Locals | Cretan cooking Class at Archanes (transfer - lunch included): $86
- Crete: Land Rover Safari with Sunset Viewing, Dinner, & Wine: $90
- Full-Day Jeep Safari Tour with Cooking Lesson: $97
- Food tour tasting walking tour: $123
- E-bike Food Tour Tasting in Heraklion : $125
- Walking Food Tour to Explore and Eat in Heraklion: $144
- Private Interactive Cooking Class with Aggeliki : $158
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Heraklion €38Sighisoara €7.39
Tours and Activities in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4x4 Safari tour Southern Crete Tripitis Gorge: $108
- Adventure Safari Tour Secrets of the southern Crete : $100
- Ηeraklion Walking Tour with Archaeological Museum: $82
- 4-Hour Giouchtas Trekking Hiking Experience from Heraklion: $90
- 4x4 self drive adventure: $87
- Adventure Jeep Safari Amazing sunset : $85
- Agios Nikolaos-Spinalonga-Elounda Tour TR: $47
- All Year Tour to Knossos Palace & Heraklion: $616
- All-Day Knossos Palace Tour & Olive Mill Visit: $693
- Archaeological Museum of Heraklion Tour: $86
- Archaeological Museum of Guided Walking Tour: $85
- Archeological Museum of Heraklion & City tour: $196
Tours and Activities in Sighisoara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sighisoara.
- 3 Days Private Guided Tour in Romania: $857
- City Tour Sighisoara in English: $42
- From Bucharest: Private 6-Day Dracula Tour in Transylvania: $1,392
- From Half-Day Tour to Malancrav & Biertan: $84
- Half-Day Tour to Malancrav & Biertan from Sighisoara: $86
- Sighisoara Citadel super - private walking tour: $97
- Sighisoara private tour, citadel visit, museum entrance free: $64
- 2-Hour City Tour: $42
- Candlelight Tour of Dracula's Home Town: $30
- City Walking Tour and Dracula House Visit: $55
- Transylvania Castles & Fortified Churches 4-Day Private Tour: $926
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHeraklion €26Sighisoara €6.03
Sample the Local Flavors in Heraklion
Also in Heraklion, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ecobike Tour with Wine Tasting: $94
- Wine Tasting E-Bike Tour: $95
- Ecobike Wine Tasting Tour in Heraklion: $114
- Half Day Small Group Wine Tour with wine Tastings: $125
- Half Day Semi Private Wine Tour with Tastings: $133
- Full Day-Ecobike Old Villages Tour & Wine Tasting: $142
- Semi Private Heraklion Valley Wine Tour with Lunch: $159
- The Gourmet Wine Tour of Heraklion area: $180
- Private SUV Wine Tour with Lunch: $182
- Full day Knossos Palace, Local Distillery, Lunch @ Archanes: $192
- Knossos, Olive Mill, Winery - Distillery with Tastings & Lunch : $196
- All in One - Ecobike City Tour - Food Tasting - Wine Tasting: $200
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Heraklion and Sighisoara, we can see that Heraklion is more expensive. And not only is Sighisoara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sighisoara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sighisoara 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 Heraklion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heraklion than you might in Sighisoara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Heraklion Expensive? and Is Sighisoara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Heraklion or Sighisoara?
Heraklion has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Sighisoara. When comparing the sizes of Heraklion and Sighisoara, 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.
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.