A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Katowice vs. Flam for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Katowice or Flam?

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

Should I visit Katowice or Flam? 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: Katowice or Flam?

Katowice

Katowice is a city east of Krakow, in the Silesian province of southern Poland. A large dome crowns the Cathedral of Christ the King, built between 1927 and 1955. The adjacent Archdiocesan Museum exhibits Silesian sacred art. The ultramodern Silesian Museum features several glass structures on the site of a former coal mine. It exhibits Polish art and chronicles the history of Upper Silesia. Historically, Katowice is a product of the 19th-century industrial boom, but it only became a city in the interwar period. After WWII, at the height of the Stalinist cult craze, the city was renamed Stalinogrod, but reverted to its old name soon after Comrade Joe died in 1953. Katowice has few significant historical monuments, but it's a major commercial and cultural center and holds sufficient attractions to make it worth a stop.

Flam

Flam is a village in Norway. The fjord village of Flam is located on the scenic inner Aurlandsfjord branch of the world's deepest and second-longest fjord, Sognefjord. Flam is surrounded by steep mountains, thundering waterfalls and narrow valleys, and during the spring and summer months you will see large cruise ships gliding in through the narrow fjord with their course set for Flam Harbor. The main attraction here is the stunning mountain railway that creeps up into the surrounding peaks and offers truly eye-popping panoramas. Unfortunately, it's far from a well-kept secret, and on the busiest summer days the tiny village can find itself swamped by several thousand visitors – it's probably best left for the quieter seasons of spring and autumn. The popular 'Norway in a Nutshell' tour also stops here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Warsaw, The Best Adventure Tours to Norway, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Katowice and Flam, we can see that Flam is more expensive. And not only is Katowice much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Katowice would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Katowice 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 Flam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Flam than you might in Katowice.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Katowice Expensive? and Is Flam Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Katowice or Flam?

Katowice has a larger population, and is about 630 times larger than the population of Flam. When comparing the sizes of Katowice and Flam, 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 Katowice or Flam?

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 Katowice or Flam in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Katowice as well as Flam. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Flam because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Katowice is generally a little warmer than Flam. Daily temperatures in Katowice average around 18°C (64°F), and Flam fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

It's quite rainy in Flam. Katowice usually gets less rain in July than Flam. Katowice gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Flam receives 148 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Katowice or Flam in the Autumn?

Both Flam and Katowice are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Flam this time of year.

Katowice is a little warmer than Flam in the autumn. The daily temperature in Katowice averages around 10°C (50°F) in October, and Flam fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Flam. In October, Katowice usually receives less rain than Flam. Katowice gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Flam receives 271 mm (10.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Katowice or Flam in the Winter?

Both Flam and Katowice during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Flam for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Flam. It's quite cold in Katowice in the winter. In the winter, Katowice is much colder than Flam. Typically, the winter temperatures in Katowice in January average around -2°C (28°F), and Flam averages at about 2°C (35°F).

Flam gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Katowice usually gets less rain in January than Flam. Katowice gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Flam receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Katowice or Flam in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Katowice and Flam. Also, many visitors come to Flam in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Katowice is generally a little warmer than Flam. Daily temperatures in Katowice average around 8°C (46°F), and Flam fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

Flam receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Katowice usually receives less rain than Flam. Katowice gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Flam receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Flam and Katowice