A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kaunas vs. Koh Phi Phi for Couples, Backpackers, Nightlife, and Food

Should you visit Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

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 Kaunas and Koh Phi Phi. 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.

Kaunas

Kaunas is a active, young, and vibrant city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the nightlife and food. See Kaunas travel costs.

Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi is a beautiful, rustic, and remote island. You'll find world class beauty in Koh Phi Phi as well. Other popular activities here include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Koh Phi Phi travel costs.

Kaunas and Koh Phi Phi: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Koh Phi Phi. Although Kaunas and Koh Phi Phi are both popular with visitors, Koh Phi Phi has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Koh Phi Phi is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Kaunas is known for its historical sights, shopping, and big city activities. Koh Phi Phi is more touristy than Kaunas and is popular for its stunningly beautiful beaches, world-class snorkeling and diving, and wild booze cruises. It is also home to Koh Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay. Kaunas is popular for its traditional Lithuanian culture and authentic old town.

How is Kaunas different from Koh Phi Phi?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Koh Phi Phi and Kaunas. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

Koh Phi Phi is not a good place to visit for its sights and museums. However, Kaunas does not have museums and landmarks.

Koh Phi Phi offers a few options for museum-goers. It's an island paradise with world class beaches and stunning natural beauty, but if you're looking for museums, temples, and culture, then you'll likely want to head farther north to Northern Thailand.

Kaunas does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at good restaurants in both Kaunas and Koh Phi Phi.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Kaunas area. It is a great place to try traditional Lithuanian dishes as there are a number of good restaurants and an active restaurant scene. Popular local dishes include cepelinai potato dumplings and cold beetroot soup.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Koh Phi Phi. Most dishes feature seafood, and you'll find the highest concentration of restaurants around Tonsai Village. There are also restaurants dotting the way to Long Beach. Many restaurants offer outdoor seating, or a combination of an indoor/outdoor setting. Tropical fruit is also abundant on the island and adds to that tropical paradise atmosphere.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for Nightlife?

Koh Phi Phi is notable for its evening party scene. Also, Kaunas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Koh Phi Phi has plenty to do after the sun goes down. Despite its smaller size, there is still a party vibe and tons of nightlife on the island. Backpackers have long flocked to this island, building on the reputation it earned from movies like "The Beach." Booze cruises and all night beach parties are the norm here, so it won't be hard to find a party that lasts until sunrise.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Kaunas. The nightlife scene continues to improve with a growing number of bars and clubs. During the warmer months you'll find many places opening outdoor areas. The old town is one of the more lively areas in town where it's nice to enjoy a drink on a terrace.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for Resorts?

Koh Phi Phi is renowned for its resorts. However, Kaunas is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Koh Phi Phi for its luxury resorts. Despite it's popularity with backpackers and small size, this island also has some of Thailand's most luxurious resorts. Head to Long Beach or Laem Tong to appreciate the quieter side of the island.

Kaunas is not a resort destination.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Koh Phi Phi is renowned for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Kaunas is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Koh Phi Phi. The dramatic limestone cliffs and colorful coral make this a top scuba diving and snorkeling destination in Thailand. There are countless vendors who offer scuba diving or snorkeling trips from the island. You might even see sharks, sea turtles, or seahorses during your trip. Head to the reef at dusk for the best chance of seeing black tip reef sharks.

Kaunas is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for Beaches?

Koh Phi Phi is renowned for the beach. However, Kaunas is not a beach destination.

Koh Phi Phi offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. This island has some of the most dramatic beauty in Thailand and the beaches will not disappoint. Although it's usually referred to as an island, Koh Phi Phi is actually a small archipelago with Koh Phi Phi Don being the only inhabited island. Nearby Koh Phi Phi Leh is famous as the filming place of the movie "The Beach" (which you'll hear playing at hotels around the island every night). The beaches are beautiful with white sand and clear water. It truly is a tropical paradise.

Kaunas is not a beach destination.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for its Old Town?

Kaunas is a popular place for its old town. However, Koh Phi Phi does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Kaunas. The old town has tree-lined streets with charming cafes and a number of museums. It's also where you'll find the Kaunas Castle.

Koh Phi Phi does not have a historic old town.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for Hiking?

Koh Phi Phi is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Kaunas is not a hiking destination.

Koh Phi Phi is a popular spot for hiking. With its dramatic cliffs, this area has beautiful, but challenging hikes that take you to stunning viewpoints. The dramatic photos that you see of the islands often require a hike, but the reward at the end is well worth it.

Kaunas is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

Kaunas is adequate for its shopping opportunities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a good destination for its shopping areas.

If you're looking to go shopping, Kaunas has some nice offerings. The old town is the place to pick up souvenirs, but there are also shopping malls and outlets in the city.

Koh Phi Phi has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. Shopping is limited on the island but you'll find a few souvenir shops with trinkets that you can purchase. Because it's an island, you can expect prices to be high.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi More Beautiful?

Koh Phi Phi is renowned for its scenery and beauty. However, Kaunas is not a destination known for its beauty.

You'll find world class beauty in Koh Phi Phi as well. While most people visit this island as a day trip, those who do spend a few days here will enjoy dramatic beauty, stunning landscapes, and excellent beaches. The island feels a bit more rustic and remote than some of the more developed islands, but the north side of the island offers a truly tropical paradise. During the day, crowds can be high as tourists flock to the area from nearby islands.

Kaunas is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for Families?

Kaunas is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Kaunas offers lots of family activities. The city has both outdoor and indoor areas that are fun for kids. Vienybės Square has fountains and splash areas that are fun for kids of all ages. Lampėdis Lake is a great place to swim or visit an adventure park. When the weather isn't great, you can head indoors to the the Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum or "CurioCity" in the Mega Mall.

Koh Phi Phi is not the most family-friendly destination. This island is on the smaller side and it has a remote tropical island atmosphere. The best side of the island for families is the north end where you'll find the quietest and most beautiful beaches. It's best to avoid the area around Tonsai which has the highest concentration of backpackers and day trippers.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for Couples?

Koh Phi Phi is renowned for couples. However, Kaunas is a mediocre city for romance.

Koh Phi Phi is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Stunning beaches, dramatic landscapes, excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, and a remote tropical atmosphere make this is a great place for couples and honeymooners. Head to the quieter north side of the island where you'll find the better resorts and less backpackers, as well as the best beaches.

Kaunas is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The city has a number of historical sites as well as interesting restaurants that you can explore.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koh Phi Phi is renowned for backpackers. Also, Kaunas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Koh Phi Phi is a very popular island to visit for backpackers. Most people visit this island as a day trip, but for those who linger, they'll be rewarded with dramatic landscapes and beautiful beaches. Most backpackers hang out around Tonsai where things are the cheapest, but the quality can also be very poor.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Kaunas. It's not a popular destination, but there are enough concerts and festivals throughout the year that it does see a few tourists.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for Students?

Kaunas is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Kaunas. The city has a vibrant and young student population. It also hosts festivals, concerts, and other events that make it a fun destination for international students.

Koh Phi Phi is not popular with students.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Kaunas and Koh Phi Phi offer good public transit options.

Kaunas has a few public transit options. There are both buses and trolleybuses around town.

Koh Phi Phi has some public transit options. There are water taxis and private boats that you can hire.

Is Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi a more walkable city?

Kaunas and Koh Phi Phi both are good when exploring on foot.

Kaunas is a somewhat walkable city. When the weather is nice, the city is a nice place to take a walk.

Koh Phi Phi is somewhat walkable. You can't walk all of the way around the island because of the cliffs, but you can walk from Tonsai to Long Beach.

For even more information, also check out Is Kaunas Worth Visiting? and Is Koh Phi Phi Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Koh Phi Phi or Kaunas?

How long in Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Kaunas and Koh Phi Phi. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Koh Phi Phi than in Kaunas. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Kaunas, and 2-3 days is enough time in Koh Phi Phi.

Families should spend more time in Kaunas than Koh Phi Phi. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Kaunas, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Koh Phi Phi than Kaunas. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Koh Phi Phi that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Koh Phi Phi than Kaunas 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 Koh Phi Phi.

One day in Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the active city of Kaunas. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Koh Phi Phi. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

Visitors enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the vibrant destination of Kaunas. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Koh Phi Phi is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

The active city of Kaunas offers nightlife and food. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Koh Phi Phi. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

Many people enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting Kaunas. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the stunning destination of Koh Phi Phi. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Lithuania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kaunas and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that Kaunas is more expensive. And not only is Koh Phi Phi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kaunas is in Europe and Koh Phi Phi is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Koh Phi Phi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Phi Phi 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 Kaunas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaunas than you might in Koh Phi Phi.

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

Which is Bigger, Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

Kaunas has a larger population, and is about 370 times larger than the population of Koh Phi Phi. When comparing the sizes of Kaunas and Koh Phi Phi, 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 Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi?

Kaunas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Phi Phi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Kaunas as well as Koh Phi Phi. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kaunas this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Phi Phi throughout the year.

In July, Kaunas is generally much colder than Koh Phi Phi. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around 18°C (64°F), and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kaunas this time of the year. In the summer, Kaunas often gets more sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. Kaunas gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Koh Phi Phi. Kaunas usually gets less rain in July than Koh Phi Phi. Kaunas gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi in the Autumn?

Both Koh Phi Phi and Kaunas are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Kaunas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Phi Phi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Kaunas is much colder than Koh Phi Phi in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 8°C (46°F) in October, and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi during autumn. Kaunas gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. In October, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phi. Kaunas gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Phi Phi is December to March. The rainy season in Koh Phi Phi is May to November.

Should I visit Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi in the Winter?

Both Koh Phi Phi and Kaunas during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Kaunas in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Phi Phi year-round.

Kaunas can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Kaunas is much colder than Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kaunas in January average around -5°C (23°F), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 28°C (82°F).

In Koh Phi Phi, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Kaunas often gets less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. Kaunas gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets more rain in January than Koh Phi Phi. Kaunas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Koh Phi Phi.

Should I visit Kaunas or Koh Phi Phi in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kaunas and Koh Phi Phi. Most visitors come to Kaunas for the activities around the city during these months. Koh Phi Phi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Kaunas is generally much colder than Koh Phi Phi. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around 7°C (44°F), and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Phi Phi this time of the year. Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi during spring. Kaunas gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Koh Phi Phi receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phi. Kaunas gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, May to November is the rainy season in Koh Phi Phi.

Typical Weather for Koh Phi Phi and Kaunas