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

Should you visit Krakow or Cinque Terre?

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

Should I visit Krakow or Cinque Terre? 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: Krakow or Cinque Terre?

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.

Cinque Terre

Located on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline, Cinque Terra consists of five seaside villages exuding a charm that dates back to medieval times. Fishing boats bob in the harbors, bringing fresh seafood to the tables of the region, while age old vineyards make for fragrant signature wines. Cinque Terre is considered to be a National Park, with its five villages earning a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their beauty and timelessness.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Cinque Terre or Krakow?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $64, while the average daily cost in Cinque Terre is $149. 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 Krakow and Cinque Terre in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Krakow $42
    Cinque Terre $77
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Krakow $84
    Cinque Terre $154
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Cinque Terre

Looking for a hotel in Krakow or Cinque Terre? 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 Krakow


Hotels in Cinque Terre


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: Krakow Hotel Prices and Cinque Terre Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Krakow $6.40
    Cinque Terre $17

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cinque Terre

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Cinque Terre:


  • Ferry Day Pass
    $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cinque Terre

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

  • Private Transfer from Cinque Terre to La Spezia by car or van: $142

Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or Cinque Terre?

Prices for flights to both Cinque Terre and Krakow 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
    Krakow $13
    Cinque Terre $44

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

Typical Food Prices in Cinque Terre

For Cinque Terre, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Whole Pizza
    $10
  • Panini
    $4.02
  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    $56
  • Fresh Focaccia
    $2.27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cinque Terre

For Cinque Terre, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Riomaggiore: $195
  • Cinque Terre Food Tour (half day): $273

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Krakow $20
    Cinque Terre $14

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Cinque Terre

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cinque Terre's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Double Kayak Rental (One Hour)
    $11
  • Bagni Eden Beach Club Umbrella
    $17
  • Cinque Terre Card (One Day)
    $5.36
  • Cinque Terre Card (Three Days)
    $13

Tours and Activities in Cinque Terre

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

  • Cinque Terre Pesto experience in Riomaggiore: $49
  • Marine Biology & Snorkelling Experience in the Cinque Terre : $59
  • Kayak experience with Carnassa Tour in Cinque Terre + Snorkeling: $73
  • From La Spezia: Cinque Terre Tour by Train with Limoncino: $89
  • La Spezia: Cinque Terre Guided Hiking Tour: $95
  • Cinque Terre Kayak Adventure from Riomaggiore: $98
  • Kayak tour from Monterosso to Vernazza: $98
  • Half Day Guided Tour of the Cinque Terre from the Sea: $104
  • 2-Hour Boat Tour at sunset in the Cinque Terre with Pesto tasting and focaccia: $104
  • Cinque Terre Hybrid Boat Tour: $109
  • The heart of the 5 Terre: Monterosso and national park ebike tour: $120
  • Cinque Terre Sunset Cruise with Aperitif: $131

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Krakow $6.75
    Cinque Terre $7.19
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

Typical Alcohol Prices in Cinque Terre

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


  • Glass of Local Wine
    $3.11

Sample the Local Flavors in Cinque Terre

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cinque Terre:

  • BarCa Winery Cinqueterre Tour with Wine Tasting & Pesto Class: $60
  • Cinque terre wine tour and tasting with the somelier: $74
  • Eco Hiking and Wine Tasting in Cinque Terre : $97
  • Cinque Terre Walking Tour with Food and Wine Tastings: $169


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krakow and Cinque Terre, we can see that Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cinque Terre 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 Krakow Expensive? and Is Cinque Terre Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Krakow or Cinque Terre?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 480 times larger than the population of Cinque Terre. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and Cinque Terre, 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 Krakow or Cinque Terre?

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 Krakow or Cinque Terre in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Cinque Terre. Additionally, many visitors come to Cinque Terre in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Krakow is cooler than Cinque Terre in the summer. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Cinque Terre fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cinque Terre. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krakow this time of the year. In the summer, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Cinque Terre. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cinque Terre receives 316 hours of full sun.

Krakow usually gets more rain in July than Cinque Terre. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Cinque Terre receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Krakow 19°C (67°F) 
    Cinque Terre 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Krakow or Cinque Terre in the Autumn?

Both Cinque Terre and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Cinque Terre for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Krakow is much colder than Cinque Terre. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Krakow in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Cinque Terre averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Cinque Terre during autumn. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Cinque Terre receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Cinque Terre. In October, Krakow usually receives less rain than Cinque Terre. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Cinque Terre receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Krakow 11°C (51°F) 
    Cinque Terre 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Krakow or Cinque Terre in the Winter?

Both Cinque Terre and Krakow during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Cinque Terre because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Krakow can be very cold during winter. In January, Krakow is generally much colder than Cinque Terre. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around -2°C (29°F), and Cinque Terre fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the winter, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Cinque Terre. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cinque Terre receives 105 hours of full sun.

Cinque Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Krakow usually gets less rain in January than Cinque Terre. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Cinque Terre receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Krakow -2°C (29°F) 
    Cinque Terre 8°C (46°F)

Should I visit Krakow or Cinque Terre in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Cinque Terre. Also, the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Cinque Terre this time of year.

Krakow is cooler than Cinque Terre in the spring. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Cinque Terre fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Cinque Terre during spring. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies, while Cinque Terre receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Krakow usually receives less rain than Cinque Terre. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cinque Terre receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Krakow 10°C (50°F) 
    Cinque Terre 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for Cinque Terre and Krakow

Krakow Cinque Terre
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 8°C (46°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Feb 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 8°C (46°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Mar 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 11°C (52°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Apr 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 14°C (57°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 18°C (64°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 22°C (72°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Jul 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 24°C (75°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 24°C (75°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Sep 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in) 21°C (70°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 17°C (63°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Nov 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 12°C (54°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Dec 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 9°C (48°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)