Which place is cheaper, Gdansk or Krakow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krakow or Gdansk?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Krakow or Gdansk? 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 Gdansk?
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.
Gdansk
Gdansk is the capital and largest city of the Pomeranian Voivodeship in northern Poland. The port dates back a thousand years and was an influential city in the Hanseatic League during the Middle Ages. The city was essentially destroyed during World War II but has rebuilt into one of Europe's most beautiful port cities. The city now has a population of around 460,000 and is a popular tourist destination for visitors from around the globe. It is known for its impressive city center, its great museums, and its beaches that line the coast of the Gulf of Gdansk. In particular, it is a popular summer destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Warsaw.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrakow $64Gdansk $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $64, while the average daily cost in Gdansk is $54. 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 Gdansk in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrakow $42Gdansk $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrakow $84Gdansk $54
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Gdansk
Looking for a hotel in Krakow or Gdansk? 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: Krakow Hotel Prices and Gdansk Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krakow $6.40Gdansk $8.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- 1945-1989 Communism Tour of Krakow Nowa Huta with Transfers: $160
- 1945-1989 Communism Tour of Krakow Nowa Huta with Transfers: $171
- Airport Transfer (Krakow - Katowice): $100
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City by Business Car: $39
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City by Luxury Van: $54
- Auschwitz - Birkenau Roundtrip Transfer with assistance: $17
- Auschwitz Birkenau Transfer Service- Private Driver from Krakow: $109
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Transfer from Krakow: $12
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with Private Transfers from Krakow: $217
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Guided Tour with Ticket and Transfer: $35
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour with Transfer, eBook and Optional Guide: $32
- Balice KRK airport OneWay PRIVATE TRANSFER to/from Krakow’s hotel: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gdansk
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Gdansk:
- Alle Taxi - Airport Transfer Gdansk: $36
- Arrival Private Transfer from Gdansk Airport GDN to Gdansk City by Luxury Car: $56
- Arrival Private Transfer from Gdansk Airport GDN to Gdansk City by Minivan: $39
- Bubble Football with Hotel Transfers: $60
- Departure Private Transfer: Gdansk City to Gdansk Airport GDN by Minivan: $39
- From Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia: Private Transfers to Olivia Sta: $36
- From Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia: Private Transfers to Olivia Star: $58
- From Stutthof Concentration Camp Tour with Transfer: $192
- Gdansk Airport (GDN) Private Transfer to City Center Gdansk: $44
- Gdansk Airport - Gdynia City Private Transfer: $56
- Gdansk Airport - Sopot Private Transfer: $53
- Gdansk Airport One-Way Transfer: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or Gdansk?
Prices for flights to both Gdansk 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
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Food Meals for one dayKrakow $13Gdansk $20
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gdansk
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Gdansk.
- Delicious Gdańsk Food Tour in Poland: $94
- 4-hour Polish Food Tour: $109
- Private Food-Pairing Dinner Experience: $121
- Gdansk foodpairing dinner: $124
- Gdansk Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $156
- Gdansk Food Tour Experience: $168
- Gdańsk: World-Class Fine Dining Dinner on the Top Floor: $208
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krakow $20Gdansk $8.13
Tours and Activities in Krakow
Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kraków in a nutshell - walking tour: $1.24
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Old Town Audio-Guided Walking Tour with Headset: $3.72
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
- Old Town Audioguided walking Tour: $4.46
- Tadeusz Kościuszko Mound Entry Tickets: $4.71
- From Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour: $4.95
- Wawel Hill Tour with Audio Guide: $5.57
- Tadeusz Kościuszko Mound Entrance Tickets: $5.62
- From Kraków: Wieliczka Salt Mine Trip & Guided Tour: $6.19
- Skip the Line Ticket for Kościuszko Mound in Krakow: $6.59
- Wawel Hill Audioguide Tour: $6.69
Tours and Activities in Gdansk
Here are a few actual costs in Gdansk for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Gdańsk: City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.35
- Gdańsk: Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- Discover Gdansk! - €5 Walking Tour: $5.46
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $6.31
- Gdańsk: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $6.42
- Gdansk Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Individual Sightseeing Tour with Audio Guide: $7.43
- Gdańsk: Sightseeing Cruise around the Old Town of Gdansk: $14
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Gorgeous Gdansk Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Gdańsk : Catamaran River Cruise (group): $17
- Gdańsk: Motlawa River Yacht Cruise: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrakow $6.75Gdansk $4.74
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:
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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
Sample the Local Flavors in Gdansk
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gdansk:
- Gdansk Pub Crawl with Free Drinks: $22
- Pub Crawl with Free Drinks: $25
- Pub Crawl with Complimentary Drinks: $30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krakow and Gdansk, we can see that Krakow is more expensive. And not only is Gdansk much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gdansk would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gdansk 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 Krakow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krakow than you might in Gdansk.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Krakow Expensive? and Is Gdansk Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krakow or Gdansk?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Gdansk. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and Gdansk, 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 Gdansk?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Krakow or Gdansk in the Summer?
Both Gdansk and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
Krakow is a little warmer than Gdansk in the summer. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Gdansk fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
It's quite sunny in Gdansk. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. Krakow usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Gdansk during summer. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Gdansk receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Krakow usually receives more rain than Gdansk. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Gdansk receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrakow 19°C (67°F)Gdansk 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Gdansk in the Autumn?
Both Gdansk and Krakow during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In the autumn, Krakow is a little warmer than Gdansk. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Krakow in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Gdansk averages at about 8°C (46°F).
In the autumn, Krakow often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Gdansk. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gdansk receives 97 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Gdansk. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Gdansk receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrakow 11°C (51°F)Gdansk 8°C (46°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Gdansk in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Gdansk.
The weather in Gdansk can be very cold. Krakow can be very cold during winter. In January, Krakow is generally a little warmer than Gdansk. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around -2°C (29°F), and Gdansk fluctuates around -2°C (28°F).
Krakow usually receives more sunshine than Gdansk during winter. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies, while Gdansk receives 33 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Krakow usually receives more rain than Gdansk. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Gdansk receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrakow -2°C (29°F)Gdansk -2°C (28°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Gdansk in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Gdansk.
Krakow is much warmer than Gdansk in the spring. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Gdansk fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In the spring, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Gdansk. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gdansk receives 162 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets more rain in April than Gdansk. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Gdansk receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrakow 10°C (50°F)Gdansk 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Gdansk and Krakow
| Krakow | Gdansk | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
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.