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

Should you visit Nagano or Krakow?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nagano and Krakow 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: Nagano or Krakow?

Nagano

Nagano city and its surrounding prefecture of Japan is a temple region built around Zenkoji, a 7th century Buddhist temple that overlooks the city. Nagano was also home to the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, with some facilities still existing around town. And then there is the forested mountain Togakushi area to the northwest, which is another draw of Nagano, known for its shrines and status as the home of the Togakure Ninja School.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Nagano?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Nagano is $90, while the average daily cost in Krakow is $65. 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 Nagano and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nagano $61
    Krakow $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nagano $122
    Krakow $84
Compare Hotels in Nagano and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Nagano or Krakow? 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 Nagano


Hotels in Krakow


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: Nagano Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nagano $9.80
    Krakow $6.41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagano

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

  • Private Transfer Between Station & Snow Monkey Park: $687

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:

  • Private Transfer to or from Budapest: $871
  • Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $750
  • Private Transfer to or from Prague: $747
  • From Gdansk or One-Way Private Transfer: $672
  • Private Transfer to or from Bratislava: $622
  • Private transfer! Warsaw Chopin Airport - Krakow City Center: $425
  • Private transfer from Krakow to Budapest or from Budapest to Krakow: $299
  • Private door-to-door transfer from Krakow to Budapest: $292
  • From Krakow to Wroclaw Airport Private Transfer: $291
  • Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
  • Private Transfer from Krakow to Warsaw with 2h of Sightseeing: $287
  • Private Transfer Airport to Warszawa Okęcie: $279

Is it cheaper to fly into Nagano or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Nagano 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
    Nagano $22
    Krakow $13

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
  • Discovering Cracow's Local Flavour: Food Tour: $22
  • From Polish Folk Show with All-You-Can-Eat Dinner: $32
  • Folk Show & 3-Course Dinner at Jama Michalika Café: $44
  • Polish Folk Show with 3 course dinner in Krakow legendary restaurant: $45
  • Krakow : Folk Show Dinner Drinking and Fun ! Book Now!: $64
  • Cabaret Show with Optional Dinner: $70
  • Pierogi Cooking Class: Mastering the Art of Polish Dumplings: $74
  • 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
  • Krakow Bites and Sights Food Tour: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nagano $8.17
    Krakow $20

Tours and Activities in Nagano

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nagano.

  • Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour: $49
  • Welcome to Private Tour with a Local: $55
  • Food & Cultural Walking Tour around Zenkoji temple in Nagano: $88
  • Izakaya Food Night Tour in Nagano: $101
  • Full-Day Tour: Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi Alpine Valley: $183
  • Snow Monkey & ZinkoJi With Sake Tasting Private Tour: $556
  • 4 Day - From Nagano to Kanazawa: Ultimate Central Japan tour: $809
  • Private Snow Monkey Tour: From Nagano City / Ski Resorts: $1,381

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
  • Krakow Jewish Quarter Tour in a Small Group. : $49
  • Rynek Underground Museum Guided Tour: $25
  • Magic Christmas tour in Wieliczka: $153
  • 1 Day Auschwitz Birkenau Museum Guided Tour Hotel Pick up: $51
  • 1 Day Trip Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Guided Tour from Krakow: $34
  • 1 Hour Traditional Gondola Sightseeing Vistula River Cruise: $16
  • 1-Hour Tour to Krakow's Old Town by Electric Golf Cart: $21
  • 2 Day Private Krakow City Tour, Old Town and Jewish Quarter: $153
  • 2 Hour Private Pinball and Arcade Museum Tour from Krakow: $273
  • 2 Hours Old Town Guided Bike Tour in Krakow: $27
  • 2-Hour Guided Tour in Kraków-Płaszów Concentration Camp : $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nagano -
    Krakow $6.76

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
  • Pub Crawl 1 hour Open Bar and 5 Hours Clubs in Krakow with VIP: $24
  • Halloween Pub Crawl - Krawl Through Krakow: $24
  • Pub tour in Old Town with 1 hour open bar with a guide.: $25
  • Pub Crawl with Shots, Drinks & Skip-the-Line Entry: $25
  • Pub Crawl + Unlimited Drinks + VIP entry + Drinking Games & Photographer : $25
  • Three-Hour Pub Crawl: $39
  • Wieliczka Vineyard: Wine tasting with local snacks: $44
  • Tyskie Brewery Tour from Katowice: $120


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nagano and Krakow, we can see that Nagano is more expensive. And not only is Krakow much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nagano is in Asia and Krakow is in Europe, 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 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 Nagano would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nagano 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 Nagano Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Nagano or Krakow?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Nagano. When comparing the sizes of Nagano and Krakow, 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 Nagano or Krakow?

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 Nagano or Krakow in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Nagano as well as Krakow. Many travelers come to Nagano for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Nagano is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nagano in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Krakow averages at about 19°C (67°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. In the summer, Nagano often gets less sunshine than Krakow. Nagano gets 136 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Nagano receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nagano usually gets more rain in July than Krakow. Nagano gets 222 mm (8.8 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Nagano 25°C (77°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Nagano or Krakow in the Autumn?

Both Krakow and Nagano are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Nagano in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Nagano is generally a little warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Nagano average around 16°C (60°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Nagano usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Nagano gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Nagano. In October, Nagano usually receives more rain than Krakow. Nagano gets 227 mm (9 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Nagano 16°C (60°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Nagano or Krakow in the Winter?

Both Krakow and Nagano during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Nagano for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

The weather in Krakow can be very cold. Nagano can be very cold during winter. Nagano is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Nagano averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

It's quite sunny in Nagano. In the winter, Nagano often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Nagano gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nagano. Nagano usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Nagano gets 446 mm (17.5 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Nagano 2°C (36°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Nagano or Krakow in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nagano and Krakow. The spring months attract visitors to Nagano because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Nagano is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nagano in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Nagano usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Nagano gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Nagano usually receives more rain than Krakow. Nagano gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Nagano 11°C (52°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Nagano

Nagano Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (36°F) 446 mm (17.5 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb 2°C (36°F) 275 mm (10.8 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 5°C (40°F) 191 mm (7.5 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 16°C (62°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 21°C (69°F) 152 mm (6 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 222 mm (8.8 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 26°C (80°F) 183 mm (7.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 22°C (72°F) 232 mm (9.1 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 16°C (60°F) 227 mm (9 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 10°C (50°F) 339 mm (13.3 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 5°C (41°F) 440 mm (17.3 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)