A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pamukkale vs. Cologne for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pamukkale or Cologne?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pamukkale and Cologne can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Pamukkale or Cologne?

Pamukkale

Pamukkale is in southeastern Aegean Turkey and is historically a spa town that has been in existence since the 2nd century BC. It is popular with tourists for its beautiful hot springs and travertines, or pools that are coated in a very unique calcium covering. The area is very rich in mineral content and the water, which has been flowing for thousands of years, has deposited calcium in each pool. This unique whiteness creates an unworldly beauty that draws visitors from around the world. If you're visiting during the summer months when the sun is out in full force, don't forget the sunscreen, as the white reflects the light and you can end up with a sunburn quite quickly. You'll also want to make sure you have sunglasses available because the glare can be quite extreme.

Cologne

Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best G Adventures Tours to Turkey, The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.


Which place is cheaper, Cologne or Pamukkale?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Pamukkale is $156, while the average daily cost in Cologne is $172. 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 Pamukkale and Cologne in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pamukkale $56
    Cologne $97
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pamukkale $112
    Cologne $194
Compare Hotels in Pamukkale and Cologne

Looking for a hotel in Pamukkale or Cologne? 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 Pamukkale


Hotels in Cologne


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: Pamukkale Hotel Prices and Cologne Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pamukkale $35
    Cologne $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pamukkale

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

  • Antalya: Guided Pamukkale Tour w/Lunch/Transfer: $84
  • Antalya; Pamukkale Hot Air Balloon Tour with Transfer: $280
  • City of Pamukkale/Denizli: Antalya Airport Private Transfer: $165
  • Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers to Denizli City Hotels: $104
  • Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers to Pamukkale Karahayit Hotels: $104
  • Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers to Pamukkale Saraykoy Hotels: $81
  • Denizli City Hotels to Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers: $136
  • Pamukkale - Karahayit Transfer from Denizli Cardak Airport: $100
  • Pamukkale Hot Air Balloon w/Flight Certificates,Champagne Toast & Hotel Transfer: $90
  • Pamukkale Saraykoy Hotels to Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers: $109
  • Pamukkale to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport-Departure Transfer: $125
  • Private Denizli Pamukkale Airport Transfer Service: $98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:

  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
  • Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
  • Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
  • Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Pamukkale or Cologne?

Prices for flights to both Cologne and Pamukkale 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
    Pamukkale $69
    Cologne $54

Typical Food Prices in Cologne

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:


  • Dinner
    $15
  • Donner Kebab
    $4.29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.

  • Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
  • Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
  • Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
  • 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $481

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pamukkale $54
    Cologne $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pamukkale

For Pamukkale, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Entrance fees Travertines & Pool
    $2.01

Tours and Activities in Pamukkale

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

  • Antalya: Pamukkale Guided Tour With Optional Balloon Flight: $37
  • Pamukkale City Highlights Small Group Guided Tour with Lunch: $40
  • Full Day Pamukkale City Tour From Pamukkale And Karahayit Hotels: $45
  • Pamukkale Paragliding Experience By Local Expert Pilots: $48
  • From Antalya: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour with Lunch: $48
  • Shared Pamukkale Group Tour from Pamukkale: $57
  • From Bodrum: Pamukkale & Hierapolis Guided Tour with Lunch: $63
  • Kusadasi or Selcuk: Pamukkale Guided Group Tour: $67
  • Pamukkale Tour From Pamukkale : $71
  • Antalya: Full-Day Pamukkale Tour: $80
  • Shared Cultural Tour in Pamukkale and Hierapolis: $81
  • Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour: $85

Tours and Activities in Cologne

Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
  • 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
  • 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
  • 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
  • Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
  • Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
  • Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
  • Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
  • Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
  • Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $395
  • Beethoven and Bonn Highlights Tour from Cologne by Car: $840
  • Best of Cologne in 1-Day Private Guided Tour with Transport: $438

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pamukkale $15
    Cologne $24

Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne

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

  • Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
  • Public brewery tour in Cologne in English: $18
  • Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
  • Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
  • Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
  • Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
  • South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
  • Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
  • Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $29
  • Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
  • The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
  • The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33


When comparing the travel costs between Pamukkale and Cologne, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Pamukkale or Cologne?

Cologne has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Pamukkale. When comparing the sizes of Pamukkale and Cologne, 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 Pamukkale or Cologne?

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 Pamukkale or Cologne in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pamukkale as well as Cologne. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Cologne because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Pamukkale is a little warmer than Cologne in the summer. The daily temperature in Pamukkale averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Cologne fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pamukkale this time of the year. In the summer, Pamukkale often gets more sunshine than Cologne. Pamukkale gets 356 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 184 hours of full sun.

Pamukkale usually gets less rain in July than Cologne. Pamukkale gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Pamukkale 28°C (82°F) 
    Cologne 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Pamukkale or Cologne in the Autumn?

Both Cologne and Pamukkale are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.

In the autumn, Pamukkale is much warmer than Cologne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pamukkale in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Cologne averages at about 12°C (54°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pamukkale. Pamukkale usually receives more sunshine than Cologne during autumn. Pamukkale gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Pamukkale usually receives less rain than Cologne. Pamukkale gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Pamukkale 19°C (67°F) 
    Cologne 12°C (54°F)

Should I visit Pamukkale or Cologne in the Winter?

Both Cologne and Pamukkale during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Cologne for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Cologne. In January, Pamukkale is generally much warmer than Cologne. Daily temperatures in Pamukkale average around 9°C (48°F), and Cologne fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Pamukkale often gets more sunshine than Cologne. Pamukkale gets 137 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 43 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pamukkale. Pamukkale usually gets more rain in January than Cologne. Pamukkale gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Pamukkale 9°C (48°F) 
    Cologne 3°C (37°F)

Should I visit Pamukkale or Cologne in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pamukkale and Cologne. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cologne in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Pamukkale is much warmer than Cologne in the spring. The daily temperature in Pamukkale averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Cologne fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In Pamukkale, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pamukkale usually receives more sunshine than Cologne during spring. Pamukkale gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 152 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Pamukkale usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cologne. Pamukkale gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Pamukkale 17°C (62°F) 
    Cologne 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Cologne and Pamukkale

Pamukkale Cologne
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 9°C (48°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 3°C (37°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Feb 10°C (50°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 4°C (39°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 13°C (55°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 7°C (44°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 17°C (62°F) 52 mm (2 in) 10°C (50°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
May 21°C (70°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 14°C (58°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jun 26°C (78°F) 17 mm (0.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 19°C (66°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Sep 24°C (76°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 16°C (61°F) 62 mm (2.5 in)
Oct 19°C (67°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 12°C (54°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Nov 14°C (58°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 7°C (45°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Dec 10°C (51°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 4°C (39°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)