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

Should you visit Paris or Krakow?

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

Should I visit Paris or Krakow? 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: Paris or Krakow?

Paris

Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."

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 Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Paris?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is €232, while the average daily cost in Krakow is €60. 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 Paris and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Paris 151
    Krakow 39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Paris 302
    Krakow 78
Compare Hotels in Paris and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Paris 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 Paris


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: Paris Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Paris 21
    Krakow 6.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:


  • Metro
    6.40
  • Train from Airport
    9.00
  • Metro tickets
    6.80
  • Train
    20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris

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

  • Bus Transfer : Paris to the Palace of Versailles Round-Trip : $44
  • Disneyland Private Transfer - Luxury Minivan Service: $185
  • Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer for 1 to 3 Persons in Paris: $196
  • Private transfer from Beauvais airport to Paris or back: $268
  • Airport Transfer Service Shuttle Disneyland Paris Taxi: $120
  • Airport Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Paris City by Business Car: $101
  • Airport Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Paris City by Luxury EQS: $142
  • Airport Transfer: Paris City to Paris Airport CDG by Luxury EQS: $143
  • Airport transfer from Paris to Disneyland Paris/Parc Asterix (8pax): $185
  • Arrival Private Transfer Paris Airport CDG to Paris by Sedan : $87
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Airport Charles de Gaulle OR Orly TO La Defense: $23
  • Arrival Transfer CDG or ORY Airport to Disneyland París by Van: $126

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:

  • Private Transfer to or from Berlin: $929
  • Private Transfer to or from Budapest: $867
  • Warsaw to Luxury Private Transfer: $747
  • From Gdansk or One-Way Private Transfer: $669
  • Private Transfer to or from Bratislava: $619
  • Private transfer! Warsaw Chopin Airport - Krakow City Center: $470
  • Private transfer from Krakow to Budapest or from Budapest to Krakow: $299
  • Private door-to-door transfer from Krakow to Budapest: $291
  • Warsaw - Premium-Class Private Airport Transfer: $288
  • Transfer from Krakow (Balice airport) to Krynica Zdroj : $283
  • Private Transfer Airport to Warszawa OkÄ™cie: $278
  • Private transfer from Katowice AirPort to Krakow City: $272

Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Paris 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
    Paris 41
    Krakow 12
Typical Food Prices in Paris

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:


  • Ice Cream
    8.00
  • Breakfast
    7.00
  • Breakfast for 2
    30
  • Dinner on River Cruise
    86
  • Dinner
    57
  • Cheese
    13

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris

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

  • 1h30 Cooking Activity in English: $22
  • Hard Rock Cafe Paris with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner : $33
  • Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $44
  • No Diet Club - A selection of the best pizzas in Paris !: $45
  • Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris : $49
  • Paris : Seine River Bistronomic Dinner Cruise: $52
  • Seine River Panoramic Views Dinner Cruise: $56
  • Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $58
  • No Diet Club - Paris : Night food tour - Montmartre: $67
  • 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise with Bistro Dinner: $68
  • Paris : No Diet Club Food Tour - Best Spots in Le Marais: $68
  • Dinner with Customized Wine Selection: $75

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Paris 77
    Krakow 19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris

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


  • Louvre Entry for Two
    18
  • Admission to Pantheon
    5.00
  • Catacombs (2)
    23

Tours and Activities in Paris

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

  • Free Walking Tour of Montmartre: $2.14
  • Montmartre Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt Tour: $3.21
  • Montmartre Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.26
  • Self Guided Tours in Paris with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.26
  • Marais Walk Self Guided Audio Tour: $4.35
  • Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
  • Père-Lachaise Cemetery audio guide tour: $5.35
  • Private Self-guided Audio Tour of the Eiffel Tower: $5.45
  • Self-Guided Tour - Père Lachaise Cemetery Audioguide, Paris: $5.45
  • Self Guided Latin Quarter Audio Tour in Paris: $5.45
  • Private Self Guided Walking Tour in Montmartre Paris: $5.46
  • Kid-Friendly Marais: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.49

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Paris 24
    Krakow 6.32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:


  • Wine
    14

Sample the Local Flavors in Paris

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:

  • Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $11
  • Original Paris Pub Crawl : $16
  • Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $20
  • Latin Quarter Guided Pub Crawl to Bars and Clubs: $22
  • Paris Bar Crawl: $24
  • Paris Latin Quarter Pub Crawl Bars and Clubs: $24
  • Paris Pub Crawl: $25
  • Audio guided tour and wine tasting at Caves du Louvre: $32
  • Paris Craft gin distillery guided Tour & Tasting in English: $32
  • Paris Gin Craft Distillery Tour and Tasting: $33
  • Wine Museum Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $39
  • Vineyard tour and wine tasting in Davron: $43

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


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


Which is Bigger, Paris or Krakow?

Paris has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Paris 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 Paris 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 Paris or Krakow in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Paris as well as Krakow. The summer months attract visitors to Paris because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Paris is generally around the same temperature as Krakow. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 20°C (68°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Paris this time of the year. In the summer, Paris often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Paris gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Paris usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Paris gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Paris 20°C (68°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Paris or Krakow in the Autumn?

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

Paris is a little warmer than Krakow in the autumn. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Paris usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Paris gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Paris usually receives more rain than Krakow. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Paris 13°C (56°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Paris or Krakow in the Winter?

Both Krakow and Paris during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Paris for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Paris. In the winter, Paris is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the winter temperatures in Paris in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Krakow averages at about -2°C (29°F).

In the winter, Paris often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Paris gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

Paris usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Paris 5°C (40°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Paris or Krakow in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Paris and Krakow. Many visitors come to Paris in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In April, Paris is generally a little warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 11°C (52°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Paris usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Paris gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Paris usually receives around the same amount of rain as Krakow. Paris gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


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

Typical Weather for Krakow and Paris

Paris Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (40°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb 6°C (42°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 8°C (47°F) 52 mm (2.1 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 50 mm (1.9 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 20°C (68°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 20°C (67°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 17°C (63°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 13°C (56°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 8°C (47°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 5°C (42°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)