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

Should you visit Rouen or Krakow?

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

Should I visit Rouen 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: Rouen or Krakow?

Rouen

Rouen is a city on the River Seine in the north of France. It is the capital of the region of Normandy. It was formerly one of the largest and most prosperous cities of Medieval Europe. The city has had a turbulent history. It was devastated by fire and plague several times during the Middle Ages, and was occupied by the English during the Hundred Years War. The young French heroine Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) was tried for heresy and burned at the stake in the central square in 1431. And during WWII, Allied bombing raids laid waste to large parts of the city, especially south of the cathedral.

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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Rouen?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Rouen is €109, 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 Rouen and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rouen 52
    Krakow 39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rouen 104
    Krakow 78
Compare Hotels in Rouen and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Rouen 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 Rouen


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: Rouen Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rouen 34
    Krakow 6.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rouen

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rouen:

  • Round-Trip Private Transfer Rouen Airport URO to Rouen by Minivan: $164

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:

  • Kraków: Kraków Airport to Central Bus Station Bus Transfer: $5.31
  • From Auschwitz-Birkenau Roundtrip Bus Transfer: $6.19
  • Balice Airport Luxury Vehicle Private Transfer: $9.91
  • Private Transfer to or from Krakow Airport: $10
  • Private Transfer to/from Krakow Airport (KRK): $11
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Transfer from Krakow: $12
  • Krakow Airport Transfer Balice: $14
  • Krakow Airport Private Transfers: $15
  • Electric Car Transfer between Krakow and the Airport: $15
  • Kraków: Airport Private Transfer by Luxury Car: $16
  • Auschwitz - Birkenau Roundtrip Transfer with assistance: $17
  • Kraków Airport Private Transfer - Kraków City Center: $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Rouen or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Rouen 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
    Rouen 35
    Krakow 12

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.
    Rouen 18
    Krakow 19

Tours and Activities in Rouen

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rouen are as follows:

  • Rouen audio guided tour: $13
  • Audio guided tour : Rouen retold - Joan of Arc retold: $16
  • Guided Tour of the Historic Center: $26
  • Guided Tour of the Historic Center of Rouen: $26
  • The OFFICIAL Rouen Tour : The 1-hour must-sees: $27
  • Treetop adventure course in the heart of Rouen: $31
  • The OFFICIAL Rouen Tour : The 2-hours must-sees: $48
  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $50
  • Welcome to Private Walking Tour with a Local: $51
  • Private Custom Walking Guided Tour in Rouen: $51
  • Rouen Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $52
  • Discover Rouen with a licenced tour guide: $59

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rouen 7.86
    Krakow 6.32

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 Rouen and Krakow, we can see that Rouen 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 Rouen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rouen 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 Rouen Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rouen or Krakow?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Rouen. When comparing the sizes of Rouen 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 Rouen or Krakow?

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 Rouen or Krakow in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rouen and Krakow. The summer months attract visitors to Rouen because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Rouen is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rouen in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Krakow averages at about 19°C (67°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krakow this time of the year. In Rouen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Rouen usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during summer. Rouen gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Rouen usually receives less rain than Krakow. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Rouen 17°C (63°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Rouen or Krakow in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Krakow. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rouen this time of year.

In October, Rouen is generally a little warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 12°C (53°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the autumn, Rouen often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Rouen gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets more rain in October than Krakow. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Rouen 12°C (53°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Rouen or Krakow in the Winter?

Both Krakow and Rouen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Rouen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Rouen. Rouen is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

Rouen usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during winter. Rouen gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Rouen usually receives more rain than Krakow. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Rouen 4°C (39°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Rouen or Krakow in the Spring?

Both Krakow and Rouen during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Rouen in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Rouen is around the same temperature as Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rouen in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).

In the spring, Rouen often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Rouen gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Krakow. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Rouen 9°C (48°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Rouen

Rouen Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 4°C (39°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb 4°C (40°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 7°C (44°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 9°C (48°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 17°C (63°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 17°C (63°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 12°C (53°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 5°C (40°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)