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

Should you visit Saaremaa or Krakow?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa or Krakow, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Saaremaa or Krakow?

Saaremaa

Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia and it has a unique and rural atmosphere that makes it an interesting place to visit. Saaremaa has remained rural and frozen in time due to its isolated location, particularly during Soviet occupation when it was used as a military base. The island still has working windmills, hand placed stone walls, and old stone churches that feel like you've stepped back in time.

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 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Saaremaa?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Saaremaa is €101, 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 Saaremaa and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saaremaa 36
    Krakow 39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saaremaa 72
    Krakow 78
Compare Hotels in Saaremaa and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa


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: Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saaremaa 47
    Krakow 6.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saaremaa

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Saaremaa:


  • Rental Car and Gas for a Day
    34

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 Saaremaa or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Saaremaa 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
    Saaremaa 37
    Krakow 12
Typical Food Prices in Saaremaa

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


  • Salmon
    1.28

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.
    Saaremaa 21
    Krakow 19

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
    Saaremaa 11
    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 Saaremaa and Krakow, we can see that Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Krakow?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa or Krakow in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as Krakow. Many visitors come to Saaremaa in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Saaremaa is cooler than Krakow in the summer. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, 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 Saaremaa this time of the year. In the summer, Saaremaa often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saaremaa 17°C (62°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Saaremaa or Krakow in the Autumn?

Both Krakow and Saaremaa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Saaremaa for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Saaremaa is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saaremaa in October average around 8°C (47°F), and Krakow averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Saaremaa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during autumn. Saaremaa gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saaremaa usually receives more rain than Krakow. Saaremaa gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saaremaa 8°C (47°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Saaremaa or Krakow in the Winter?

Both Krakow and Saaremaa during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Saaremaa because of the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Krakow in the winter. The weather in Saaremaa can be very cold. In January, Saaremaa is generally cooler than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around -3°C (27°F), and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

In the winter, Saaremaa often gets less sunshine than Krakow. Saaremaa gets 33 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Saaremaa gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saaremaa -3°C (27°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Saaremaa or Krakow in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saaremaa and Krakow. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Saaremaa this time of year.

It's quite cold in Saaremaa in the spring. Saaremaa is much colder than Krakow in the spring. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 4°C (38°F) in April, and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Saaremaa usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saaremaa usually receives less rain than Krakow. Saaremaa gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saaremaa 4°C (38°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Saaremaa

Saaremaa Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -3°C (27°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb -3°C (26°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar -1°C (30°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 4°C (38°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 9°C (48°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 14°C (57°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 51 mm (2 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 13°C (55°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 8°C (47°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 4°C (39°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 0°C (32°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)