Which place is cheaper, Cologne or Tampere?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tampere 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 Tampere and Cologne can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tampere or Cologne?
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It sits between Nasijarvi Lake and Pyhajarvi Lake, with the Tammerkoski rapids in between. It is one of the larger Finnish cities, with more than 200,000 inhabitants, but Tampere has managed to keep the small town feel. The city center is compact in size, and the atmosphere is friendly and casual. The city is located on a scenic spot on a narrow isthmus. The Tammerkoski rapids and their riverbanks form the backdrop for the old industrial buildings, and ridges formed thousands of years ago by ancient seas and retreating ice offer fantastic views over the two lakes. Original architecture and innovative urban development blend together to please both viewers and users of the built environment. Enjoy the surrounding lakes on peaceful rowboat trips or on cruises on larger vessels, or concentrate on the urban sights from a sightseeing bus. Regenerated industrial buildings now house quirky museums, enticing shops, pubs, cinemas and cafes. Tampere has a down-to-earth vitality that makes it a favorite for many visitors.
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 10-Day Tours from Helsinki, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Finland, The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTampere €148Cologne €161
The average daily cost (per person) in Tampere is €148, while the average daily cost in Cologne is €161. 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 Tampere and Cologne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTampere €80Cologne €91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTampere €160Cologne €182
Compare Hotels in Tampere and Cologne
Looking for a hotel in Tampere 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.
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: Tampere Hotel Prices and Cologne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tampere €59Cologne €19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampere
Also for Tampere, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tampere Private Transfer from Tampere city centre to Tampere airport: $87
- Helicopter Transfer to Helsinki Airport: $1,577
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 Tampere or Cologne?
Prices for flights to both Cologne and Tampere 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
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Food Meals for one dayTampere €33Cologne €50
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner€14
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Donner Kebab€4.00
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tampere €24Cologne €20
Tours and Activities in Tampere
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tampere.
- Unique Corners of Tampere - Walking Tour: $180
- Unique Corners of Tampere - Walking Tour: $523
- Enchanting Tampere Romantic Walking Tour: $659
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTampere €10Cologne €23
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 Tampere 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 Tampere Expensive? and Is Cologne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tampere or Cologne?
Cologne has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Tampere. When comparing the sizes of Tampere 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 Tampere 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 Tampere or Cologne in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Tampere as well as Cologne. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Cologne because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Tampere is cooler than Cologne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tampere in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Cologne averages at about 19°C (66°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tampere this time of the year. In the summer, Tampere often gets more sunshine than Cologne. Tampere gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 184 hours of full sun.
Tampere usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Cologne. Tampere gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTampere 16°C (61°F)Cologne 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Tampere or Cologne in the Autumn?
Both Cologne and Tampere 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 October, Tampere is generally much colder than Cologne. Daily temperatures in Tampere average around 5°C (42°F), and Cologne fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Tampere usually receives less sunshine than Cologne during autumn. Tampere gets 81 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Tampere usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cologne. Tampere gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTampere 5°C (42°F)Cologne 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Tampere or Cologne in the Winter?
Both Cologne and Tampere during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, 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. It's quite cold in Tampere in the winter. Tampere is much colder than Cologne in the winter. The daily temperature in Tampere averages around -7°C (19°F) in January, and Cologne fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Tampere often gets less sunshine than Cologne. Tampere gets 37 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 43 hours of full sun.
Tampere usually gets less rain in January than Cologne. Tampere gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTampere -7°C (19°F)Cologne 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Tampere or Cologne in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampere and Cologne. Also, many visitors come to Cologne in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Tampere. In the spring, Tampere is much colder than Cologne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tampere in April average around 3°C (38°F), and Cologne averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Tampere usually receives more sunshine than Cologne during spring. Tampere gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 152 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Tampere usually receives less rain than Cologne. Tampere gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTampere 3°C (38°F)Cologne 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cologne and Tampere
| Tampere | Cologne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -7°C (19°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (19°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (38°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (58°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (50°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 5°C (42°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (24°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.