Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Turku?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Turku or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku 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: Turku or Krakow?
Turku
Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, The Best Adventure Tours to Finland, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTurku €136Krakow €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €136, 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 Turku and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTurku €76Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTurku €152Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Turku and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Turku 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.
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: Turku Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Turku €44Krakow €6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku
Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $73
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $73
- One-Way Helicopter Transfer to Helsinki Airport (HEL): $2,112
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 Okęcie: $278
- Private transfer from Katowice AirPort to Krakow City: $272
Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Turku 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 dayTurku €32Krakow €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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Turku €22Krakow €19
Tours and Activities in Turku
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $131
- Turku Archipelago: Sea Kayaking Day Tour: $133
- Archipelago tour with Soling sailboat: $310
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $523
- Turku Enchanting Romantic Walking Tour: $659
- Turku Christmas Delights Walking Tour: $766
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTurku €12Krakow €6.32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:
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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 Turku and Krakow, we can see that Turku 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 Turku would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Turku 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 Turku Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Turku or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku 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 Turku 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 Turku or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Turku as well as Krakow.
In the summer, Turku is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Turku in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Krakow averages at about 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 Turku this time of the year. In the summer, Turku often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Turku usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTurku 16°C (61°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Turku or Krakow in the Autumn?
Both Krakow and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Turku is generally much colder than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 6°C (43°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Turku usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during autumn. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Turku usually receives more rain than Krakow. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTurku 6°C (43°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Turku or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Turku during the winter are popular places to visit.
It's quite cold in Krakow in the winter. The weather in Turku can be very cold. Turku is much colder than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Turku averages around -6°C (20°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Turku often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Turku usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTurku -6°C (20°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Turku or Krakow in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Krakow.
It's quite cold in Turku in the spring. In the spring, Turku is much colder than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Turku in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Turku usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Turku usually receives less rain than Krakow. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTurku 3°C (37°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Turku
| Turku | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (20°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (58°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (51°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (25°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.