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

Should you visit Ephesus or Krakow?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus 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: Ephesus or Krakow?

Ephesus

The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).

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 Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best Budget Tours to Poland, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Ephesus?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $131, while the average daily cost in Krakow is $82. 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 Ephesus and Krakow in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ephesus $55
    Krakow $46
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ephesus $110
    Krakow $92
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Krakow

Looking for a hotel in Ephesus 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 Ephesus


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: Ephesus Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ephesus $40
    Krakow $7.10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus

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

  • Akbuk Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $180
  • Didim (Altinkum) Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $126
  • Ephesus Private Guided Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $80
  • From-to Izmir AirPort to-from Kusadası Private Airport Transfer: $90
  • Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $100
  • Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport - Kusadasi Centrum (All hotels, home...) transfers: $96
  • Kusadasi Boat Tour Lunch and Transfer Included: $38
  • Kusadasi Boat Trip With Lunch And Hotel Transfer: $40
  • Kusadasi Boat trip with BBQ Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer : $54
  • Kusadasi Half Day Quad Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $50
  • Kusadasi Horse Riding Beach and Forest options with Transfer : $65
  • Kusadasi Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $185

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:

  • Budapest: Private transfer to Krakow or Krakow to Budapest: $482
  • Private Transfer to/from Budapest: $441
  • Krakow - Berlin private transfer with cleansed vehicle : $294
  • Krakow Cracow City / Balice Airport - Prague city / airport private transfer: $293
  • Private transfer: Krakow Airport - Zakopane: $287
  • Luxury Private Transfer from Krakow to Vienna: $283
  • The Jewish History of Krakow with Guide, Tickets & Transfers: $278
  • Zakopane Private Transfer from to Krakow or Krakow Airport: $275
  • Luxury Private Transfer from Krakow to Budapest: $271
  • Private Transfer to/from Warsaw: $261
  • Wieliczka Salt Mine Private Transfer : $240
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with Private Transfers from Krakow: $239

Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Ephesus 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
    Ephesus $45
    Krakow $25
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus

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


  • Sandwiches
    $0.12
  • Dessert
    $0.13
  • Lunch at Beach (for 2)
    $0.46
  • Snacks
    $0.19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus

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

  • Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krakow

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Krakow.

  • Krakow Tipsy Polish Food Tour with History Pierogi and Shots: $40
  • Polish Folk Show with 3 course dinner in Krakow legendary restaurant: $49
  • Pierogi Cooking Class with Market Shopping and Local Snacks: $83
  • Folk Show A Taste of Polish Tradition with Dinner: $84
  • Krakow Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting and Dinner: $95
  • Traditional Jewish Ashkenazi Food Tour in Krakow: $121
  • EVERYDAY Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $176
  • Katowice Private Traditional Polish Food Tour: $195
  • Krakow Private Traditional Polish Food Tour: $195

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ephesus $46
    Krakow $22

Tours and Activities in Ephesus

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

  • SKIP-THE-LINE: Group & Private Ephesus Tour ENTRY FEE & LUNCH: $7.00
  • Skip-the-Line Ephesus Tour with Lunch: $7.21
  • Kusadasi Legacy of the Ottomans: Exploration Game and Tour: $7.51
  • SKIP-THE-LINE: BEST-SELLER PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR for Cruise Guests: $9.52
  • Ephesus and Sirince Village Tour For Cruisers: $9.90
  • Mini Group Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Tour (Max. 10 guests): $9.90
  • Ephesus Cruiser Private or Small Group Tour, TICKET and LUNCH Opt: $9.94
  • PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR: SKIP-THE-LINE & ON-TIME Return to Cruise: $10
  • Special Discounted Ephesus Tour For Cruise Passengers: $10
  • "private Ephesus tours "" wholesaler Shop Tours ""from cruise port Kusadasi ": $10
  • Private Biblical Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi Cruise Port: $10
  • For Cruise Guests: Best of Ephesus Tour: $11

Tours and Activities in Krakow

Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Wieliczka Salt Mine 1-Day Tour: $186
  • Energylandia Theme Park Ticket and Transportation From Krakow: $83
  • Magic Christmas tour in Wieliczka: $168
  • The Footsteps of John Paul II & Divine Mercy Private Tour: $162
  • Wawel Castle and Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour in Krakow with Lunch: $155
  • 1 DAY Tours - Auschwitz and Salt Mine - Shared transport+tickets: $156
  • 1 Hour Tour in Kraków Old Town: $95
  • 1.5h Crazy Guides' Communism Tour of Nowa Huta in Classic Car: $112
  • 2 Hour Bottomless Brunch Experience with 3 Course Meal And Drinks: $71
  • 2 Hours Old Town Guided Bike Tour in Krakow: $30
  • 3-Hour E-Bike Tour In Krakow: $54
  • 3-Hour Guided Bike Tour Highlighting Krakow: $48

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ephesus $12
    Krakow $7.49
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.10

Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus

Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • PRIVATE & GROUP: SKIP-THE-LINE EPHESUS with Wine Tasting & Lunch: $12
  • SKIP-THE-LINE Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $18
  • POTTERY PAINTING & WINE TASTING Tour from Kusadasi Port: $49
  • Wine Tasting-Village Shore Excursion from Kusadasi Port: $50
  • Ephesus Shore Excursion with Wine Tasting and Lunch: $64
  • Kusadasi Shore Excursions Ephesus and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
  • Ephesus & Şirince Village with Lunch& Wine Tasting (Fixed Price): $100
  • Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting and Traditional Turkish Lunch: $130
  • Private Ephesus Tour & Wine Tasting & Mediterrranean Lunch: $159

Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:


  • Vodka
    $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Krakow

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Krakow:

  • Pub Crawl Krawl Through Krakow: $28
  • Pub Crawl + Unlimited Drinks + VIP entry + Drinking Games & Photographer : $30
  • Pub Crawl 1hr Unlimited Beer + Vodka then Clubs in Katowice: $31
  • Krakow Evening Pub Crawl: $49
  • Krakow Wine Tasting Private Tour with Wine Expert: $180


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


Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Krakow?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus 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 Ephesus 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 Ephesus or Krakow in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Ephesus as well as Krakow. Many visitors come to Ephesus in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Ephesus is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ephesus in July average around 27°C (81°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 Ephesus this time of the year. In the summer, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Ephesus gets 378 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Ephesus usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Ephesus gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Ephesus 27°C (81°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Ephesus or Krakow in the Autumn?

Both Krakow and Ephesus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Ephesus for the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Ephesus is generally much warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Ephesus average around 19°C (66°F), and Krakow fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ephesus. Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Ephesus gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Ephesus usually receives less rain than Krakow. Ephesus gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Ephesus 19°C (66°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Ephesus or Krakow in the Winter?

Both Krakow and Ephesus during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Ephesus because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Krakow in the winter. Ephesus is much warmer than Krakow in the winter. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

In the winter, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Ephesus gets 131 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ephesus. Ephesus usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Ephesus gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Ephesus 10°C (50°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Ephesus or Krakow in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ephesus and Krakow.

In the spring, Ephesus is much warmer than Krakow. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ephesus in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Krakow averages at about 10°C (50°F).

In Ephesus, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Ephesus gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Ephesus usually receives less rain than Krakow. Ephesus gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Ephesus 15°C (59°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Ephesus

Ephesus Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (50°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb 10°C (50°F) 103 mm (4.1 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 12°C (53°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 15°C (59°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 19°C (67°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 24°C (75°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 1 mm (0 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 1 mm (0 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 24°C (75°F) 23 mm (0.9 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 19°C (66°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 14°C (58°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 12°C (53°F) 164 mm (6.5 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)