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

Should you visit Gothenburg or Krakow?

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

Should I visit Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg or Krakow?

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Sweden, The Best Budget Tours to Poland, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow.


Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Gothenburg?

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 Gothenburg is $145, 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 Gothenburg and Krakow in more detail.



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

Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg


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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Gothenburg $21
    Krakow $7.10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg

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

  • Airport Transfer: Gothenburg to Airport GOT by Business Car: $132
  • Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $108
  • Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $108
  • Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $216
  • Gothenburg Airport: Transfer to City center of Gothenburg: $74
  • Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $80
  • City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $128
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $17
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $17
  • Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $115
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
  • Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $162

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:

  • Zakopane: Private Transfer to Krakow: $214
  • Zakopane: Private Transfer from Krakow: $214
  • Zakopane to Chocholow Thermal Pools 3h Ticket with Hotel Transfer: $102
  • Zakopane Tour from Krakow with Transfers and Lunch Option: $90
  • Zakopane Private Transfer from to Krakow or Krakow Airport: $274
  • Zakopane Private Transfer from Krakow or Krakow airport: $119
  • Zakopane Private Transfer: $162
  • Zakopane NIGHT Snowmobiles Bonfire and Transfers from Krakow : $92
  • Zakopane Krakow private transfer, private driver service: $119
  • Wooden Architecture Museum Private Transfer Round Trip: $167
  • Wieliczka Salt mine private transfer-Krakow Balice Airport: $11
  • Wieliczka Salt Mine Private Transfer : $239

Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Krakow?

Prices for flights to both Krakow and Gothenburg 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
    Gothenburg $76
    Krakow $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krakow

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

  • Small-Group Online Cooking Class Polish Pierogi : $30
  • Krakow Tipsy Polish Food Tour with History Pierogi and Shots: $39
  • Pierogi Cooking Class with Market Shopping and Local Snacks: $82
  • Eat Like a Local in Krakow - Food Tour with BeMyGuest: $99
  • Krakow Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting and Dinner: $105
  • Krakow Bites and Sights Food Tour: $114
  • Polish Pierogi Cooking Class with Farmer's Market Shopping: $114
  • Deluxe Polish Food Tour Experience in Krakow: $121
  • Private Food Tour in Krakow Poland: $198
  • Go Karting Experience with Pizza and Drinks in Krakow: $299

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Gothenburg $18
    Krakow $22

Tours and Activities in Gothenburg

For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Self Guided Tour in Gothenburg: $3.58
  • Eila's Time Travels: A Lycksele Family Walking Tour Game: $8.59
  • Headless Horseman in Self-Guided Ghost Tour Game: $8.63
  • Alfie Atkins Cultural Centre Admission Ticket: $15
  • Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $16
  • Gothenburg Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $16
  • World of Volvo Exhibition Entry Ticket: $19
  • Universeum Entry Ticket: $24
  • Gothenburg Universeum Ticket - Aquarium, Science, Wildlife, Zoo: $25
  • City Canal Sightseeing Cruise: $28
  • Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $36
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $36

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: $185
  • Energylandia Theme Park Ticket and Transportation From Krakow: $82
  • Magic Christmas tour in Wieliczka: $167
  • The Footsteps of John Paul II & Divine Mercy Private Tour: $161
  • Wawel Castle and Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour in Krakow with Lunch: $154
  • 1 DAY Tours - Auschwitz and Salt Mine - Shared transport+tickets: $155
  • 1 Hour Tour in Kraków Old Town: $94
  • 1,5-Hour Jewish Quarter Kazimierz Walking Guided Tour in Krakow: $24
  • 1-Hour Tour to Krakow's Old Town by Electric Golf Cart: $19
  • 2 Hour Bottomless Brunch Experience with 3 Course Meal And Drinks: $71
  • 2 Hour Private Pinball and Arcade Museum Tour from Krakow: $299
  • 3-Day Krakow Guided Tour: Jewish Heritage with Wieliczka and Auschwitz: $262

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Gothenburg $24
    Krakow $7.49

Sample the Local Flavors in Gothenburg

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

  • Guided Brewery Tour on Bicycle: $66

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:

  • 1 Hour of Open Bar Pub Crawl + Karaoke + VIP Entry to Best Clubs : $28
  • Pub Crawl Krawl Through Krakow: $28
  • Krakow Pub Crawl with 1 Hr of unlimited alcohol & 4 clubs/pubs: $29
  • Pub Crawl 1hr Unlimited Beer + Vodka then Clubs in Katowice: $31
  • Tyskie Brewery Tour from Katowice: $131


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


Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Krakow?

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

Both Krakow and Gothenburg during the summer are popular places to visit.

Gothenburg is cooler than Krakow in the summer. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Krakow fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

In Krakow, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Gothenburg. In the summer, Gothenburg often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Gothenburg gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.

Gothenburg usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Gothenburg 16°C (61°F) 
    Krakow 19°C (67°F)

Should I visit Gothenburg or Krakow in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and Krakow.

In the autumn, Gothenburg is cooler than Krakow. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Gothenburg in October average around 9°C (47°F), and Krakow averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Gothenburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during autumn. Gothenburg gets 94 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Gothenburg usually receives more rain than Krakow. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Gothenburg 9°C (47°F) 
    Krakow 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Gothenburg or Krakow in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as Krakow.

Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Gothenburg. In January, Gothenburg is generally a little warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around -2°C (29°F), and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

In the winter, Gothenburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Gothenburg gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.

Gothenburg usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Gothenburg -2°C (29°F) 
    Krakow -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Gothenburg or Krakow in the Spring?

Both Krakow and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Gothenburg is much colder than Krakow in the spring. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 5°C (41°F) in April, and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Gothenburg usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Gothenburg gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than Krakow. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Krakow receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Gothenburg 5°C (41°F) 
    Krakow 10°C (50°F)

Typical Weather for Krakow and Gothenburg

Gothenburg Krakow
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -2°C (29°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Feb -2°C (29°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 1°C (34°F) 50 mm (2 in) 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 5°C (41°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
May 11°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in) 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Jul 16°C (61°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Aug 16°C (60°F) 77 mm (3 in) 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Oct 9°C (47°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 4°C (38°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 0°C (32°F) 75 mm (3 in) 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)