Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Heidelberg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Heidelberg or Krakow?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Heidelberg and Krakow. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Heidelberg or Krakow?
Heidelberg
Heidelberg, in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, is a top travel destination in Germany. It's picturesquely situated in the Neckar River Valley and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city has a population of over 148,000 and it's home to Germany's oldest university, the Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat, which has a student population of approximately 28,000.
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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Poland, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow.
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Heidelberg Prices
Germany PricesKrakow Prices
Poland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHeidelberg €169Krakow €70
The average daily cost (per person) in Heidelberg is €169, while the average daily cost in Krakow is €70. 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 Heidelberg and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHeidelberg €93Krakow €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHeidelberg €186Krakow €78
Compare Hotels in Heidelberg and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Heidelberg 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: Heidelberg Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Heidelberg €17Krakow €6.05
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heidelberg
Also for Heidelberg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport transfer from Karlsruhe Airport to Baden-Baden: $167
- Badenweiler to Basel Airport (BSL) - Departure Private Transfer: $67
- One Way Private Transfer from Mannheim to Frankfurt : $248
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
- Private transfer from Krakow to Warsaw private driver service: $299
- Krakow - Berlin private transfer with cleansed vehicle : $292
- Private transfer: Krakow Airport - Zakopane: $286
- Luxury Private Transfer from Krakow to Vienna: $281
- The Jewish History of Krakow with Guide, Tickets & Transfers: $276
- Zakopane Private Transfer from to Krakow or Krakow Airport: $274
- Luxury Private Transfer from Krakow to Budapest: $269
- Private Transfer to/from Warsaw: $261
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Private Transfer : $239
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with Private Transfers from Krakow: $238
Is it cheaper to fly into Heidelberg or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Heidelberg 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 dayHeidelberg €65Krakow €22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Heidelberg
For Heidelberg, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Frauenbad Magic Dinner with Chris Stark (DE & EN): $155
- Craft Beer and Street Food Tour: $762
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Heidelberg €11Krakow €19
Tours and Activities in Heidelberg
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Heidelberg.
- Heidelberg's Altstadt: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Heidelberg Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $5.71
- Heidelberg Secrets Quest: Self-Guided Old Town Adventure: $5.95
- Heidelberg Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.40
- Heidelberg Interactive City Tour: $8.35
- Walking Tour of the Old Town: $15
- Night Watchman Historic Adventure Tour: $16
- Entertaining Guided Tour to Old Town Highlights: $16
- Guided tour of Heidelberg: $17
- Tour through Heidelberg in the footsteps of the night watchmen: $17
- Old Town and Christmas Market Walking Tour: $18
- Experience our history 1.5-hour walking tour through the old town: $18
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHeidelberg €17Krakow €6.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Heidelberg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Heidelberg:
- Pub crawl through the old town, drinks included: $41
- Private pub crawl with insider-guide & shots: $334
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:
- 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 Heidelberg and Krakow, we can see that Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Heidelberg or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Heidelberg. When comparing the sizes of Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Heidelberg as well as Krakow. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Heidelberg this time of year.
Heidelberg is around the same temperature as Krakow in the summer. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 21°C (69°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 Heidelberg this time of the year. In the summer, Heidelberg often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Heidelberg gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Heidelberg usually gets less rain in July than Krakow. Heidelberg gets 78 mm (3.1 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 JulyHeidelberg 21°C (69°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Heidelberg or Krakow in the Autumn?
Both Krakow and Heidelberg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Heidelberg for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Heidelberg is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Heidelberg in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Krakow averages at about 11°C (51°F).
Heidelberg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow during autumn. Heidelberg gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Heidelberg usually receives more rain than Krakow. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 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 OctoberHeidelberg 12°C (54°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Heidelberg or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Heidelberg during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Heidelberg in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Krakow can be very cold during winter. Heidelberg can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Heidelberg is generally much warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 3°C (37°F), and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Heidelberg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krakow. Heidelberg gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Heidelberg usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Heidelberg gets 52 mm (2 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 JanuaryHeidelberg 3°C (37°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Heidelberg or Krakow in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Heidelberg and Krakow. Most visitors come to Heidelberg for the natural beauty during these months.
Heidelberg is a little warmer than Krakow in the spring. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Heidelberg usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Heidelberg gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Heidelberg usually receives more rain than Krakow. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 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 AprilHeidelberg 11°C (52°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Heidelberg
| Heidelberg | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (69°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.