A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kaunas vs. Playa del Carmen for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

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 Kaunas and Playa del Carmen. 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.

Kaunas

Kaunas is a cultural, active, and young city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include nightlife and food. See Kaunas travel costs.

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a scenic, stunning, and vibrant town. With stunning beauty, Playa del Carmen attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Playa del Carmen travel costs.

Kaunas and Playa del Carmen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Playa del Carmen than Kaunas. While Kaunas is larger than Playa del Carmen, Playa del Carmen has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Playa del Carmen is very popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Kaunas attracts visitors for its historical sights and big city activities. Playa del Carmen is more touristy than Kaunas and is known for its coral reefs, luxury resorts, and white sand beaches. It is also well known for La Quinta Avenida. Kaunas is famous for its traditional Lithuanian culture and authentic old town.

How is Kaunas different from Playa del Carmen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Playa del Carmen and Kaunas. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

Playa del Carmen is a moderate town for its sights and museums. However, Kaunas does not have museums and landmarks.

Playa del Carmen offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. If you're willing to head out of town, there are world class Mayan ruins not far away, but if you want to hang out near town, then you'll likely spend most of your time enjoying outdoor water activities.

Kaunas does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Kaunas or Playa del Carmen? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at nice restaurants in both Kaunas and Playa del Carmen.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Kaunas area. It is a great place to try traditional Lithuanian dishes as there are a number of good restaurants and an active restaurant scene. Popular local dishes include cepelinai potato dumplings and cold beetroot soup.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Playa del Carmen. You'll find a good number of overpriced tourist restaurants in the area, but if you do some research you'll also find amazing and authentic Mexican food as well. There is everything from food trucks to fine dining that offer ceviche, tacos, or burritos. There are also plenty of places to grab pizza or burgers.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for Nightlife?

Playa del Carmen is renowned for its evening party scene. Also, Kaunas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Playa del Carmen is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. It rivals some of the country's best nightlife and you'll find plenty of venues to choose from, ranging from dive bars to swanky cocktail lounges. Head to the main walking street for some of the most active venues.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Kaunas. The nightlife scene continues to improve with a growing number of bars and clubs. During the warmer months you'll find many places opening outdoor areas. The old town is one of the more lively areas in town where it's nice to enjoy a drink on a terrace.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for Resorts?

Playa del Carmen is renowned for its resorts. However, Kaunas is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Playa del Carmen for its luxury resorts. You'll find a huge number of luxury resorts in the area, particularly along the beach. There are fancy pools and beachfront properties that offer the perfect vacation retreat.

Kaunas is not a resort destination.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Playa del Carmen is renowned for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Kaunas is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Playa del Carmen. There's not a lot to see right off of the beach, but there are plenty of snorkeling excursions in the area that take you to beautiful reefs. The diving is world class as well and you'll find wonderful reefs, bull sharks, and hidden gems.

Kaunas is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for Beaches?

Playa del Carmen is renowned for the beach. However, Kaunas is not a beach destination.

Playa del Carmen offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The area is filled with world class beaches, long stretches of white sand, and beautiful blue water. You might even stumble across a sea turtle or two while you're swimming.

Kaunas is not a beach destination.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for its Old Town?

Kaunas is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Playa del Carmen does not have a historic old town.

Kaunas offers a nice historic old town area. The old town has tree-lined streets with charming cafes and a number of museums. It's also where you'll find the Kaunas Castle.

Playa del Carmen does not have a historic old town.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for Hiking?

Playa del Carmen is a good destination for the nearby hiking options. However, Kaunas is not a hiking destination.

Playa del Carmen offers some nice hiking trails. There are well marked trails in the area that get you out in nature or take you along the coastline.

Kaunas is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

Playa del Carmen is a good destination for its shopping areas. However, Kaunas is a mediocre city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Playa del Carmen to go shopping. Much of the shopping is geared towards the tourists, but you'll find some local items, interesting galleries, and colorful markets to explore.

Kaunas is a good destination for shopping. The old town is the place to pick up souvenirs, but there are also shopping malls and outlets in the city.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen More Beautiful?

Playa del Carmen is notable for its scenery and beauty. However, Kaunas is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Playa del Carmen attracts visitors from all around. From beautiful beaches to inland jungles, this is a truly stunning destination.

Kaunas is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for Families?

Playa del Carmen is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Kaunas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Playa del Carmen is very family-friendly. From eco parks to kid-friendly snorkeling opportunities, there are many activities for kids of all ages. There are also adventure parks and playgrounds that are perfect for a fun afternoon.

Kaunas is a family-friendly city. The city has both outdoor and indoor areas that are fun for kids. Vienybės Square has fountains and splash areas that are fun for kids of all ages. Lampėdis Lake is a great place to swim or visit an adventure park. When the weather isn't great, you can head indoors to the the Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum or "CurioCity" in the Mega Mall.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for Couples?

Playa del Carmen is renowned for couples. However, Kaunas is a mediocre city for romance.

Playa del Carmen is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Beautiful beaches and tropical jungles make this a paradise honeymoon destination. You'll find luxury resorts, fine dining restaurants, and countless opportunities to enjoy the stunning setting. Take a sunset cruise of explore one of the many natural wonders in the area.

Kaunas is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The city has a number of historical sites as well as interesting restaurants that you can explore.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Kaunas and Playa del Carmen are nice destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Kaunas. It's not a popular destination, but there are enough concerts and festivals throughout the year that it does see a few tourists.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Playa del Carmen. It's filled with tourists staying at luxury resorts, but you'll also find a couple of hostels tucked away in town. If you're interesting in scuba diving, then it's well worth the trip.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for Students?

Kaunas is a popular place for students. However, Playa del Carmen is not popular with students.

Kaunas is popular with students. The city has a vibrant and young student population. It also hosts festivals, concerts, and other events that make it a fun destination for international students.

Playa del Carmen is not popular with students.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Kaunas and Playa del Carmen offer nice public transit options.

Kaunas has a few public transit options. There are both buses and trolleybuses around town.

Playa del Carmen has some public transit options. There are local buses, collectivos and the ADO bus.

Is Kaunas or Playa del Carmen a more walkable city?

Playa del Carmen is renowned for its ease of walking around. Also, Kaunas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Playa del Carmen on foot. It's a compact and very walkable town. La Quinta is the main strip and it's pedestrian-only.

Kaunas is somewhat walkable. When the weather is nice, the city is a nice place to take a walk.

For even more information, also check out Is Kaunas Worth Visiting? and Is Playa del Carmen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Playa del Carmen or Kaunas?

How long in Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

Both Kaunas and Playa del Carmen have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Playa del Carmen than in Kaunas. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Kaunas, and 3-7 days is enough time in Playa del Carmen.

Families should spend more time in Playa del Carmen than Kaunas. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Playa del Carmen, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Playa del Carmen than Kaunas. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Playa del Carmen that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Playa del Carmen than Kaunas if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Playa del Carmen.

One day in Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

You'll find food and nightlife around the active destination of Kaunas. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Playa del Carmen. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

You'll find nightlife and food around the vibrant city of Kaunas. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Playa del Carmen is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

Kaunas is a popular choice for travelers. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Playa del Carmen. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

Kaunas is a great place to explore. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the scenic destination of Playa del Carmen. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Lithuania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kaunas and Playa del Carmen, we can see that Kaunas is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kaunas is in Europe and Playa del Carmen is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen 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 Kaunas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaunas than you might in Playa del Carmen.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kaunas Expensive? and Is Playa del Carmen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

Kaunas has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Kaunas and Playa del Carmen, 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 Kaunas or Playa del Carmen?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Kaunas or Playa del Carmen in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kaunas and Playa del Carmen. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kaunas this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Kaunas is much colder than Playa del Carmen in the summer. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In Kaunas, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kaunas usually receives more sunshine than Playa del Carmen during summer. Kaunas gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 223 hours of full sun in the summer.

Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Playa del Carmen. Kaunas gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Kaunas or Playa del Carmen in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Kaunas as well as Playa del Carmen. Many travelers come to Kaunas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Kaunas is much colder than Playa del Carmen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kaunas in October average around 8°C (46°F), and Playa del Carmen averages at about 26°C (79°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. In the autumn, Kaunas often gets less sunshine than Playa del Carmen. Kaunas gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 233 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Playa del Carmen. Kaunas usually gets less rain in October than Playa del Carmen. Kaunas gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.

Should I visit Kaunas or Playa del Carmen in the Winter?

Both Playa del Carmen and Kaunas are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Kaunas in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Playa del Carmen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Kaunas can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Kaunas is generally much colder than Playa del Carmen. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around -5°C (23°F), and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Carmen during winter. Kaunas gets 40 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 224 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Kaunas usually receives more rain than Playa del Carmen. Kaunas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Kaunas or Playa del Carmen in the Spring?

Both Playa del Carmen and Kaunas during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Kaunas for the activities around the city during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

Kaunas is much colder than Playa del Carmen in the spring. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Kaunas often gets less sunshine than Playa del Carmen. Kaunas gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 259 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets more rain in April than Playa del Carmen. Kaunas gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to October is the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen.

Typical Weather for Playa del Carmen and Kaunas