A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kaunas vs. Quepos for Couples, Backpackers, Families, and Food

Should you visit Kaunas or Quepos?

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 Quepos. 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 vibrant, cultural, and active city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the nightlife and food. See Kaunas travel costs.

Quepos

Quepos is a relaxed, local, and laid-back town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and beaches. See Quepos travel costs.

Kaunas and Quepos: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kaunas or Quepos?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Kaunas. Although Kaunas and Quepos are popular destinations, Kaunas has more sights and attractions for tourists. Kaunas is very popular for its historical sights and big city activities, while Quepos attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, resorts, beaches, and shopping. Quepos is more touristy than Kaunas and is popular for its big game sport fishing. Kaunas is famous for its traditional Lithuanian culture and authentic old town. It is also well known for The Kaunas Old Town.

How is Kaunas different from Quepos?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Quepos 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 Quepos?

Quepos is not a good place to visit for its sights and museums. However, Kaunas does not have museums and landmarks.

Quepos offers a few options for museum-goers. You won't find much as far as museums go around town.

Kaunas does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Kaunas or Quepos? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

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 Quepos. You'll find a mix of cafes, fine dining, and seafood restaurants in the area. You can get traditional Costa Rican dishes as well as a more international flavor depending on your preference.

Is Kaunas or Quepos Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are nice in both Kaunas and Quepos.

There's a variety of activities in the evening 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Quepos. You'll find a few bars and clubs around town, but it is a small town and the selection can be limited.

Is Kaunas or Quepos Better for Resorts?

Quepos is a moderate town for its resorts. However, Kaunas is not a resort destination.

You might not think of Quepos as a resort destination, but it has a few places. It's a fishing town with a local vibe, so you'll likely want to stay outside of town if you're looking for an upscale resort.

Kaunas is not a resort destination.

Is Kaunas or Quepos Better for Beaches?

Quepos is a good destination for the beach. However, Kaunas is not a beach destination.

Quepos offers a nice beach destination. If you want to be close to the beach, you'll do better to stay at nearby Manuel Antonio. Quepos does have a waterfront and access to deep sea fishing.

Kaunas is not a beach destination.

Is Kaunas or Quepos Better for its Old Town?

Kaunas is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Quepos does not have a historic old town.

Kaunas has an old town worth visiting. 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.

Quepos does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Kaunas or Quepos?

Quepos is a good destination for its shopping areas. However, Kaunas is a mediocre city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Quepos to go shopping. You'll find boutique shops around town that sell everything from clothing to art.

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 Quepos Better for Families?

Quepos is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Kaunas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Quepos is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Most of the beaches are kid-friendly and the children will love the wildlife. You'll also find zipline tours in the area as well as canopy walks.

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 Quepos Better for Couples?

Quepos is renowned for couples. However, Kaunas is a mediocre city for romance.

Quepos is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The beaches and resorts make this a favorite honeymoon destination for couples. There are many great restaurants and plenty of activities like horseback riding or surfing nearby.

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 Quepos Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Quepos is renowned for backpackers. Also, Kaunas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Quepos is a very popular town to visit for backpackers. It's one of the more popular destinations in Costa Rica, so you'll find plenty of hostels and other backpackers to hang out with.

Plenty of budget travelers 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.

Is Kaunas or Quepos Better for Students?

Kaunas is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Quepos is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Kaunas. 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.

Quepos is not popular with students.

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

Both Kaunas and Quepos offer nice public transit options.

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

Quepos has some public transit options. There are a number of buses that pass through town. There are also buses that travel between Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

Is Kaunas or Quepos a more walkable city?

Kaunas and Quepos both are nice when exploring on foot.

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

Quepos is somewhat walkable. It is a relatively walkable town.

For even more information, also check out Is Kaunas Worth Visiting? and Is Quepos Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Quepos or Kaunas?

How long in Kaunas or Quepos?

It's fun to spend time in either Kaunas or Quepos. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Quepos due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Kaunas, and 2-4 days is enough time in Quepos.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Quepos 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 Quepos.

One day in Kaunas or Quepos?

Many travelers enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kaunas. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Quepos. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Kaunas or Quepos?

Kaunas is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Quepos is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Kaunas or Quepos?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kaunas. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Quepos. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Kaunas or Quepos?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural destination of Kaunas. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the laid-back destination of Quepos. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.

When comparing the travel costs between Kaunas and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Kaunas is in Europe and Quepos is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Kaunas or Quepos?

Kaunas has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Kaunas and Quepos, 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 Quepos?

Kaunas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Quepos in the Summer?

Both Quepos and Kaunas during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Kaunas for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.

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

It's quite sunny in Kaunas. In the summer, Kaunas often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Kaunas gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.

Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kaunas usually gets less rain in July than Quepos. Kaunas gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Quepos in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kaunas and Quepos. Many visitors come to Kaunas in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Kaunas is much colder than Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kaunas in October average around 8°C (46°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Kaunas gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Quepos. Kaunas gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Kaunas or Quepos in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kaunas as well as Quepos. Most visitors come to Kaunas for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.

Kaunas can be very cold during winter. In January, Kaunas is generally much colder than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around -5°C (23°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. In the winter, Kaunas often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Kaunas gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Kaunas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Quepos in the Spring?

Both Quepos and Kaunas are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Kaunas because of the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Kaunas is much colder than Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Quepos. Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during spring. Kaunas gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kaunas usually receives more rain than Quepos. Kaunas gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Quepos is December to April. The hurricane season in Quepos is May to November.

Typical Weather for Quepos and Kaunas