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

Should you visit Krakow or Florence?

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

Should I visit Krakow or Florence? 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: Krakow or Florence?

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.

Florence

Florence is the capital of Tuscany and one of the most well known cities in Italy for its art and cultural scenes. The city is rooted in history and you can see this in the architecture, statues, gardens, and art that are everywhere around town. This city truly is a living museum. You should allow yourself at least a couple of days to explore Florence and if you can afford more, it is well worth the time. In particular, if art history is your passion then you will need a week or more to satisfy your interest as the museums and architecturally impressive buildings throughout the city are endless.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Poland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Florence or Krakow?

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 Krakow is $82, while the average daily cost in Florence is $211. 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 Krakow and Florence in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Krakow $46
    Florence $102
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Krakow $92
    Florence $204
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Florence

Looking for a hotel in Krakow or Florence? 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 Krakow


Hotels in Florence


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: Krakow Hotel Prices and Florence Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Krakow $7.10
    Florence $26

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Florence

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Florence:


  • Taxi Ride Within City
    $9.39
  • Taxi from Airport
    $29
  • In City Parking (Full Day)
    $35
  • Bus Pass (Full Day)
    $5.87
  • Bus From Airport
    $5.87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florence

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

  • Florence to Pisa Airport (PSA) - Departure Private Transfer: $135
  • Arrival Transfer Florence Station SMN to Florence by Sedan or Van: $111
  • Chianti Wine Tastings and Visit to 3 Cellars with Lunch&Transfer: $209
  • Florence Airport (FLR) to Florence hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
  • Florence Airport (FLR) to Florence hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $151
  • Florence Airport (FLR) to Montecatini Terme - Arrival Transfer: $164
  • Florence Airport (FLR) to Pisa - Arrival Private Transfer: $173
  • Florence Airport Transfers : Airport FLR to Florence City in Luxury Van: $221
  • Florence Airport Transfers : Florence City to Airport FLR in Business Car: $194
  • Florence Private Transfer from Florence Airport to City centre: $135
  • Florence Private Transfer from or to Florence Airport, Train Station and Hotel: $110
  • Florence to Bologna Airport (BLQ) - Departure Private Transfer: $231

Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or Florence?

Prices for flights to both Florence and Krakow 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
    Krakow $25
    Florence $73

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

Typical Food Prices in Florence

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


  • Panini Sandwich
    $7.63
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Florence

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

  • Florence Old City Street Food Tour and Guided Sightseeing: $35
  • Hard Rock Cafe Florence with Set Lunch or Dinner: $35
  • Food Tour of Traditional Eateries and Wine Pairings: $36
  • Pasta Making Class with Dinner and Wine in Florence: $47
  • Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour from Florence: $48
  • Florence's Food Tour with Authentic Local Tastigs and Sightseeing: $50
  • Florence Street Food Tour and sightseeing with Central Market: $50
  • Florence Street Food Tour with Walking Sightseeing and Local Guide: $50
  • Pasta and Gelato Cooking Class in the heart of Florence: $51
  • Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine: $53
  • Florence Food Tour: Home-Made Pasta, Truffle, Cantucci, Olive Oil, Gelato: $54
  • Cooking Class in Florence Pasta & Tiramisu Making Unlimited Wine: $54

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Krakow $22
    Florence $35

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Florence

For Florence, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Admission to Uffizi
    $13
  • Phone Booking Fee for Uffizi
    $4.69
  • Firenze Card (for Two)
    $117
  • Audioguides at Uffizi (for Two)
    $23
  • Giotto's Tower Entrance Fee
    $7.04
  • Boboli Gardens Entrance Fee
    $8.21

Tours and Activities in Florence

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

  • The Best tour in Renaissance & Medici Tales - guided by a STORYTELLER: $3.57
  • Private Tour to the Laboratory of Artistic Ceramics in Tuscany: $3.58
  • Sunset Walking Tour: $3.58
  • Florence Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.17
  • Florence at Your Feet : A Tour of Its Historic Jewels: $4.77
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Florence: $5.96
  • AudioZoom into A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.99
  • Firenze Walking Tour with Audio and Written Guide: $6.57
  • Florence Medici Quest: Self-Guided Conspiracy Adventure: $7.16
  • Florence Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.35
  • Florence Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Florence, City centre, Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $10

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Krakow $7.49
    Florence $22
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

Typical Alcohol Prices in Florence

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


  • Glass of Chianti
    $4.93
  • Bottle of Wine
    $8.80

Sample the Local Flavors in Florence

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

  • Florence Wine Tasting at Ponte Vecchio with Sommelier: $4.78
  • Wine Tasting by CarusVini in San Casciano in val di Pesa: $18
  • Winery tour and wine tasting of organic Chianti wines and extra virgin oil: $24
  • Wine Tasting Activity at Chianti Rufina: $25
  • Great wine tasting at Tenuta Moriano: $27
  • Wine Tasting Experience near Florence: $30
  • Classic Wine Tasting in Montalcino: $36
  • Wine Tasting in an Authentic Tuscan Cellar in Radda in Chianti: $38
  • Chianti Half Day Wine Tour from Florence: $42
  • Montefioralle Winery - Tour and Wine Tasting in Chianti: $42
  • Wine Tasting of Brunello with Tuscan Cold Cuts and Cheese: $47
  • Winery tour & wine tasting in Montalcino: $48


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


Which is Bigger, Krakow or Florence?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Florence. When comparing the sizes of Krakow and Florence, 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 Krakow or Florence?

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 Krakow or Florence in the Summer?

Both Florence and Krakow during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Florence in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Krakow is generally cooler than Florence. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around 19°C (67°F), and Florence fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

In Florence, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Krakow. In the summer, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Florence. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Florence receives 316 hours of full sun.

Krakow usually gets more rain in July than Florence. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Florence receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Krakow 19°C (67°F) 
    Florence 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Krakow or Florence in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Florence. Furthermore, most visitors come to Florence for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Krakow is much colder than Florence in the autumn. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Florence fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Florence during autumn. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies, while Florence receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Krakow usually receives less rain than Florence. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Florence receives 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Krakow 11°C (51°F) 
    Florence 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Krakow or Florence in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Florence. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Florence because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Krakow can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Krakow is much colder than Florence. Typically, the winter temperatures in Krakow in January average around -2°C (29°F), and Florence averages at about 7°C (45°F).

In the winter, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Florence. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Florence receives 105 hours of full sun.

Krakow usually gets less rain in January than Florence. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Florence receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Krakow -2°C (29°F) 
    Florence 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Krakow or Florence in the Spring?

Both Florence and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Florence this time of year.

In April, Krakow is generally cooler than Florence. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around 10°C (50°F), and Florence fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Florence during spring. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies, while Florence receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Krakow usually receives less rain than Florence. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Florence receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Krakow 10°C (50°F) 
    Florence 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for Florence and Krakow

Krakow Florence
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -2°C (29°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 7°C (45°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Feb 0°C (32°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 8°C (46°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 5°C (40°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 10°C (50°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 10°C (50°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 14°C (57°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 18°C (64°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 22°C (72°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Jul 19°C (67°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 19°C (66°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 24°C (75°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Sep 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in) 21°C (70°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 16°C (61°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Nov 5°C (41°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 11°C (52°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Dec 1°C (33°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 8°C (46°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)