Which place is cheaper, Krakow or Lucerne?
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 Lucerne 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 Lucerne 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: Lucerne or Krakow?
Lucerne
Lucerne is a relatively small city in the center of Switzerland. It is located across the lake from Altdorf and it has a thriving tourism industry. It's close proximity to many of the major sights in the country make it a great base for exploration. Many people use it as a jumping off point for exploring Mount Rigi and the Rutli Meadow.
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 Switzerland, The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best Budget Tours to Poland, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow.
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Lucerne Prices
Switzerland PricesKrakow Prices
Poland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLucerne $302Krakow $82
The average daily cost (per person) in Lucerne is $302, 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 Lucerne and Krakow in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLucerne $159Krakow $46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLucerne $318Krakow $92
Compare Hotels in Lucerne and Krakow
Looking for a hotel in Lucerne 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: Lucerne Hotel Prices and Krakow Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lucerne $15Krakow $7.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucerne
Also for Lucerne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bad Ragaz Resorts to Zurich Airport ZRH - Departure Transfer: $126
- From Basel, Basel Port, Airport: Private Transfer to Lucerne: $428
- From Canyoning in Interlaken w/ Return Transfer: $308
- Private Transfer between Lucerne & Engelberg / Mount Titlis: $201
- Private Transfer from Lucerne to Basel, Basel Port, Airport: $428
- Private Transfer from Lucerne to Zurich Airport: $327
- Private direct transfer from Lucerne to Basel, local driver: $246
- St Moritz: Private transfer from Zurich airport to St Moritz: $597
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
- Krakow - Berlin private transfer with cleansed vehicle : $294
- Krakow Cracow City / Balice Airport - Prague city / airport private transfer: $293
- Private transfer: Krakow Airport - Zakopane: $287
- Luxury Private Transfer from Krakow to Vienna: $283
- The Jewish History of Krakow with Guide, Tickets & Transfers: $278
- Zakopane Private Transfer from to Krakow or Krakow Airport: $275
- Luxury Private Transfer from Krakow to Budapest: $271
- Private Transfer to/from Warsaw: $261
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Private Transfer : $240
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with Private Transfers from Krakow: $239
Is it cheaper to fly into Lucerne or Krakow?
Prices for flights to both Krakow and Lucerne 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 dayLucerne $125Krakow $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krakow
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Krakow.
- Krakow Tipsy Polish Food Tour with History Pierogi and Shots: $40
- Polish Folk Show with 3 course dinner in Krakow legendary restaurant: $49
- Pierogi Cooking Class with Market Shopping and Local Snacks: $83
- Folk Show A Taste of Polish Tradition with Dinner: $84
- Krakow Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting and Dinner: $95
- Traditional Jewish Ashkenazi Food Tour in Krakow: $121
- EVERYDAY Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $176
- Katowice Private Traditional Polish Food Tour: $195
- Krakow Private Traditional Polish Food Tour: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lucerne $39Krakow $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lucerne
For Lucerne, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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1 Day Bicycle Rental$39
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The Swiss Transport Museum Entrance Fee$41
Tours and Activities in Lucerne
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lucerne.
- Revealing Self-Guided Reading City Tour: $6.29
- Smartphone walking tour - cool Lucerne old town: $6.29
- Revealing Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $6.29
- Porrentruy Secret Tour: $13
- Swiss Chocolate Adventure Experience: $23
- Culture & Congress Centre Behind the Scenes Tour: $25
- Guided Walking Tour with an Official Guide: $31
- Official Guided City Tour of Lucerne: $32
- Round-Trip Catamaran Cruise on Lake Lucerne: $35
- Lake Lucerne 1-Hour Catamaran Cruise : $35
- Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $37
- 1-Hour Historical Tour with Night Watchman: $38
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: $186
- Energylandia Theme Park Ticket and Transportation From Krakow: $83
- Magic Christmas tour in Wieliczka: $168
- The Footsteps of John Paul II & Divine Mercy Private Tour: $162
- Wawel Castle and Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour in Krakow with Lunch: $155
- 1 DAY Tours - Auschwitz and Salt Mine - Shared transport+tickets: $156
- 1 Hour Tour in Kraków Old Town: $95
- 1.5h Crazy Guides' Communism Tour of Nowa Huta in Classic Car: $112
- 2 Hour Bottomless Brunch Experience with 3 Course Meal And Drinks: $71
- 2 Hours Old Town Guided Bike Tour in Krakow: $30
- 3-Hour E-Bike Tour In Krakow: $54
- 3-Hour Guided Bike Tour Highlighting Krakow: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLucerne $25Krakow $7.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Lucerne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucerne:
- Walking and Boat Tour with Cheese & Wine Tasting: $112
- Lake Lucerne Region Wine Tasting: $314
- Private Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $326
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$15
Sample the Local Flavors in Krakow
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Krakow:
- Pub Crawl Krawl Through Krakow: $28
- Pub Crawl + Unlimited Drinks + VIP entry + Drinking Games & Photographer : $30
- Pub Crawl 1hr Unlimited Beer + Vodka then Clubs in Katowice: $31
- Krakow Evening Pub Crawl: $49
- Krakow Wine Tasting Private Tour with Wine Expert: $180
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lucerne and Krakow, we can see that Lucerne 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 Lucerne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lucerne 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 Lucerne Expensive? and Is Krakow Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lucerne or Krakow?
Krakow has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Lucerne. When comparing the sizes of Lucerne 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 Lucerne 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 Lucerne or Krakow in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Lucerne as well as Krakow. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lucerne this time of year.
Lucerne is a little warmer than Krakow in the summer. The daily temperature in Lucerne averages around 21°C (70°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 Lucerne this time of the year. In the summer, Lucerne often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Lucerne gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 201 hours of full sun.
Lucerne usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Krakow. Lucerne gets 89 mm (3.5 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 JulyLucerne 21°C (70°F)Krakow 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Lucerne or Krakow in the Autumn?
Both Krakow and Lucerne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Lucerne for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Lucerne is a little warmer than Krakow. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lucerne in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Krakow averages at about 11°C (51°F).
Lucerne usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during autumn. Lucerne gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Lucerne usually receives more rain than Krakow. Lucerne gets 70 mm (2.8 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 OctoberLucerne 13°C (56°F)Krakow 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Lucerne or Krakow in the Winter?
Both Krakow and Lucerne during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Lucerne in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Krakow can be very cold during winter. Lucerne can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Lucerne is generally much warmer than Krakow. Daily temperatures in Lucerne average around 3°C (37°F), and Krakow fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Lucerne often gets more sunshine than Krakow. Lucerne gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krakow receives 38 hours of full sun.
Lucerne usually gets more rain in January than Krakow. Lucerne gets 77 mm (3 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 JanuaryLucerne 3°C (37°F)Krakow -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Lucerne or Krakow in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lucerne and Krakow. Most visitors come to Lucerne for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Lucerne is a little warmer than Krakow in the spring. The daily temperature in Lucerne averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Krakow fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Lucerne usually receives more sunshine than Krakow during spring. Lucerne gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Krakow receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Lucerne usually receives more rain than Krakow. Lucerne gets 79 mm (3.1 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 AprilLucerne 12°C (53°F)Krakow 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Krakow and Lucerne
| Lucerne | Krakow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.