Comparison · Kraków vs Riga · Poland / Latvia
Kraków vs Riga
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Kraków for Main Market Square and Wawel Castle; choose Riga for Art Nouveau architecture, Old Riga and beaches. Kraków is generally less expensive, and the two are about 813 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 813 km
- Less expensive
- Kraków
- Best time for Kraków
- May–June and September
- Best time for Riga
- May–September
Side by side
| Kraków | Riga | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Poland | Latvia |
| Known for | Main Market Square, Wawel Castle and Kazimierz | Art Nouveau architecture, Old Riga and House of the Blackheads |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$170 | $110–$190 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 25°C (77°F) | July, 23°C (73°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 1°C (34°F) | January, -1°C (30°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Jūrmala (Majori and Dzintari) |
| Airports | KRK, KTW | RIX |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Kraków for…
Main Market Square and Wawel Castle. Poland's former royal capital came through the Second World War largely intact, so its UNESCO-listed Old Town still centres on one of Europe's largest medieval squares, the Rynek Główny, with the Cloth Hall and St. Mary's Basilica. Wawel Hill's castle and…
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Choose Riga for…
Art Nouveau architecture, Old Riga and beaches. Riga is the largest city in the Baltic states, set on the Daugava river a few kilometres from the Gulf of Riga. Its UNESCO-listed centre has two faces: the medieval Old Riga of church spires, guild houses and the rebuilt House of the Blackheads, and a 19th-…
Top sights compared
| # | Kraków | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main Market Square | Old Riga walk |
| 2 | Cloth Hall | House of the Blackheads |
| 3 | St. Mary's Basilica | St Peter's Church |
| 4 | Wawel Castle | Riga Cathedral |
| 5 | Wawel Cathedral | Three Brothers |
Food compared
| Kraków | Riga |
|---|---|
| Pierogi | Dark rye bread |
| Obwarzanek krakowski | Grey peas with bacon |
| Zapiekanka | Riga Black Balsam |
| Żurek | Sklandrausis |
Which is cheaper?
Kraków is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $90–$170 per person there, against $110–$190 in Riga (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kraków on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 813 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kraków or Riga cheaper?
Kraków is usually less expensive: about $90–$170 a day mid-range against $110–$190 (estimates).
+Is Kraków or Riga better for a first trip?
Pick Kraków for Main Market Square and Wawel Castle, or Riga for Art Nouveau architecture, Old Riga and beaches.
+How far is Kraków from Riga?
About 813 km in a straight line.