Comparison · Kraków vs Vienna · Poland / Austria
Kraków vs Vienna
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, Wawel Castle, lower day-to-day costs and free sights; choose Vienna for Schönbrunn Palace and Coffee houses. Kraków is generally less expensive, and the two are about 332 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 332 km
- Less expensive
- Kraków
- Best time for Kraków
- May–June and September
- Best time for Vienna
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Kraków | Vienna | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Poland | Austria |
| Known for | Main Market Square, Wawel Castle and Kazimierz | Schönbrunn Palace, Coffee houses and Klimt and Schiele |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$170 | $170–$300 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 25°C (77°F) | July, 26°C (79°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 1°C (34°F) | January, 3°C (37°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | KRK, KTW | VIE, BTS |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Kraków for…
Main Market Square, Wawel Castle, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. 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…
Choose Vienna for…
Schönbrunn Palace and Coffee houses. The Habsburgs ruled from Vienna for more than six centuries, and their palaces, museums and churches still define the city. Inside the Ringstrasse, the old centre holds St Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg and dozens of traditional coffee houses; just outside…
Top sights compared
| # | Kraków | Vienna |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main Market Square | Schönbrunn Palace |
| 2 | Cloth Hall | Tiergarten Schönbrunn |
| 3 | St. Mary's Basilica | Hofburg Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum |
| 4 | Wawel Castle | Spanish Riding School |
| 5 | Wawel Cathedral | St Stephen's Cathedral |
Food compared
| Kraków | Vienna |
|---|---|
| Pierogi | Wiener Schnitzel |
| Obwarzanek krakowski | Tafelspitz |
| Zapiekanka | Sachertorte |
| Żurek | Apple strudel |
Which is cheaper?
Kraków is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $90–$170 per person there, against $170–$300 in Vienna (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kraków on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Kraków and Vienna are about 332 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Kraków and 4 in Vienna.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kraków or Vienna cheaper?
Kraków is usually less expensive: about $90–$170 a day mid-range against $170–$300 (estimates).
+Is Kraków or Vienna better for a first trip?
Pick Kraków for Main Market Square, Wawel Castle, lower day-to-day costs and free sights, or Vienna for Schönbrunn Palace and Coffee houses.
+How far is Kraków from Vienna?
About 332 km in a straight line.