Comparison · Kraków vs Vilnius · Poland / Lithuania
Kraków vs Vilnius
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 Vilnius for Baroque Old Town, Gediminas' Tower and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 628 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 628 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Kraków
- May–June and September
- Best time for Vilnius
- May–September
Side by side
| Kraków | Vilnius | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Poland | Lithuania |
| Known for | Main Market Square, Wawel Castle and Kazimierz | Baroque Old Town, Gediminas' Tower and Užupis |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$170 | $100–$170 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 25°C (77°F) | July, 23°C (73°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 1°C (34°F) | January, -2°C (28°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | KRK, KTW | VNO, KUN |
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…
Choose Vilnius for…
Baroque Old Town, Gediminas' Tower and free sights. Vilnius has one of the largest surviving old towns in Central and Eastern Europe, a UNESCO-listed maze of baroque churches, university courtyards and cobbled lanes running from Cathedral Square to the Gate of Dawn. The Neris and Vilnia rivers and wooded…
Top sights compared
| # | Kraków | Vilnius |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main Market Square | Old Town walk: Pilies street to the Gate of Dawn |
| 2 | Cloth Hall | Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square |
| 3 | St. Mary's Basilica | Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill |
| 4 | Wawel Castle | Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania |
| 5 | Wawel Cathedral | Gate of Dawn |
Food compared
| Kraków | Vilnius |
|---|---|
| Pierogi | Potato dumplings |
| Obwarzanek krakowski | Cold pink soup |
| Zapiekanka | Kibinai |
| Żurek | Fried rye bread |
Which is cheaper?
Kraków and Vilnius cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $90–$170 in Kraków and $100–$170 in Vilnius (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kraków on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Kraków and Vilnius are about 628 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Kraków and 3 in Vilnius.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kraków or Vilnius cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $90–$170 in Kraków and $100–$170 in Vilnius (estimates).
+Is Kraków or Vilnius better for a first trip?
Pick Kraków for Main Market Square and Wawel Castle, or Vilnius for Baroque Old Town, Gediminas' Tower and free sights.
+How far is Kraków from Vilnius?
About 628 km in a straight line.