Kraków and Riga are both compact Old Town cities that work well for a stag weekend. Kraków is cheaper and better connected; Riga uses the euro and adds Baltic activities. Here is how they compare.
Riga vs Kraków at a glance
€
Riga uses the euro – Kraków the Polish złoty
~590k
people in Riga (Kraków: ~800k)
13.2m
passengers at Kraków Airport in 2025 (Riga: 7.1m)
€5 vs €4.1
indicative pint price in Riga vs Kraków
1997 / 1978
UNESCO listing of Riga and Kraków
How they compare
✈️ Flights
Kraków Airport handled about 13.2 million passengers in 2025, and a train takes you to the centre in about 17 minutes.
🍺 Prices
Kraków is a little cheaper: crowd-sourced data puts a pint at about €4.1 against €5 in Riga (Numbeo, indicative).
💱 Currency
Riga uses the euro. In Kraków you pay in złoty – do not count on euros.
🛒 Shop alcohol rules
Kraków bans alcohol sales in shops at night (the city voted to widen this to 22:00–06:00 from September 2026). Riga shops sell alcohol 10:00–20:00 (Sundays until 18:00).
🎯 Activities
Riga adds bobsleigh, ice drifting and the beer bike; Kraków is known for its Main Square, Wawel Castle and the Wieliczka salt mine.
Which one to choose
Choose Riga if
You want something different
You want the euro, a compact Old Town and Baltic activities like bobsleigh and ice drifting.
Choose Kraków if
Budget and flights matter most
You want lower prices, more flights and a quick train from the airport.
Good to know
Bars are not affected
In both cities the shop rules do not apply to bars and restaurants – plan drinks in venues, not on the street.
Riga stag favourites
FAQ
Is Riga or Kraków better for a stag do?
Kraków is cheaper and has more flights; Riga uses the euro and adds activities like bobsleigh and ice drifting. Both have compact Old Towns.
Which is cheaper, Riga or Kraków?
Kraków, slightly. Crowd-sourced data puts a pint at about €4.1 in Kraków and €5 in Riga.
Can you buy alcohol in shops at night?
Not in either city: Riga shops stop at 20:00 (Sundays 18:00), and Kraków bans night-time shop sales. Bars are not affected.
Do I need to change money?
Not in Riga – Latvia uses the euro. In Kraków you pay in Polish złoty.
