Which place is cheaper, Bled or Balaton Lake?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Balaton Lake or Bled?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Balaton Lake and Bled can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Balaton Lake or Bled?
Balaton Lake
Balaton is a major freshwater lake in Hungary and the largest lake in Central Europe with a shoreline of 197 kilometers. The region around the lake is a popular holiday destination with a great number of resort towns and high-rise hotels to accommodate visitors seeking out lakeside activities, beaches, volcanic hills, and vineyards. Some of the towns are also very historic, offering examples from eighteenth-century art and architecture to castle ruins.
Bled
Bled is an incredibly scenic place, on the east side of Lake Bled. The lake is a beautiful, rich, emerald green. There's a small island in the middle of the lake where you'll find a nice white chapel. The lake is surrounded by striking green mountains, among which you'll find the Bled Castle overlooking the scene. Bled also offers access to the nearby Triglav National Park, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. Within the national park you'll find countless waterfalls and the lovely Lake Bohinj. You can find plenty of opportunities for mountain climbing, rafting, and hiking. There's even a cable car if you're looking for an easy way to get some good views of the mountains and landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ljubljana, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Ljubljana.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBalaton Lake $86Bled $113
The average daily cost (per person) in Balaton Lake is $86, while the average daily cost in Bled is $113. 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 Balaton Lake and Bled in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBalaton Lake $48Bled $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBalaton Lake $96Bled $120
Compare Hotels in Balaton Lake and Bled
Looking for a hotel in Balaton Lake or Bled? 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: Bled Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Balaton Lake $12Bled $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bled
Also for Bled, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bled- Ljubljana Airport. Private transfer. Price per car.: $86
- Private transfer from Tržič to Ljubljana city: $136
- Private Transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $164
- Private transfer from Tolmin to Ljubljana city: $205
- Private transfer from Tolmin to airport Ljubljana: $209
Is it cheaper to fly into Balaton Lake or Bled?
Prices for flights to both Bled and Balaton Lake 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 dayBalaton Lake $27Bled $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bled
For Bled, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour Bled - Explore Slovenia Through Its Tastes: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Balaton Lake $20Bled $14
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bled
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bled's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Rafting$100
Tours and Activities in Bled
For Bled, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Ljubljana: Lake Bled Day Tour: $33
- From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $42
- From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $53
- Motorcycle Tours in Slovenia: $54
- 3-Hour Family-Friendly Rafting Adventure: $59
- Bled Slovenia: 3–Hour Rafting Experience: $59
- Lake Sava River Rafting Experience with Hotel Pickup: $59
- Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour: $63
- From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Bled Castle Tour: $69
- Winter Triglav National Park Adventure - Half day trip from Bled: $71
- Guided Kayaking Tour in a Transparent Kayak: $74
- Guided Clear Kayak Tour in Bled: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBalaton Lake $8.73Bled $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bled
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bled are as follows:
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Bottle of Champagne$19
Sample the Local Flavors in Bled
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bled:
- Slovenian wine tasting at Hotel Triglav Bled's wine cellar: $42
- Wine Tasting Bled: $62
- 2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $63
- Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Balaton Lake and Bled, we can see that Bled is more expensive. And not only is Balaton Lake much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Balaton Lake would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Balaton Lake 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 Bled would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bled than you might in Balaton Lake.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Balaton Lake Expensive? and Is Bled Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Balaton Lake or Bled?
Bled has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Balaton Lake and Bled, 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 Balaton Lake or Bled?
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 Balaton Lake or Bled in the Summer?
Both Bled and Balaton Lake during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Balaton Lake is around the same temperature as Bled. Typically, the summer temperatures in Balaton Lake in July average around 22°C (71°F), and Bled averages at about 24°C (75°F).
In Bled, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Balaton Lake. In the summer, Balaton Lake often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bled. Balaton Lake gets 302 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 288 hours of full sun.
Balaton Lake usually gets less rain in July than Bled. Balaton Lake gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBalaton Lake 22°C (71°F)Bled 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Balaton Lake or Bled in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Balaton Lake and Bled.
In October, Balaton Lake is generally cooler than Bled. Daily temperatures in Balaton Lake average around 13°C (56°F), and Bled fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Balaton Lake usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bled during autumn. Balaton Lake gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Balaton Lake usually receives less rain than Bled. Balaton Lake gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBalaton Lake 13°C (56°F)Bled 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Balaton Lake or Bled in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Balaton Lake as well as Bled.
Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Balaton Lake is much colder than Bled in the winter. The daily temperature in Balaton Lake averages around 0°C (32°F) in January, and Bled fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
In the winter, Balaton Lake often gets less sunshine than Bled. Balaton Lake gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 96 hours of full sun.
Balaton Lake usually gets less rain in January than Bled. Balaton Lake gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBalaton Lake 0°C (32°F)Bled 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Balaton Lake or Bled in the Spring?
Both Bled and Balaton Lake are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Balaton Lake is around the same temperature as Bled. Typically, the spring temperatures in Balaton Lake in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Bled averages at about 13°C (56°F).
Balaton Lake usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bled during spring. Balaton Lake gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Balaton Lake usually receives less rain than Bled. Balaton Lake gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBalaton Lake 12°C (54°F)Bled 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Bled and Balaton Lake
| Balaton Lake | Bled | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (36°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.