A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Balaton Lake vs. Katowice for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Balaton Lake or Katowice?

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 Katowice can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Balaton Lake or Katowice?

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.

Katowice

Katowice is a city east of Krakow, in the Silesian province of southern Poland. A large dome crowns the Cathedral of Christ the King, built between 1927 and 1955. The adjacent Archdiocesan Museum exhibits Silesian sacred art. The ultramodern Silesian Museum features several glass structures on the site of a former coal mine. It exhibits Polish art and chronicles the history of Upper Silesia. Historically, Katowice is a product of the 19th-century industrial boom, but it only became a city in the interwar period. After WWII, at the height of the Stalinist cult craze, the city was renamed Stalinogrod, but reverted to its old name soon after Comrade Joe died in 1953. Katowice has few significant historical monuments, but it's a major commercial and cultural center and holds sufficient attractions to make it worth a stop.

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 Krakow, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Warsaw.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Balaton Lake and Katowice, we can see that Balaton Lake is more expensive. And not only is Katowice much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Katowice would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Katowice 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 Balaton Lake would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Balaton Lake than you might in Katowice.

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 Katowice Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Balaton Lake or Katowice?

Katowice has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Balaton Lake and Katowice, 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 Katowice?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Balaton Lake or Katowice in the Summer?

Both Katowice and Balaton Lake are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

In July, Balaton Lake is generally a little warmer than Katowice. Daily temperatures in Balaton Lake average around 22°C (71°F), and Katowice fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Katowice. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Balaton Lake. Balaton Lake usually receives more sunshine than Katowice during summer. Balaton Lake gets 302 hours of sunny skies, while Katowice receives 219 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Balaton Lake usually receives less rain than Katowice. Balaton Lake gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Balaton Lake or Katowice in the Autumn?

Both Katowice and Balaton Lake during the autumn are popular places to visit.

Balaton Lake is a little warmer than Katowice in the autumn. The daily temperature in Balaton Lake averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Katowice fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In the autumn, Balaton Lake often gets more sunshine than Katowice. Balaton Lake gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katowice receives 128 hours of full sun.

Balaton Lake usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Katowice. Balaton Lake gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Balaton Lake or Katowice in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Balaton Lake and Katowice.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Katowice. It's quite cold in Balaton Lake in the winter. In the winter, Balaton Lake is much warmer than Katowice. Typically, the winter temperatures in Balaton Lake in January average around 0°C (32°F), and Katowice averages at about -2°C (28°F).

Balaton Lake usually receives more sunshine than Katowice during winter. Balaton Lake gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Katowice receives 51 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Balaton Lake usually receives less rain than Katowice. Balaton Lake gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Balaton Lake or Katowice in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Balaton Lake as well as Katowice.

In April, Balaton Lake is generally much warmer than Katowice. Daily temperatures in Balaton Lake average around 12°C (54°F), and Katowice fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the spring, Balaton Lake often gets more sunshine than Katowice. Balaton Lake gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katowice receives 152 hours of full sun.

Balaton Lake usually gets more rain in April than Katowice. Balaton Lake gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Katowice and Balaton Lake