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

Should you visit Balaton Lake or Lillehammer?

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

Where Should I go: Balaton Lake or Lillehammer?

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.

Lillehammer

Most people know the name Lillehammer because it is the city that hosted the 1994 Olympics. While it's obviously a beautiful travel destination during the winter months when it's covered in snow and winter sport opportunities are abundant, it is also a lovely travel destination in the summer. It's a surprisingly small town with a population of around 25,000. It's streets are lined with quaint, wooden houses that date back to the 19th century. The town is located on the banks of Lake Mjosa. There's a nice shopping street that's called Storgata and cuts through the middle of the old town. It is pedestrian only, giving it a charming atmosphere and making it an enjoyable place to walk around. The town also has nice galleries and museums that are worth a visit.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.


Which place is cheaper, Lillehammer or Balaton Lake?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Balaton Lake is $86, while the average daily cost in Lillehammer is $102. 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 Lillehammer in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Balaton Lake $48
    Lillehammer $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Balaton Lake $96
    Lillehammer $122
Compare Hotels in Balaton Lake and Lillehammer

Looking for a hotel in Balaton Lake or Lillehammer? 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.

Hotels in Balaton Lake


Hotels in Lillehammer


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: Lillehammer Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Balaton Lake $12
    Lillehammer $3.92

Is it cheaper to fly into Balaton Lake or Lillehammer?

Prices for flights to both Lillehammer 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Balaton Lake $27
    Lillehammer $35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Balaton Lake $20
    Lillehammer $16

Tours and Activities in Lillehammer

Here are a few actual costs in Lillehammer for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Maihaugen Open-Air Museum, Lillehammer. Entry Ticket: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Balaton Lake $8.73
    Lillehammer $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Balaton Lake and Lillehammer, we can see that Lillehammer 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 Lillehammer would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lillehammer 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 Lillehammer Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Balaton Lake or Lillehammer?

Lillehammer has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Balaton Lake and Lillehammer, 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.