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

Should you visit Balaton Lake or Novi Sad?

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 Novi Sad can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Balaton Lake or Novi Sad?

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.

Novi Sad

Novi Sad is the capital city of Vojvodina, the northern Autonomous Province of Serbia. Novi Sad has a population of about 400,000 people and is located on the Danube River near Budapest and Belgrade.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary, The Best Budget Tours to Serbia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Belgrade.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Balaton Lake and Novi Sad, we can see that Balaton Lake is more expensive. And not only is Novi Sad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Novi Sad would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Novi Sad 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 Novi Sad.

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 Novi Sad Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Balaton Lake or Novi Sad?

Novi Sad has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Balaton Lake and Novi Sad, 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 Novi Sad?

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 Novi Sad in the Summer?

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

Balaton Lake is around the same temperature as Novi Sad in the summer. The daily temperature in Balaton Lake averages around 22°C (71°F) in July, and Novi Sad fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It's quite sunny in Novi Sad. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Balaton Lake. Balaton Lake usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Novi Sad during summer. Balaton Lake gets 302 hours of sunny skies, while Novi Sad receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Balaton Lake usually receives around the same amount of rain as Novi Sad. Balaton Lake gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Novi Sad receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Balaton Lake or Novi Sad in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Balaton Lake is around the same temperature as Novi Sad. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Balaton Lake in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Novi Sad averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Balaton Lake often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Novi Sad. Balaton Lake gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Novi Sad receives 168 hours of full sun.

Balaton Lake usually gets more rain in October than Novi Sad. Balaton Lake gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Novi Sad receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Balaton Lake or Novi Sad in the Winter?

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

The weather in Novi Sad can be very cold. Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. In January, Balaton Lake is generally much warmer than Novi Sad. Daily temperatures in Balaton Lake average around 0°C (32°F), and Novi Sad fluctuates around -0°C (31°F).

Balaton Lake usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Novi Sad during winter. Balaton Lake gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Novi Sad receives 71 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Balaton Lake usually receives around the same amount of rain as Novi Sad. Balaton Lake gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Novi Sad receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Balaton Lake or Novi Sad in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Balaton Lake as well as Novi Sad.

Balaton Lake is around the same temperature as Novi Sad in the spring. The daily temperature in Balaton Lake averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Novi Sad fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Balaton Lake often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Novi Sad. Balaton Lake gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Novi Sad receives 178 hours of full sun.

Balaton Lake usually gets more rain in April than Novi Sad. Balaton Lake gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Novi Sad receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Novi Sad and Balaton Lake