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

Should you visit Bonn or Balaton Lake?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Bonn or Balaton Lake? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Bonn or Balaton Lake?

Bonn

Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (previously, West Germany) and it has a population of about 315,000 people. It sits on the Rhine River just twenty kilometers away from Cologne. Many people travel to Bonn for conferences and business, but Bonn also has a lot of cultural and historical sights to offer visitors. The city is also famous as the birth place of Ludwig van Beethoven. There's a strong student culture in the city as well, and it actually shares many characteristics with Italian cities because of its many cafes and restaurants which line the streets. Outdoor beer gardens are popular and Bonn is a particular good summer destination when the weather is pleasant and you can enjoy the outdoor setting. The city's location also makes it a great base for day trips to Cologne, Dusseldorf, and the Rhine and Eifel regions.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.

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

Which is Bigger, Bonn or Balaton Lake?

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

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 Bonn or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

Both Balaton Lake and Bonn during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bonn this time of year.

In July, Bonn is generally cooler than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Bonn average around 19°C (66°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

In Balaton Lake, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Bonn often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Bonn gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Bonn usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Bonn gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bonn or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bonn and Balaton Lake. Many travelers come to Bonn for the shopping scene.

Bonn is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bonn averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Bonn usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Bonn gets 109 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bonn usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Bonn gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bonn or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bonn as well as Balaton Lake. Many visitors come to Bonn in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Bonn can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Bonn is much warmer than Balaton Lake. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bonn in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Bonn often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Bonn gets 45 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Bonn usually gets more rain in January than Balaton Lake. Bonn gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bonn or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

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

In April, Bonn is generally cooler than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Bonn average around 10°C (50°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Bonn usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during spring. Bonn gets 145 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bonn usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Bonn gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Bonn