A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dar es Salaam vs. Turku for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Turku?

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 Dar es Salaam and Turku can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Turku?

Dar es Salaam

Having grown from a fishing village, Dar es Salaam is now a major city and commercial port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. While it is mainly used as a stopping point on the way to Zanzibar, it has a few unique treasures of its own such as the Kariakoo Market, National Museum, and the open-air Village Museum.

Turku

Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Luxury Tours to Finland, and The Best Budget Tours to Finland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Turku, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Turku much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dar es Salaam is in Africa and Turku is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Turku would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Turku 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 Dar es Salaam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dar es Salaam than you might in Turku.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dar es Salaam Expensive? and Is Turku Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Turku?

Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Turku, 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 Dar es Salaam or Turku?

Turku has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dar es Salaam experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Turku in the Summer?

Both Turku and Dar es Salaam are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dar es Salaam throughout the year.

In the summer, Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Turku. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dar es Salaam in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Turku averages at about 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Turku. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam usually receives less sunshine than Turku during summer. Dar es Salaam gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Turku receives 262 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Dar es Salaam usually receives less rain than Turku. Dar es Salaam gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Turku receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Turku in the Autumn?

Both Turku and Dar es Salaam during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dar es Salaam because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Dar es Salaam is generally much warmer than Turku. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 25°C (78°F), and Turku fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

It's quite sunny in Dar es Salaam. In the autumn, Dar es Salaam often gets more sunshine than Turku. Dar es Salaam gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Turku receives 90 hours of full sun.

Dar es Salaam usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Turku. Dar es Salaam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Turku receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Turku in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Dar es Salaam and Turku. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dar es Salaam year-round.

Turku can be very cold during winter. Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Turku in the winter. The daily temperature in Dar es Salaam averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Turku fluctuates around -6°C (20°F).

In Dar es Salaam, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dar es Salaam usually receives more sunshine than Turku during winter. Dar es Salaam gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Turku receives 39 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Dar es Salaam usually receives more rain than Turku. Dar es Salaam gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Turku receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Turku in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Dar es Salaam as well as Turku. Dar es Salaam attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The weather in Turku can be very cold. In the spring, Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Turku. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dar es Salaam in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Turku averages at about 3°C (37°F).

In the spring, Dar es Salaam often gets less sunshine than Turku. Dar es Salaam gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Turku receives 182 hours of full sun.

Dar es Salaam receives a lot of rain in the spring. Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in April than Turku. Dar es Salaam gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Turku receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Turku and Dar es Salaam