Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Heidelberg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Heidelberg or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Heidelberg and Balaton Lake. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Heidelberg or Balaton Lake?
Heidelberg
Heidelberg, in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, is a top travel destination in Germany. It's picturesquely situated in the Neckar River Valley and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city has a population of over 148,000 and it's home to Germany's oldest university, the Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat, which has a student population of approximately 28,000.
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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Germany, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHeidelberg €142Balaton Lake €80
The average daily cost (per person) in Heidelberg is €142, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is €80. 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 Heidelberg and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHeidelberg €93Balaton Lake €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHeidelberg €186Balaton Lake €90
Compare Hotels in Heidelberg and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Heidelberg or Balaton Lake? 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.
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: Heidelberg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Heidelberg €17Balaton Lake €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heidelberg
Also for Heidelberg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Karlsruhe Airport (FKB) to Baden-Baden - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Karlsruhe Airport (FKB) to BadenBaden Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfer from Badenweiler Thermal to Basel EuroAirport: $63
- Private Transfer from Heidelberg City to Mannheim City by Van: $64
- Airport transfer from Karlsruhe Airport to Baden-Baden: $105
- Privat Transfer From Basel EuroAirport BSL To Badenweiler : $126
- One Way Private Transfer from Mannheim to Frankfurt : $251
Is it cheaper to fly into Heidelberg or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Heidelberg 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
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Food Meals for one dayHeidelberg €37Balaton Lake €25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Heidelberg
For Heidelberg, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Heidelberg crime dinner to solve the mystery with a delicious 3-course menu: $64
- Craft Beer and Street Food Tour: $598
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Heidelberg €11Balaton Lake €19
Tours and Activities in Heidelberg
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Heidelberg.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Heidelberg's Altstadt: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Heidelberg's Altstadt: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Pure experience: Original Black Forest farmer smoke tour: $6.54
- Heidelberg Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.54
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.95
- Heidelberg Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $6.95
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $8.02
- Complete Self-guided Audio Tour on your Phone: $8.54
- Uncover A Self-Guided Audio Tour Through Time: $11
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHeidelberg €17Balaton Lake €8.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Heidelberg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Heidelberg:
- Highlights of the romantic Black Forest & brewery, private tour: $295
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Heidelberg and Balaton Lake, we can see that Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Heidelberg or Balaton Lake?
Heidelberg has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
Both Balaton Lake and Heidelberg during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Heidelberg for the family-friendly experiences.
Heidelberg is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 21°C (69°F) in July, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
In Balaton Lake, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Heidelberg. In the summer, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Heidelberg gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.
Heidelberg usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Heidelberg gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHeidelberg 21°C (69°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Heidelberg or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Heidelberg and Balaton Lake. Many visitors come to Heidelberg in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Heidelberg is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Heidelberg in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).
Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Heidelberg gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Heidelberg usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHeidelberg 12°C (54°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Heidelberg or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Heidelberg as well as Balaton Lake. Most visitors come to Heidelberg for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Balaton Lake can be very cold. Heidelberg can be very cold during winter. In January, Heidelberg is generally much warmer than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 3°C (37°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Heidelberg gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.
Heidelberg usually gets more rain in January than Balaton Lake. Heidelberg gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHeidelberg 3°C (37°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Heidelberg or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
Both Balaton Lake and Heidelberg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Heidelberg because of the natural beauty.
Heidelberg is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during spring. Heidelberg gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Heidelberg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Balaton Lake. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHeidelberg 11°C (52°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Heidelberg
| Heidelberg | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (69°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.