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

Should you visit Interlaken or Balaton Lake?

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 Interlaken and Balaton Lake can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Interlaken or Balaton Lake?

Interlaken

Interlaken is a small city that is located in the Bernese Highlands Region of central Switzerland. It sits pleasantly between two Alpine Lakes, Brienzersee and Thunersee. This scenic setting and its easy accessibility make it a popular base camp for travel into the Bernese Oberland Alps. It has become a top tourist destination in Switzerland and it is also a hub for outdoor sports enthusiasts with plenty of hiking, skiing, paragliding, and other activities in the region.. Interlaken is a great hoping off point to explore many of the nearby mountains, lakes, and valleys, too. It offers easy transportation to most major Swiss cities by train or car.

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 Geneva, The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich, 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 Interlaken and Balaton Lake, we can see that Interlaken 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 Interlaken would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Interlaken 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 Interlaken Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Interlaken or Balaton Lake?

Interlaken has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Interlaken 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 Interlaken 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 Interlaken or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Interlaken as well as Balaton Lake. The summer months attract visitors to Interlaken because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Interlaken is generally around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Interlaken average around 21°C (70°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Balaton Lake. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Interlaken this time of the year. In the summer, Interlaken often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Interlaken gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Interlaken usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Interlaken gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Interlaken or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Interlaken are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Interlaken this time of year.

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

Interlaken usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Interlaken gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Interlaken usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Interlaken gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Interlaken or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

Both Balaton Lake and Interlaken during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Interlaken for the skiing and the cuisine.

Balaton Lake can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Interlaken. In the winter, Interlaken is much warmer than Balaton Lake. Typically, the winter temperatures in Interlaken in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Interlaken often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Interlaken gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Interlaken usually gets more rain in January than Balaton Lake. Interlaken gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Interlaken or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Interlaken and Balaton Lake. Many visitors come to Interlaken in the spring for the natural beauty.

In April, Interlaken is generally around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Interlaken average around 12°C (53°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Interlaken usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during spring. Interlaken gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Interlaken usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Interlaken gets 79 mm (3.1 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 Interlaken