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

Should you visit Kaunas 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 Kaunas 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: Kaunas or Balaton Lake?

Kaunas

Kaunas is the second biggest city in Lithuania, located at the country's center. It is a city of medieval history as well as modern entertainment with castle ruins, churches, and cathedrals, as well as galleries, museums, theatres, and outdoor recreation.

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 Tours for Seniors to Lithuania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, 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 Kaunas and Balaton Lake, we can see that Kaunas 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 Kaunas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaunas 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 Kaunas Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kaunas or Balaton Lake?

Kaunas has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Kaunas 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 Kaunas or Balaton Lake?

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 Kaunas or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

Both Balaton Lake and Kaunas are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Kaunas for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Kaunas is cooler than Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It's quite sunny in Balaton Lake. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kaunas. Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during summer. Kaunas gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Kaunas usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Kaunas gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Kaunas or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Kaunas during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Kaunas in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Kaunas is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kaunas in October average around 8°C (46°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Kaunas often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Kaunas gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Kaunas gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kaunas and Balaton Lake. Most visitors come to Kaunas for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

The weather in Balaton Lake can be very cold. Kaunas can be very cold during winter. In January, Kaunas is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around -5°C (23°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during winter. Kaunas gets 40 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

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

Should I visit Kaunas or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Kaunas as well as Balaton Lake. The spring months attract visitors to Kaunas because of the activities around the city.

Kaunas is much colder than Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Kaunas often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake. Kaunas gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets less rain in April than Balaton Lake. Kaunas gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Kaunas