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

Should you visit Kaunas or Kemi?

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 Kemi. 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 Kemi?

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.

Kemi

Kemi is a town on Bothnian Bay in Lapland, Finland. It's known for the massive Sampo icebreaker, a giant ship built to ply the Arctic waters. The main economic activity in Kemi is centered on two large paper and wood pulp mills and on the only chromium mine in Europe. Kemi also has a claim to fame as the home of the world's largest snow castle (reconstructed every year with a different design). The SnowCastle is usually located at the inner harbor of Kemi.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Lithuania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, and The Best Adventure Tours to Finland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kaunas and Kemi, we can see that Kemi is more expensive. And not only is Kaunas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kaunas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kaunas 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 Kemi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kemi than you might in Kaunas.

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

Which is Bigger, Kaunas or Kemi?

Kaunas has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kemi. When comparing the sizes of Kaunas and Kemi, 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 Kemi?

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 Kaunas or Kemi in the Summer?

Both Kemi and Kaunas during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Kaunas because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Kaunas is generally a little warmer than Kemi. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around 18°C (64°F), and Kemi fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

In Kemi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kaunas. In the summer, Kaunas often gets less sunshine than Kemi. Kaunas gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kemi receives 304 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets more rain in July than Kemi. Kaunas gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Kemi receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Kemi in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kaunas and Kemi. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kaunas this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Kemi. Kaunas is much warmer than Kemi in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 8°C (46°F) in October, and Kemi fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

Kaunas usually receives more sunshine than Kemi during autumn. Kaunas gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Kemi receives 82 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Kemi. Kaunas gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kemi receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kaunas or Kemi in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kaunas as well as Kemi. Many travelers come to Kaunas for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Kemi can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Kaunas. In the winter, Kaunas is much warmer than Kemi. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kaunas in January average around -5°C (23°F), and Kemi averages at about -12°C (10°F).

In the winter, Kaunas often gets more sunshine than Kemi. Kaunas gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kemi receives 19 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets less rain in January than Kemi. Kaunas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Kemi receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Kemi in the Spring?

Both Kemi and Kaunas are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Kaunas in the spring for the activities around the city.

Kemi can be very cold during spring. In April, Kaunas is generally much warmer than Kemi. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around 7°C (44°F), and Kemi fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Kemi during spring. Kaunas gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Kemi receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kaunas usually receives more rain than Kemi. Kaunas gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kemi receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kemi and Kaunas