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

Should you visit Kemi 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 Kemi 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: Kemi or Balaton Lake?

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.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, The Best Adventure Tours to Finland, 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 Kemi and Balaton Lake, we can see that Kemi 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 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 Balaton Lake.

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

Which is Bigger, Kemi or Balaton Lake?

Kemi has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Kemi 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 Kemi 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 Kemi or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Kemi as well as Balaton Lake.

In the summer, Kemi is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kemi in July average around 15°C (60°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 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 Kemi this time of the year. In the summer, Kemi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake. Kemi gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Kemi usually gets less rain in July than Balaton Lake. Kemi gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kemi or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Kemi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

Kemi can get quite cold in the autumn. In October, Kemi is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Kemi average around 2°C (36°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Kemi usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Kemi gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kemi usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Kemi gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kemi or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

Both Balaton Lake and Kemi during the winter are popular places to visit.

The weather in Balaton Lake can be very cold. Kemi can be very cold during winter. Kemi is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Kemi averages around -12°C (10°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Kemi often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Kemi gets 19 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Kemi or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kemi and Balaton Lake.

The weather in Kemi can be very cold. In the spring, Kemi is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kemi in April average around -1°C (31°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Kemi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Kemi gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kemi usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Kemi gets 29 mm (1.1 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 Kemi