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

Should you visit Mamaia or Balaton Lake?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Mamaia or Balaton Lake? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mamaia or Balaton Lake?

Mamaia

The most popular beach resort in Romania, Mamaia sits on an 8-kilometer wisp of land between Lake Siutghiol and the Black Sea. With plenty of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and an aqua park, the resort area is a party-goer's destination with endless opportunities for fun in the sun and nighttime merriment.

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 Romania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, 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 Mamaia and Balaton Lake, we can see that Balaton Lake is more expensive. And not only is Mamaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mamaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mamaia 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 Balaton Lake would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Balaton Lake than you might in Mamaia.

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

When is the best time to visit Mamaia 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 Mamaia or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Mamaia is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mamaia in July average around 22°C (72°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 Mamaia this time of the year. In the summer, Mamaia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake. Mamaia gets 320 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Mamaia usually gets less rain in July than Balaton Lake. Mamaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mamaia or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

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

In October, Mamaia is generally around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Mamaia average around 14°C (56°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Mamaia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during autumn. Mamaia gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Mamaia usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Mamaia gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mamaia or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

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

Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Mamaia can get quite cold in the winter. Mamaia is much warmer than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Mamaia averages around 1°C (33°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Mamaia often gets more sunshine than Balaton Lake. Mamaia gets 83 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Mamaia usually gets less rain in January than Balaton Lake. Mamaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mamaia or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Mamaia is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mamaia in April average around 10°C (51°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Mamaia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Mamaia gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mamaia usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Mamaia gets 30 mm (1.2 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 Mamaia