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

Should you visit Minsk or Balaton Lake?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Minsk or Balaton Lake, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Minsk or Balaton Lake?

Minsk

Minsk is the capital city of Belarus, centrally located. Situated on the Svislac and Niamiha rivers, it is also capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and was the capital of the former Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1919-1991. It is a modern city dominated by monumental Stalinist architecture with many of its museums, theaters, and other cultural attractions.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Minsk and Balaton Lake, we can see that Balaton Lake is more expensive. And not only is Minsk much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Minsk would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Minsk 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 Minsk.

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

Which is Bigger, Minsk or Balaton Lake?

Minsk has a larger population, and is about 840 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Minsk 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 Minsk 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 Minsk or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Minsk is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Minsk in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 22°C (71°F).

It's quite sunny in Balaton Lake. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Minsk. Minsk usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during summer. Minsk gets 258 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Minsk usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Minsk gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Minsk or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Minsk during the autumn are popular places to visit.

In October, Minsk is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Minsk average around 8°C (47°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

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

Minsk usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Minsk gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Minsk or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Minsk and Balaton Lake.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Balaton Lake. It's quite cold in Minsk in the winter. Minsk is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Minsk averages around -5°C (22°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

Minsk usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during winter. Minsk gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Minsk usually receives around the same amount of rain as Balaton Lake. Minsk gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Minsk or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Minsk as well as Balaton Lake.

In the spring, Minsk is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Minsk in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Minsk often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake. Minsk gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun.

Minsk usually gets less rain in April than Balaton Lake. Minsk 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 Minsk