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

Should you visit Orkney Islands or Balaton Lake?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Orkney Islands and Balaton Lake can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Orkney Islands or Balaton Lake?

Orkney Islands

The Orkney Islands are located off the north coast of mainland Scotland, offering incredible sights and activities set against the Atlantic Ocean. Having been inhabited for over 5,000 years, Orkney is an archaeologist's dream as ancient relics are discovered all the time, meaning there are endless places for tourists to explore. The best time to visit Orkney is from May-October, when temperatures tend to stay between 50-65° Fahrenheit and rainfall is at it's lowest. Although, with their location on the sea, rain and heavy winds are very common, so be sure to always have waterproof clothing and shoes around!

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 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, 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 Orkney Islands and Balaton Lake, we can see that Orkney Islands 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 Orkney Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Orkney Islands 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 Orkney Islands Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.

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

Both Balaton Lake and Orkney Islands during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Orkney Islands because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Orkney Islands is much colder than Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Orkney Islands averages around 12°C (54°F) in July, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

In Balaton Lake, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Orkney Islands often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Orkney Islands gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Orkney Islands usually gets less rain in July than Balaton Lake. Orkney Islands gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Orkney Islands or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Orkney Islands and Balaton Lake. The hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Orkney Islands this time of year.

In the autumn, Orkney Islands is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Orkney Islands in October average around 9°C (48°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Orkney Islands usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Orkney Islands gets 73 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Orkney Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Orkney Islands usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Orkney Islands gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Orkney Islands or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Orkney Islands as well as Balaton Lake. Many travelers come to Orkney Islands for the museums and the cuisine.

Balaton Lake can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Orkney Islands. In January, Orkney Islands is generally much warmer than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Orkney Islands average around 4°C (39°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Orkney Islands often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Orkney Islands gets 29 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Orkney Islands receives a lot of rain in the winter. Orkney Islands usually gets more rain in January than Balaton Lake. Orkney Islands gets 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Orkney Islands or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

Both Balaton Lake and Orkney Islands are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Orkney Islands in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Orkney Islands is much colder than Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Orkney Islands averages around 6°C (43°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Orkney Islands usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during spring. Orkney Islands gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Orkney Islands usually receives around the same amount of rain as Balaton Lake. Orkney Islands gets 56 mm (2.2 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 Orkney Islands