Which place is cheaper, Basel or Porvoo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Porvoo or Basel?
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 Porvoo and Basel. 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: Porvoo or Basel?
Porvoo
Porvoo is a city and a municipality situated on the southern coast of Finland approximately 50 kilometers east of Helsinki. Porvoo is one of the six medieval towns in Finland, first mentioned as a city in texts from 14th century. Even though Porvoo is not exactly a coastal town, it is connected to the Gulf of Finland via the Porvoo River. The river flows through the city, passing Porvoo's most well-known landmarks: the red shore houses. Historically, Porvoo has been an important center of trade. Founded nearly 800 years ago, Porvoo is the second oldest city in Finland and evidence of its long history can still be seen and felt as you walk its charming streets. For centuries, the city has served as both a home and a source of inspiration for many Finnish artists.
Basel
Basel is often overlooked as a tourist destination in Switzerland, but despite this, it does have a lot to offer visitors as well as a beautiful medieval historic center. Every year it also hosts a Carnival festival that is one of the most popular in Europe, competing with those in Venice and Rio de Janeiro in its popularity. There are also some excellent museums and great examples of regional architecture around town. Basel also serves as an excellent entry point to the Swiss Jura mountains and a jumping off point to visit more popular cities such as Zurich or Lucerne.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPorvoo €132Basel €221
The average daily cost (per person) in Porvoo is €132, while the average daily cost in Basel is €221. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Porvoo and Basel in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPorvoo €69Basel €134
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPorvoo €138Basel €268
Compare Hotels in Porvoo and Basel
Looking for a hotel in Porvoo or Basel? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Porvoo Hotel Prices and Basel Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Porvoo €56Basel €43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Basel
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Basel:
- Round Trip Private Transfer From Basel EuroAirport to Feldberg: $87
- Private transfer from Basel to Strasbourg with a local driver: $233
- Private direct transfer from Basel to Lucerne with a local driver: $177
- Private Transfer: Basel Airport BSL to Zurich in Luxury Van: $261
- Private Transfer from Basel to Zurich with 3h Sightseeing Stops: $251
- Private Transfer From Basel To Bern With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $224
- Private One-way Transfer From Basel to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $186
- Private Direct Transfer from Basel to Zurich: $205
- ONE WAY: Basel Train Station (ZDH) to / from Basel transfer: $88
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $119
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Car: $157
- Basel Airport Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Business Car: $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Porvoo or Basel?
Prices for flights to both Basel and Porvoo change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPorvoo €30Basel €57
Typical Food Prices in Porvoo
For Porvoo, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for 2€42
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Porvoo €21Basel €35
Tours and Activities in Porvoo
For Porvoo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Tour: Porvoo Exclusive Journey: $604
Tours and Activities in Basel
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basel are as follows:
- Alpine Majesty: Basel to Jungfraujoch Exclusive Private Tour: $821
- Alpine Majesty: Private Tour to Mount Titlis from Basel: $650
- Basel (Kleinbasel) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $15
- Basel : Old Town Walking Tour: $107
- Basel : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- Basel Adventure Tour - The city quiz: $37
- Basel City Sightseeing Bus Tour: $27
- Basel City: Private guided Segway Tour: $196
- Basel Family Adventure: Exploring Historic & Artistic Gems: $543
- Basel Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
- Basel History Tour for Groups: $328
- Basel Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPorvoo €9.93Basel €31
Sample the Local Flavors in Basel
Also in Basel, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Meet People and Hidden Bars and Clubs: $33
- Pinot Noir & Pinot Wine Tour to Baden-Württemberg: $279
- Fantastic, full day, private wine tour to Alsace!: $285
- Half Day Private Cheese & Wine Tasting in Vineyard in Basel: $289
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porvoo and Basel, we can see that Basel is more expensive. And not only is Porvoo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Porvoo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Porvoo 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 Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel than you might in Porvoo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Porvoo Expensive? and Is Basel Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Porvoo or Basel?
Basel has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Porvoo. When comparing the sizes of Porvoo and Basel, 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 Porvoo or Basel?
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 Porvoo or Basel in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Porvoo as well as Basel. Also, most visitors come to Basel for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Porvoo is cooler than Basel. Typically, the summer temperatures in Porvoo in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Basel averages at about 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basel. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Porvoo this time of the year. In the summer, Porvoo often gets more sunshine than Basel. Porvoo gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basel receives 241 hours of full sun.
Porvoo usually gets less rain in July than Basel. Porvoo gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Basel receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPorvoo 17°C (62°F)Basel 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Porvoo or Basel in the Autumn?
Both Basel and Porvoo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Basel because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Porvoo is generally much colder than Basel. Daily temperatures in Porvoo average around 6°C (42°F), and Basel fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Porvoo usually receives less sunshine than Basel during autumn. Porvoo gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Basel receives 120 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Porvoo usually receives around the same amount of rain as Basel. Porvoo gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Basel receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPorvoo 6°C (42°F)Basel 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Porvoo or Basel in the Winter?
Both Basel and Porvoo during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Basel this time of year.
It's quite cold in Basel in the winter. The weather in Porvoo can be very cold. Porvoo is much colder than Basel in the winter. The daily temperature in Porvoo averages around -6°C (21°F) in January, and Basel fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Porvoo often gets less sunshine than Basel. Porvoo gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basel receives 55 hours of full sun.
Porvoo usually gets less rain in January than Basel. Porvoo gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Basel receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPorvoo -6°C (21°F)Basel 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Porvoo or Basel in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Porvoo and Basel. Furthermore, many travelers come to Basel for the natural beauty.
It's quite cold in Porvoo in the spring. In the spring, Porvoo is much colder than Basel. Typically, the spring temperatures in Porvoo in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Basel averages at about 12°C (53°F).
Porvoo usually receives more sunshine than Basel during spring. Porvoo gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Basel receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Porvoo usually receives less rain than Basel. Porvoo gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Basel receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPorvoo 3°C (37°F)Basel 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Basel and Porvoo
| Porvoo | Basel | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (21°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 34 mm (1.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (26°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.