A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Porvoo vs. Grindelwald for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Porvoo or Grindelwald?

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 Grindelwald. 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 Grindelwald?

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.

Grindelwald

Grindelwald, Switzerland is a glacier village located in the picturesque Jungfrau Region of the Swiss Alps. The Jungfrau Region encompasses many small villages and was chosen as the first Alpine UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. This Alpine paradise has been a popular destination since the 17th century, due to its natural beauty and fantastic hiking and skiing trails.

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 10-Day Tours in Switzerland, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Switzerland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porvoo and Grindelwald, we can see that Grindelwald 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 Grindelwald would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grindelwald 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 Grindelwald Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Porvoo or Grindelwald?

Porvoo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Grindelwald. When comparing the sizes of Porvoo and Grindelwald, 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 Grindelwald?

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 Grindelwald in the Summer?

Both Grindelwald and Porvoo during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Grindelwald in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Porvoo is generally cooler than Grindelwald. Daily temperatures in Porvoo average around 17°C (62°F), and Grindelwald fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Grindelwald, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Porvoo. In the summer, Porvoo often gets more sunshine than Grindelwald. Porvoo gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Grindelwald receives 250 hours of full sun.

Grindelwald gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Porvoo usually gets less rain in July than Grindelwald. Porvoo gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Grindelwald receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Porvoo or Grindelwald in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Porvoo and Grindelwald. Also, most visitors come to Grindelwald for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Porvoo is much colder than Grindelwald in the autumn. The daily temperature in Porvoo averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and Grindelwald fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Porvoo usually receives less sunshine than Grindelwald during autumn. Porvoo gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Grindelwald receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Grindelwald receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Porvoo usually receives less rain than Grindelwald. Porvoo gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Grindelwald receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Porvoo or Grindelwald in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Porvoo as well as Grindelwald. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Grindelwald because of the skiing, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Grindelwald can be very cold. Porvoo can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Porvoo is much colder than Grindelwald. Typically, the winter temperatures in Porvoo in January average around -6°C (21°F), and Grindelwald averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Porvoo often gets less sunshine than Grindelwald. Porvoo gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Grindelwald receives 119 hours of full sun.

Porvoo usually gets less rain in January than Grindelwald. Porvoo gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Grindelwald receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Porvoo or Grindelwald in the Spring?

Both Grindelwald and Porvoo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Grindelwald this time of year.

The weather in Porvoo can be very cold. In April, Porvoo is generally much colder than Grindelwald. Daily temperatures in Porvoo average around 3°C (37°F), and Grindelwald fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Porvoo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Grindelwald during spring. Porvoo gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Grindelwald receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Grindelwald. In April, Porvoo usually receives less rain than Grindelwald. Porvoo gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Grindelwald receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Grindelwald and Porvoo