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

Should you visit Porvoo or Karlovy Vary?

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 Karlovy Vary. 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 Karlovy Vary?

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.

Karlovy Vary

Founded in 1370, Karlovy Vary translates to "Charles' Bath" for its founder Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, as well as its famous hot springs. It is located in Bohemia in the western Czech Republic and is also known as Karlsbad (German) or Carlsbad (English). Another highlight is the International Film Festival in July with draws celebrities and other film enthusiasts worldwide.

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 Cultural Tours in Czech Republic, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Czech Republic.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porvoo and Karlovy Vary, we can see that Porvoo is more expensive. And not only is Karlovy Vary much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Karlovy Vary would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Karlovy Vary 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 Porvoo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Porvoo than you might in Karlovy Vary.

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

Which is Bigger, Porvoo or Karlovy Vary?

Karlovy Vary has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Porvoo. When comparing the sizes of Porvoo and Karlovy Vary, 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 Karlovy Vary?

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 Porvoo or Karlovy Vary in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Porvoo and Karlovy Vary.

Porvoo is cooler than Karlovy Vary in the summer. The daily temperature in Porvoo averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Karlovy Vary fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Karlovy Vary this time of the year. In Porvoo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Porvoo usually receives more sunshine than Karlovy Vary during summer. Porvoo gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Karlovy Vary receives 217 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Porvoo usually receives around the same amount of rain as Karlovy Vary. Porvoo gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Porvoo or Karlovy Vary in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Porvoo as well as Karlovy Vary.

In the autumn, Porvoo is much colder than Karlovy Vary. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Porvoo in October average around 6°C (42°F), and Karlovy Vary averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In the autumn, Porvoo often gets less sunshine than Karlovy Vary. Porvoo gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Karlovy Vary receives 127 hours of full sun.

Porvoo usually gets more rain in October than Karlovy Vary. Porvoo gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Porvoo or Karlovy Vary in the Winter?

Both Karlovy Vary and Porvoo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.

The weather in Karlovy Vary can be very cold. Porvoo can be very cold during winter. In January, Porvoo is generally much colder than Karlovy Vary. Daily temperatures in Porvoo average around -6°C (21°F), and Karlovy Vary fluctuates around 1°C (33°F).

Porvoo usually receives less sunshine than Karlovy Vary during winter. Porvoo gets 39 hours of sunny skies, while Karlovy Vary receives 58 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Porvoo usually receives around the same amount of rain as Karlovy Vary. Porvoo gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Porvoo or Karlovy Vary in the Spring?

Both Karlovy Vary and Porvoo during the spring are popular places to visit.

The weather in Porvoo can be very cold. Porvoo is much colder than Karlovy Vary in the spring. The daily temperature in Porvoo averages around 3°C (37°F) in April, and Karlovy Vary fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In the spring, Porvoo often gets more sunshine than Karlovy Vary. Porvoo gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Karlovy Vary receives 151 hours of full sun.

Porvoo usually gets less rain in April than Karlovy Vary. Porvoo gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Karlovy Vary and Porvoo