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

Should you visit Saaremaa or Balaton Lake?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa 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: Saaremaa or Balaton Lake?

Saaremaa

Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia and it has a unique and rural atmosphere that makes it an interesting place to visit. Saaremaa has remained rural and frozen in time due to its isolated location, particularly during Soviet occupation when it was used as a military base. The island still has working windmills, hand placed stone walls, and old stone churches that feel like you've stepped back in time.

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 Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, 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 Saaremaa and Balaton Lake, we can see that Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Balaton Lake?

Saaremaa has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

Both Balaton Lake and Saaremaa during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Saaremaa for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Saaremaa is cooler than Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

In Balaton Lake, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saaremaa. In the summer, Saaremaa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets less rain in July than Balaton Lake. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saaremaa and Balaton Lake. The autumn months attract visitors to Saaremaa because of the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Saaremaa is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saaremaa in October average around 8°C (47°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Saaremaa usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Saaremaa gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saaremaa usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Saaremaa gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as Balaton Lake. The cuisine are the main draw to Saaremaa this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Balaton Lake. It's quite cold in Saaremaa in the winter. In January, Saaremaa is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around -3°C (27°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Saaremaa often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Saaremaa gets 33 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Balaton Lake. Saaremaa gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

Both Balaton Lake and Saaremaa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Saaremaa for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Saaremaa. Saaremaa is much colder than Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 4°C (38°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Saaremaa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saaremaa usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Saaremaa gets 29 mm (1.1 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 Saaremaa