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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake?

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city that sits on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea. Its historical city center is threaded with canals and architecturally impressive buildings, leaving little doubt as to why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second largest city in Russia, but perhaps a favorite among travelers. The metropolitan area has a population of over 5 million as well as an impressive culture with fascinating museums, restaurants, and architecture. The city has no shortage of sights and attractions, and many days can be passed while you wander its intricate streets.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint Petersburg Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 1950 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Balaton Lake.

In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 22°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Balaton Lake. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Petersburg this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 65 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 Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

Both Balaton Lake and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit.

Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the winter. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Balaton Lake.

Saint Petersburg can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 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 Saint Petersburg