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

Should you visit Savonlinna or Balaton Lake?

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

Should I visit Savonlinna 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: Savonlinna or Balaton Lake?

Savonlinna

Savonlinna is a town and a municipality of 35,504 inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region. The Finnish name of the town means "Castle of Savonia" and the Swedish name means "New Castle". The city was founded in 1639, based on Olavinlinna castle. Savonlinna is a historical borderland where the cultures and traditions of East and West meet. As the oldest town in Eastern Finland, Savonlinna is famous for its world class opera festival in the medieval castle surrounded by blue waters of Lake Saimaa. With its 100 year old steamships and unparalleled selection of experiences and activities, Savonlinna is a the real gem of Lakeland Finland.

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 Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, 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 Savonlinna and Balaton Lake, we can see that Savonlinna 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 Savonlinna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Savonlinna 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 Savonlinna Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Savonlinna or Balaton Lake?

Savonlinna has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Savonlinna 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 Savonlinna or Balaton Lake?

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 Savonlinna or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

Both Balaton Lake and Savonlinna are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

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

It's quite sunny in Balaton Lake. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Savonlinna. Savonlinna usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during summer. Savonlinna gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Savonlinna gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Savonlinna during the autumn are popular places to visit.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Savonlinna. In the autumn, Savonlinna is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Savonlinna in October average around 4°C (40°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Savonlinna often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Savonlinna gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun.

Savonlinna usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Savonlinna gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Savonlinna and Balaton Lake.

Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Savonlinna can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Savonlinna is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Savonlinna average around -11°C (13°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

Savonlinna usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during winter. Savonlinna gets 34 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Savonlinna usually receives around the same amount of rain as Balaton Lake. Savonlinna gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Savonlinna as well as Balaton Lake.

Savonlinna can be very cold during spring. Savonlinna is much colder than Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Savonlinna averages around 2°C (36°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Savonlinna often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake. Savonlinna gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun.

Savonlinna usually gets less rain in April than Balaton Lake. Savonlinna gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Savonlinna