Which place is cheaper, Basel or Savonlinna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Savonlinna or Basel?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Savonlinna or Basel? 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 Basel?
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.
Basel
Basel is often overlooked as a tourist destination in Switzerland, but despite this, it does have a lot to offer visitors as well as a beautiful medieval historic center. Every year it also hosts a Carnival festival that is one of the most popular in Europe, competing with those in Venice and Rio de Janeiro in its popularity. There are also some excellent museums and great examples of regional architecture around town. Basel also serves as an excellent entry point to the Swiss Jura mountains and a jumping off point to visit more popular cities such as Zurich or Lucerne.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySavonlinna €104Basel €221
The average daily cost (per person) in Savonlinna is €104, while the average daily cost in Basel is €221. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Savonlinna and Basel in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSavonlinna €53Basel €134
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSavonlinna €106Basel €268
Compare Hotels in Savonlinna and Basel
Looking for a hotel in Savonlinna or Basel? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Savonlinna Hotel Prices and Basel Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Savonlinna €39Basel €43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Basel
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Basel:
- Round Trip Private Transfer From Basel EuroAirport to Feldberg: $87
- ONE WAY: Basel Train Station (ZDH) to / from Basel transfer: $88
- Basel Airport Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $119
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $119
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Car: $157
- Private direct transfer from Basel to Lucerne with a local driver: $177
- Private One-way Transfer From Basel to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $186
- Private Direct Transfer from Basel to Zurich: $205
- Private Transfer From Basel To Bern With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $224
- Private transfer from Basel to Strasbourg with a local driver: $233
- Private Transfer from Basel to Zurich with 3h Sightseeing Stops: $251
Is it cheaper to fly into Savonlinna or Basel?
Prices for flights to both Basel and Savonlinna change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySavonlinna €27Basel €57
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Savonlinna €20Basel €35
Tours and Activities in Basel
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basel are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Basel Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
- Basel's Portrait: Self-Guided Reading City Tour: $5.47
- Basel's Portrait Self Guided Audio City Tour: $5.60
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Hidden Treasures Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $8.99
- The Best of Basel’s Hidden Treasures: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Uncover Basel's Charms: In-App Audio Tour of Cultural Gems: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Basel's Portrait: Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $11
- Old Town Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $15
- Basel (Kleinbasel) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySavonlinna €9.27Basel €31
Sample the Local Flavors in Basel
Also in Basel, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Meet People and Hidden Bars and Clubs: $33
- Pinot Noir & Pinot Wine Tour to Baden-Württemberg: $279
- Fantastic, full day, private wine tour to Alsace!: $285
- Half Day Private Cheese & Wine Tasting in Vineyard in Basel: $289
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Savonlinna and Basel, we can see that Basel is more expensive. And not only is Savonlinna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Savonlinna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Savonlinna 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 Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel than you might in Savonlinna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Savonlinna Expensive? and Is Basel Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Savonlinna or Basel?
Basel has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Savonlinna. When comparing the sizes of Savonlinna and Basel, 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 Basel?
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 Basel in the Summer?
Both Basel and Savonlinna are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Basel in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Savonlinna is generally cooler than Basel. Daily temperatures in Savonlinna average around 17°C (62°F), and Basel fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It's quite sunny in Basel. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Savonlinna. Savonlinna usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Basel during summer. Savonlinna gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Basel receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Basel. Savonlinna gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Basel receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySavonlinna 17°C (62°F)Basel 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Savonlinna or Basel in the Autumn?
Both Basel and Savonlinna during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Basel for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Savonlinna can get quite cold in the autumn. Savonlinna is much colder than Basel in the autumn. The daily temperature in Savonlinna averages around 4°C (40°F) in October, and Basel fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In the autumn, Savonlinna often gets less sunshine than Basel. Savonlinna gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basel receives 120 hours of full sun.
Savonlinna usually gets less rain in October than Basel. Savonlinna gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Basel receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSavonlinna 4°C (40°F)Basel 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Savonlinna or Basel in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Savonlinna and Basel. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Basel because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Basel can be very cold. Savonlinna can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Savonlinna is much colder than Basel. Typically, the winter temperatures in Savonlinna in January average around -11°C (13°F), and Basel averages at about 3°C (37°F).
Savonlinna usually receives less sunshine than Basel during winter. Savonlinna gets 34 hours of sunny skies, while Basel receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Basel. Savonlinna gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Basel receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySavonlinna -11°C (13°F)Basel 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Savonlinna or Basel in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Savonlinna as well as Basel. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Basel this time of year.
The weather in Savonlinna can be very cold. In April, Savonlinna is generally much colder than Basel. Daily temperatures in Savonlinna average around 2°C (36°F), and Basel fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the spring, Savonlinna often gets more sunshine than Basel. Savonlinna gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basel receives 150 hours of full sun.
Savonlinna usually gets less rain in April than Basel. Savonlinna gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Basel receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSavonlinna 2°C (36°F)Basel 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Basel and Savonlinna
| Savonlinna | Basel | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -11°C (13°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | -9°C (15°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | -4°C (24°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 2°C (36°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 9°C (48°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (57°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (49°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 4°C (40°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | -1°C (30°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | -7°C (20°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.