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

Should you visit Savonlinna or Bonn?

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

Should I visit Savonlinna or Bonn? 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 Bonn?

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.

Bonn

Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (previously, West Germany) and it has a population of about 315,000 people. It sits on the Rhine River just twenty kilometers away from Cologne. Many people travel to Bonn for conferences and business, but Bonn also has a lot of cultural and historical sights to offer visitors. The city is also famous as the birth place of Ludwig van Beethoven. There's a strong student culture in the city as well, and it actually shares many characteristics with Italian cities because of its many cafes and restaurants which line the streets. Outdoor beer gardens are popular and Bonn is a particular good summer destination when the weather is pleasant and you can enjoy the outdoor setting. The city's location also makes it a great base for day trips to Cologne, Dusseldorf, and the Rhine and Eifel regions.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Savonlinna and Bonn, we can see that Bonn 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 Bonn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonn 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 Bonn Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Savonlinna or Bonn?

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

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 Savonlinna or Bonn in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Savonlinna as well as Bonn. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bonn this time of year.

In the summer, Savonlinna is cooler than Bonn. Typically, the summer temperatures in Savonlinna in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Bonn averages at about 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Savonlinna this time of the year. In the summer, Savonlinna often gets more sunshine than Bonn. Savonlinna gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bonn receives 191 hours of full sun.

Savonlinna usually gets less rain in July than Bonn. Savonlinna gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bonn receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Bonn in the Autumn?

Both Bonn and Savonlinna are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Bonn for the shopping scene.

It's quite cold in Savonlinna in the autumn. In October, Savonlinna is generally much colder than Bonn. Daily temperatures in Savonlinna average around 4°C (40°F), and Bonn fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Savonlinna usually receives less sunshine than Bonn during autumn. Savonlinna gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Bonn receives 109 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Savonlinna usually receives more rain than Bonn. Savonlinna gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Bonn receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Bonn in the Winter?

Both Bonn and Savonlinna during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Bonn in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bonn can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Savonlinna. Savonlinna is much colder than Bonn in the winter. The daily temperature in Savonlinna averages around -11°C (13°F) in January, and Bonn fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Savonlinna often gets less sunshine than Bonn. Savonlinna gets 34 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bonn receives 45 hours of full sun.

Savonlinna usually gets less rain in January than Bonn. Savonlinna gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Bonn receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Bonn in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Savonlinna and Bonn.

Savonlinna can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Savonlinna is much colder than Bonn. Typically, the spring temperatures in Savonlinna in April average around 2°C (36°F), and Bonn averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Savonlinna usually receives more sunshine than Bonn during spring. Savonlinna gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Bonn receives 145 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Bonn. Savonlinna gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Bonn receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bonn and Savonlinna