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

Should you visit Savonlinna or Interlaken?

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

Should I visit Savonlinna or Interlaken? 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 Interlaken?

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.

Interlaken

Interlaken is a small city that is located in the Bernese Highlands Region of central Switzerland. It sits pleasantly between two Alpine Lakes, Brienzersee and Thunersee. This scenic setting and its easy accessibility make it a popular base camp for travel into the Bernese Oberland Alps. It has become a top tourist destination in Switzerland and it is also a hub for outdoor sports enthusiasts with plenty of hiking, skiing, paragliding, and other activities in the region.. Interlaken is a great hoping off point to explore many of the nearby mountains, lakes, and valleys, too. It offers easy transportation to most major Swiss cities by train or car.

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 Geneva, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich.

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

Which is Bigger, Savonlinna or Interlaken?

Savonlinna has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of Savonlinna and Interlaken, 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 Interlaken?

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 Interlaken in the Summer?

Both Interlaken and Savonlinna during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Interlaken for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Savonlinna is cooler than Interlaken. Typically, the summer temperatures in Savonlinna in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Interlaken averages at about 21°C (70°F).

In Interlaken, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Savonlinna. In the summer, Savonlinna often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Interlaken. Savonlinna gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 241 hours of full sun.

Savonlinna usually gets less rain in July than Interlaken. Savonlinna gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Interlaken in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Savonlinna and Interlaken. Also, many visitors come to Interlaken in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Savonlinna. In October, Savonlinna is generally much colder than Interlaken. Daily temperatures in Savonlinna average around 4°C (40°F), and Interlaken fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Savonlinna usually receives less sunshine than Interlaken during autumn. Savonlinna gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 120 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Interlaken. Savonlinna gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Interlaken in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Savonlinna as well as Interlaken. Also, most visitors come to Interlaken for the skiing and the cuisine during these months.

Interlaken can be very cold during winter. Savonlinna can get quite cold in the winter. Savonlinna is much colder than Interlaken in the winter. The daily temperature in Savonlinna averages around -11°C (13°F) in January, and Interlaken fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Savonlinna often gets less sunshine than Interlaken. Savonlinna gets 34 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 55 hours of full sun.

Savonlinna usually gets less rain in January than Interlaken. Savonlinna gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Interlaken in the Spring?

Both Interlaken and Savonlinna are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Interlaken because of the natural beauty.

Savonlinna can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Savonlinna is much colder than Interlaken. Typically, the spring temperatures in Savonlinna in April average around 2°C (36°F), and Interlaken averages at about 12°C (53°F).

Savonlinna usually receives more sunshine than Interlaken during spring. Savonlinna gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Interlaken. Savonlinna gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Interlaken and Savonlinna