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

Should you visit Savonlinna or Karlovy Vary?

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

Should I visit Savonlinna or Karlovy Vary? 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 Karlovy Vary?

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.

Karlovy Vary

Founded in 1370, Karlovy Vary translates to "Charles' Bath" for its founder Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, as well as its famous hot springs. It is located in Bohemia in the western Czech Republic and is also known as Karlsbad (German) or Carlsbad (English). Another highlight is the International Film Festival in July with draws celebrities and other film enthusiasts worldwide.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best Cultural Tours in Czech Republic, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Czech Republic.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Savonlinna and Karlovy Vary, we can see that Savonlinna is more expensive. And not only is Karlovy Vary much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Karlovy Vary would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Karlovy Vary 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 Karlovy Vary.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Savonlinna Expensive? and Is Karlovy Vary Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Savonlinna or Karlovy Vary?

Karlovy Vary has a larger population, and is about 89% larger than the population of Savonlinna. When comparing the sizes of Savonlinna and Karlovy Vary, 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 Karlovy Vary?

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 Karlovy Vary in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Savonlinna as well as Karlovy Vary.

In the summer, Savonlinna is cooler than Karlovy Vary. Typically, the summer temperatures in Savonlinna in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Karlovy Vary averages at about 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Karlovy Vary. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Savonlinna this time of the year. In the summer, Savonlinna often gets more sunshine than Karlovy Vary. Savonlinna gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Karlovy Vary receives 217 hours of full sun.

Savonlinna usually gets less rain in July than Karlovy Vary. Savonlinna gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Karlovy Vary in the Autumn?

Both Karlovy Vary and Savonlinna are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Savonlinna. In October, Savonlinna is generally much colder than Karlovy Vary. Daily temperatures in Savonlinna average around 4°C (40°F), and Karlovy Vary fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Savonlinna usually receives less sunshine than Karlovy Vary during autumn. Savonlinna gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Karlovy Vary receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Savonlinna usually receives more rain than Karlovy Vary. Savonlinna gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Karlovy Vary in the Winter?

Both Karlovy Vary and Savonlinna during the winter are popular places to visit.

Karlovy Vary can be very cold during winter. Savonlinna can get quite cold in the winter. Savonlinna is much colder than Karlovy Vary in the winter. The daily temperature in Savonlinna averages around -11°C (13°F) in January, and Karlovy Vary fluctuates around 1°C (33°F).

In the winter, Savonlinna often gets less sunshine than Karlovy Vary. Savonlinna gets 34 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Karlovy Vary receives 58 hours of full sun.

Savonlinna usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Karlovy Vary. Savonlinna gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Karlovy Vary in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Savonlinna and Karlovy Vary.

Savonlinna can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Savonlinna is much colder than Karlovy Vary. Typically, the spring temperatures in Savonlinna in April average around 2°C (36°F), and Karlovy Vary averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Savonlinna usually receives more sunshine than Karlovy Vary during spring. Savonlinna gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Karlovy Vary receives 151 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Karlovy Vary. Savonlinna gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Karlovy Vary receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Karlovy Vary and Savonlinna