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

Should you visit Savonlinna or Katowice?

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

Should I visit Savonlinna or Katowice? 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 Katowice?

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.

Katowice

Katowice is a city east of Krakow, in the Silesian province of southern Poland. A large dome crowns the Cathedral of Christ the King, built between 1927 and 1955. The adjacent Archdiocesan Museum exhibits Silesian sacred art. The ultramodern Silesian Museum features several glass structures on the site of a former coal mine. It exhibits Polish art and chronicles the history of Upper Silesia. Historically, Katowice is a product of the 19th-century industrial boom, but it only became a city in the interwar period. After WWII, at the height of the Stalinist cult craze, the city was renamed Stalinogrod, but reverted to its old name soon after Comrade Joe died in 1953. Katowice has few significant historical monuments, but it's a major commercial and cultural center and holds sufficient attractions to make it worth a stop.

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 Krakow, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Warsaw.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Savonlinna or Katowice?

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

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 Katowice in the Summer?

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

In July, Savonlinna is generally around the same temperature as Katowice. Daily temperatures in Savonlinna average around 17°C (62°F), and Katowice fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Katowice. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Savonlinna. Savonlinna usually receives more sunshine than Katowice during summer. Savonlinna gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Katowice receives 219 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Katowice. Savonlinna gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Katowice in the Autumn?

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

It's quite cold in Savonlinna in the autumn. Savonlinna is much colder than Katowice in the autumn. The daily temperature in Savonlinna averages around 4°C (40°F) in October, and Katowice fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In the autumn, Savonlinna often gets less sunshine than Katowice. Savonlinna gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katowice receives 128 hours of full sun.

Savonlinna usually gets more rain in October than Katowice. Savonlinna gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Katowice in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Savonlinna and Katowice.

Katowice can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Savonlinna. In the winter, Savonlinna is much colder than Katowice. Typically, the winter temperatures in Savonlinna in January average around -11°C (13°F), and Katowice averages at about -2°C (28°F).

Savonlinna usually receives less sunshine than Katowice during winter. Savonlinna gets 34 hours of sunny skies, while Katowice receives 51 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Katowice. Savonlinna gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Savonlinna or Katowice in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Savonlinna as well as Katowice.

Savonlinna can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Savonlinna is generally much colder than Katowice. Daily temperatures in Savonlinna average around 2°C (36°F), and Katowice fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

In the spring, Savonlinna often gets more sunshine than Katowice. Savonlinna gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katowice receives 152 hours of full sun.

Savonlinna usually gets less rain in April than Katowice. Savonlinna gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Katowice and Savonlinna