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

Should you visit Savonlinna or Lofoten Islands?

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

Should I visit Savonlinna or Lofoten Islands? 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 Lofoten Islands?

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.

Lofoten Islands

Lofoten Islands is an archipelago and traditional district in Norway. Lofoten is known for excellent fishing, spectacular nature attractions such as the northern lights and the midnight sun, and small villages off the beaten track. The Lofoten Islands are draped across the turbulent waters of the Norwegian Sea, far above the Arctic Circle. Kayak between the islands, go fishing for the catch of your life, or look for sea eagles soaring in the sky. If you are seeking unforgettable nature experiences, Lofoten will definitely not let you down.

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


Which place is cheaper, Lofoten Islands or Savonlinna?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Savonlinna is €104, while the average daily cost in Lofoten Islands is €50. 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 Lofoten Islands in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Savonlinna 53
    Lofoten Islands 6.67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Savonlinna 106
    Lofoten Islands 13
Compare Hotels in Savonlinna and Lofoten Islands

Looking for a hotel in Savonlinna or Lofoten Islands? 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.

Hotels in Savonlinna


Hotels in Lofoten Islands


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Savonlinna 39
    Lofoten Islands 9.86

Is it cheaper to fly into Savonlinna or Lofoten Islands?

Prices for flights to both Lofoten Islands 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Savonlinna 27
    Lofoten Islands 32

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Savonlinna 20
    Lofoten Islands 23

Tours and Activities in Lofoten Islands

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lofoten Islands are as follows:

  • Small-Group Cultural Walking Tour of Skrova: $33
  • Winter Half Day Kayak Tour: $92
  • Sea Kayak Guided Tours on Skrova Island: $115
  • From Leknes port: Special Summer Guided Tour of Lofoten : $126

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Savonlinna 9.27
    Lofoten Islands 0.67


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

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