Which place is cheaper, Lucerne or Savonlinna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Savonlinna or Lucerne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Savonlinna or Lucerne? 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 Lucerne?
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.
Lucerne
Lucerne is a relatively small city in the center of Switzerland. It is located across the lake from Altdorf and it has a thriving tourism industry. It's close proximity to many of the major sights in the country make it a great base for exploration. Many people use it as a jumping off point for exploring Mount Rigi and the Rutli Meadow.
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 in Switzerland, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySavonlinna €104Lucerne €200
The average daily cost (per person) in Savonlinna is €104, while the average daily cost in Lucerne is €200. 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 Lucerne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSavonlinna €53Lucerne €128
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSavonlinna €106Lucerne €256
Compare Hotels in Savonlinna and Lucerne
Looking for a hotel in Savonlinna or Lucerne? 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.
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 and Lucerne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Savonlinna €39Lucerne €12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucerne
Also for Lucerne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bad Ragaz Resorts to Zurich Airport ZRH - Departure Transfer: $126
- Private Transfer from Lucerne to Zurich English Speaking Driver: $134
- Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Bad Ragaz Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $251
- From Canyoning in Interlaken w/ Return Transfer: $257
- Rafting in Interlaken with Return Transfer from Lucerne: $257
- Private Transfer from Lucerne to Zurich Airport: $284
- Lucerne City to Zurich City One-Way Private Transfer : $300
- Private transfer from Zurich airport to Lucerne: $547
- LAUTERBRUNNEN Private Transfer from Zurich Airport: $722
- INTERLAKEN Private Transfer from Zurich Airport: $744
Is it cheaper to fly into Savonlinna or Lucerne?
Prices for flights to both Lucerne 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
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Food Meals for one daySavonlinna €27Lucerne €58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucerne
For Lucerne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Swiss Alps: Traditional Swiss Fondue Cooking Class: $82
- Lake Candlelight Dinner Cruise: $141
- From Zurich: 2-Day Mt.Titlis including 4-course dinner: $547
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Savonlinna €20Lucerne €32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lucerne
For Lucerne, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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1 Day Bicycle Rental€32
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The Swiss Transport Museum Entrance Fee€33
Tours and Activities in Lucerne
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lucerne.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Revealing Self-Guided Reading City Tour: $5.47
- Smartphone walking tour - cool Lucerne old town: $5.47
- Walking Tour - Around the Old Town Lucerne: $5.60
- The Lives and Legends of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Lucerne Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $6.42
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Revealing Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $11
- Porrentruy Secret Tour: $13
- Scavenger Hunt and Self-guided Walking Tour: $15
- Swiss Chocolate Adventure Experience: $20
- Guided Walking Tour with an Official Guide: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySavonlinna €9.27Lucerne €21
Sample the Local Flavors in Lucerne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucerne:
- 3 Hour Unique Wine Tour - Half Day in Swiss Alps: $166
- Lake Lucerne Region Wine Tasting: $273
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Savonlinna and Lucerne, we can see that Lucerne 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 Lucerne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lucerne 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 Lucerne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Savonlinna or Lucerne?
Lucerne has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Savonlinna. When comparing the sizes of Savonlinna and Lucerne, 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 Lucerne?
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 Lucerne in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Savonlinna as well as Lucerne. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Lucerne because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Savonlinna is cooler than Lucerne in the summer. The daily temperature in Savonlinna averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Lucerne fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lucerne. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Savonlinna this time of the year. In the summer, Savonlinna often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lucerne. Savonlinna gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lucerne receives 241 hours of full sun.
Savonlinna usually gets less rain in July than Lucerne. Savonlinna gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Lucerne receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySavonlinna 17°C (62°F)Lucerne 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Savonlinna or Lucerne in the Autumn?
Both Lucerne and Savonlinna are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lucerne this time of year.
The weather in Savonlinna can be very cold. In the autumn, Savonlinna is much colder than Lucerne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Savonlinna in October average around 4°C (40°F), and Lucerne averages at about 13°C (56°F).
Savonlinna usually receives less sunshine than Lucerne during autumn. Savonlinna gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Lucerne receives 120 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Lucerne. Savonlinna gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Lucerne receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSavonlinna 4°C (40°F)Lucerne 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Savonlinna or Lucerne in the Winter?
Both Lucerne and Savonlinna during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Lucerne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Lucerne. It's quite cold in Savonlinna in the winter. In January, Savonlinna is generally much colder than Lucerne. Daily temperatures in Savonlinna average around -11°C (13°F), and Lucerne fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Savonlinna often gets less sunshine than Lucerne. Savonlinna gets 34 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lucerne receives 55 hours of full sun.
Savonlinna usually gets less rain in January than Lucerne. Savonlinna gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Lucerne receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySavonlinna -11°C (13°F)Lucerne 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Savonlinna or Lucerne in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Savonlinna and Lucerne. Also, many visitors come to Lucerne in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Savonlinna. Savonlinna is much colder than Lucerne in the spring. The daily temperature in Savonlinna averages around 2°C (36°F) in April, and Lucerne fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Savonlinna usually receives more sunshine than Lucerne during spring. Savonlinna gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Lucerne receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Savonlinna usually receives less rain than Lucerne. Savonlinna gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Lucerne receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSavonlinna 2°C (36°F)Lucerne 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Lucerne and Savonlinna
| Savonlinna | Lucerne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -11°C (13°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | -9°C (15°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | -4°C (24°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 2°C (36°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 9°C (48°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (57°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (49°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 4°C (40°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | -1°C (30°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | -7°C (20°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.