A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sibiu vs. Balaton Lake for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sibiu or Balaton Lake?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Sibiu and Balaton Lake can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Sibiu or Balaton Lake?

Sibiu

Located in the Transylvania region of Romania, Sibiu is a historic city with Germanic origins which are evident in its architecture at its old town center. There are many charming squares which showcase landmarks like Gothic churches, a Baroque palace, medieval watchtowers, and more.

Balaton Lake

Balaton is a major freshwater lake in Hungary and the largest lake in Central Europe with a shoreline of 197 kilometers. The region around the lake is a popular holiday destination with a great number of resort towns and high-rise hotels to accommodate visitors seeking out lakeside activities, beaches, volcanic hills, and vineyards. Some of the towns are also very historic, offering examples from eighteenth-century art and architecture to castle ruins.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.


Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Sibiu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Sibiu is $72, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is $86. 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 Sibiu and Balaton Lake in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sibiu $33
    Balaton Lake $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sibiu $66
    Balaton Lake $96
Compare Hotels in Sibiu and Balaton Lake

Looking for a hotel in Sibiu or Balaton Lake? 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 Sibiu


Hotels in Balaton Lake


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: Sibiu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sibiu $28
    Balaton Lake $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sibiu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sibiu:

  • Sibiu to Balea: Bus Transfer: $71
  • Sibiu to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $478
  • Bucharest to Sibiu - Private Transfer: $478

Is it cheaper to fly into Sibiu or Balaton Lake?

Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Sibiu 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
    Sibiu $24
    Balaton Lake $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sibiu $6.37
    Balaton Lake $20

Tours and Activities in Sibiu

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

  • Luggage storage & Tourist centre in Sibiu: $3.29
  • Daily Sightseeing Guided Tour: $9.78
  • Walking Tour of the Old Town: $22
  • Private Walking Tour of Sibiu: $22
  • City Sightseeing Tour: $27
  • City Tour Sibiu in English: $28
  • Alba Iulia candlelight tour - Outdoor experience: $41
  • Sibiu Walking Tour: $44
  • Half Day Tour In the Surroundings of Sibiu: $72
  • Exclusive Tour: Bran Castle, Brasov and Rasnov fortress from Sibiu: $80
  • Exclusive Tour: Corvin Castle, Alba Iulia and traditional villages from Sibiu: $83
  • Exclusive tour: Sighisoara, Medias and Biertan tour from Sibiu: $83

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sibiu $7.92
    Balaton Lake $8.76

Sample the Local Flavors in Sibiu

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sibiu:

  • Private Walking Tour of Alba Iulia Citadel with Wine Tasting: $50


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sibiu and Balaton Lake, we can see that Balaton Lake is more expensive. And not only is Sibiu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sibiu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sibiu 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 Balaton Lake would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Balaton Lake than you might in Sibiu.

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


Which is Bigger, Sibiu or Balaton Lake?

Sibiu has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Sibiu and Balaton Lake, 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.