A Travel Price Comparison for Hungary Siofok vs. Balaton Lake for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Siofok or Balaton Lake?

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

Should I visit Siofok or Balaton Lake? 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: Siofok or Balaton Lake?

Siofok

Siofok is a charming lakefront town located on the southern coast of Lake Balaton in Hungary. It is one of the most popular holiday resorts in the nation, drawing at least two hundred thousand visitors each summer for its peaceful beaches and thriving nightlife. While lakefront beaches and the accompanying resorts are the main attractions, Siofok also has a host of other opportunities for sight-seeing, dining, shopping, and entertainment.

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 Tours for Seniors to Hungary, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Budapest, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Siofok or Balaton Lake?

Siofok has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Siofok 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.

When is the best time to visit Siofok or Balaton Lake?

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 Siofok or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

Both Balaton Lake and Siofok are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

Siofok is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Siofok averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It's quite sunny in Balaton Lake. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Siofok. Siofok usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during summer. Siofok gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Siofok usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Siofok gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Siofok or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Siofok during the autumn are popular places to visit.

In the autumn, Siofok is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Siofok in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Siofok often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Siofok gets 152 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun.

Siofok usually gets less rain in October than Balaton Lake. Siofok gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Siofok or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Siofok and Balaton Lake.

Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Siofok can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Siofok is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Siofok average around -1°C (31°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

Siofok usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during winter. Siofok gets 61 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Siofok usually receives around the same amount of rain as Balaton Lake. Siofok gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Siofok or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Siofok as well as Balaton Lake.

Siofok is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Siofok averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Siofok often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake. Siofok gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun.

Siofok usually gets less rain in April than Balaton Lake. Siofok gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Siofok