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

Should you visit Sopron or Balaton Lake?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Sopron and Balaton Lake can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Sopron or Balaton Lake?

Sopron

Sopron is a city in northwestern Hungary, located right on the Austrian border at the foot of the Alps near Lake Neusiedl.

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

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

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

Which is Bigger, Sopron or Balaton Lake?

Sopron has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Sopron 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 Sopron 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 Sopron or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sopron and Balaton Lake.

In the summer, Sopron is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sopron in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 22°C (71°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Balaton Lake this time of the year. In Sopron, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sopron usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during summer. Sopron gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Sopron usually receives around the same amount of rain as Balaton Lake. Sopron gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Sopron or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Sopron as well as Balaton Lake.

In October, Sopron is generally around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Sopron average around 12°C (54°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Sopron often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Sopron gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun.

Sopron usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Sopron gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sopron or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Balaton Lake in the winter. The weather in Sopron can be very cold. Sopron is much warmer than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Sopron averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

Sopron usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during winter. Sopron gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Sopron usually receives around the same amount of rain as Balaton Lake. Sopron gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Sopron or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

Both Balaton Lake and Sopron during the spring are popular places to visit.

In the spring, Sopron is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sopron in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).

It's quite sunny in Sopron. In the spring, Sopron often gets more sunshine than Balaton Lake. Sopron gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun.

Sopron usually gets less rain in April than Balaton Lake. Sopron gets 51 mm (2 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 Sopron