Should you visit Tallinn or Savonlinna?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tallinn or Savonlinna, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Tallinn
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. It has a population of more than 430,000 people and is a charming, yet cosmopolitan place to visit. The Old Town is at the center of the city's tourism, and the beauty and architecture is very impressive. The city's close proximity to Helsinki makes it a popular day trip from Finland, but cheap plane flights have also encouraged visitors from around Europe to spend several days in this city. In particular, summer months can become quite crowded.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Savonlinna or Tallinn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tallinn is €74, while the average daily cost in Savonlinna is €83. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Tallinn and Savonlinna in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Tallinn can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €40, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €80.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €42. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Savonlinna the cost is €84 on average.
Food
Tallinn food costs typically run travelers around €25 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
The price of a meal in Savonlinna can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is €22 per person, and a typical meal will cost around €8.80 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Tallinn €25
Savonlinna €22
Typical Food prices in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two
€7.68
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Dessert
€1.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Estonian food tour in Tallinn:
$12
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Tallinn Sunset Dinner Cruise:
$73
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Tallinn Beer House Dinner:
$75
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Tallinn Russian Dinner:
$96
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Tallinn 3-Hour Estonian Food Tour:
$106
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Tallinn Food Tour with Round-trip Transfer Port-City:
$131
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Tallinn Segway and Food Tour:
$156
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Vegan Food Tours Tallinn:
$242
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Tallinn than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €9.68 on transportation in Tallinn on average per day.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €31 per day to get around in Savonlinna.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Tallinn
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tallinn:
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Tram Around Town for Two
€1.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tallinn
Also for Tallinn, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Tallinn Private Transfer from Tallinn Cruise Port to City Centre:
$8.71
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Ultra - Tallinn Private Transfer from City Centre to Tallinn Cruise Port:
$8.71
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Private Airport Transfer: Tallinn Airport (TLL) to Tallinn:
$14
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Private Airport Transfer: from Tallinn to Tallinn Airport (TLL):
$14
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Private Arrival Transfer from Tallinn TLL Airport to Tallinn City:
$15
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Private Departure Transfer from Tallinn City to Tallinn TLL Airport:
$15
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Arrival Private Transfer Tallinn Airport (TLL) to Tallinn City:
$23
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Departure Private Transfer Tallinn City to Tallinn TLL by Car:
$23
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Private Tallinn TLL Airport - Tallinn City Round-Trip Transfer:
$29
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City Transfer Tallinn:
$33
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Tallinn TLL Airport Luxury Van Private Arrival Transfer:
$35
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Tallinn TLL Airport Luxury Van Private Departure Transfer:
$35
Is it cheaper to fly into Tallinn or Savonlinna?
Prices for flights to both Savonlinna and Tallinn 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Tallinn, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €4.50 per day, per person.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €16 per person, per day in Savonlinna. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Pioneer Street Art Tour in Tallinn Telliskivi Creative City:
$12
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Tallinn Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
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Tour to the Paljassaare Special Protection Area:
$16
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Skip the Line: Tallinn TV Tower Entrance Ticket:
$16
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Skip the Line: Tallinn Legends Interactive Museum Entrance Ticket:
$17
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Tallinn National Unity Tour on E-bike:
$19
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1-Hour Good Morning Tallinn Running Tour:
$19
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Tallinn Bay Sightseeing Cruise:
$22
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Tallinn Day Cruise: TOWERS OF TALLINN:
$22
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Tallinn Ghost and Legends Walking Tour:
$24
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Tallinn Bicycle Sightseeing Tour:
$29
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City Sightseeing Tallinn Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$31
Tours and Activities in Savonlinna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Savonlinna are as follows:
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Winter adventure from Savonlinna to Punkaharju:
$77
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Tallinn spend on average €12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about €7.42 on alcoholic beverages in Savonlinna per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Tallinn
Also in Tallinn, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Nudist Winery Wine Tasting and Winery tour in Tallinn:
$44
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Tallinn Brewery Fiesta:
$77
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Tallinn Guided Bar Crawl:
$77
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Tallinn Bar Crawl:
$85
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Tallinn Beer House Brewery Fiesta:
$90
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City tour Craft Brewery visit and tasting of craft beers ciders and cheeses:
$90
When comparing the travel costs between Tallinn and Savonlinna, we can see that Savonlinna is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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