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

Should you visit Tampere 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 Tampere and Balaton Lake can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Tampere or Balaton Lake?

Tampere

Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It sits between Nasijarvi Lake and Pyhajarvi Lake, with the Tammerkoski rapids in between. It is one of the larger Finnish cities, with more than 200,000 inhabitants, but Tampere has managed to keep the small town feel. The city center is compact in size, and the atmosphere is friendly and casual. The city is located on a scenic spot on a narrow isthmus. The Tammerkoski rapids and their riverbanks form the backdrop for the old industrial buildings, and ridges formed thousands of years ago by ancient seas and retreating ice offer fantastic views over the two lakes. Original architecture and innovative urban development blend together to please both viewers and users of the built environment. Enjoy the surrounding lakes on peaceful rowboat trips or on cruises on larger vessels, or concentrate on the urban sights from a sightseeing bus. Regenerated industrial buildings now house quirky museums, enticing shops, pubs, cinemas and cafes. Tampere has a down-to-earth vitality that makes it a favorite for many visitors.

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 Helsinki, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Finland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Tampere or Balaton Lake?

Tampere has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Tampere 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 Tampere or Balaton Lake?

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 Tampere or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

Both Balaton Lake and Tampere during the summer are popular places to visit.

In the summer, Tampere is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tampere in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 22°C (71°F).

In Balaton Lake, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tampere. In the summer, Tampere often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Tampere gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Tampere usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Tampere gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tampere or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampere and Balaton Lake.

In October, Tampere is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Tampere average around 5°C (42°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Tampere usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Tampere gets 81 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Tampere usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Tampere gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Tampere or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tampere as well as Balaton Lake.

Balaton Lake can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Tampere. Tampere is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Tampere averages around -7°C (19°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Tampere often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Tampere gets 37 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Tampere usually gets less rain in January than Balaton Lake. Tampere gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tampere or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

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

Tampere can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Tampere is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tampere in April average around 3°C (38°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Tampere usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Tampere gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Tampere usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Tampere gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Tampere