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

Should you visit Tartu 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 Tartu 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: Tartu or Balaton Lake?

Tartu

Tartu is a university town that is also the second largest city in Estonia. It has a population of about 100,000 and dates back to 1030, making it the oldest city in the country. The Emajogi River passes through town and it has a lovely old town that's pleasant to explore. The city is a great place to see day to day life in Estonia. It is a very real town with people going about their daily lives. If you find yourself here when the weather is nice, you'll be greeted by crowds of happy locals out enjoying the weather. They make full use of the warm, sunny weather with festivals, events, and concerts during the summer. This is easily the most fun and eventful time to visit the city.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Estonia, The Best Budget Tours to Estonia, 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 Tartu and Balaton Lake, we can see that Tartu 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 Tartu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tartu 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 Tartu Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Tartu or Balaton Lake?

Tartu has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Tartu 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 Tartu 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 Tartu or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

Both Balaton Lake and Tartu during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Tartu in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Tartu is cooler than Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Tartu averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

In Balaton Lake, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tartu. In the summer, Tartu often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Tartu gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Tartu usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Tartu gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tartu or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tartu and Balaton Lake. Most visitors come to Tartu for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Tartu is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tartu in October average around 6°C (43°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Tartu usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Tartu gets 86 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Tartu usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Tartu gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Tartu or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tartu as well as Balaton Lake. The winter months attract visitors to Tartu because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Balaton Lake in the winter. The weather in Tartu can be very cold. In January, Tartu is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Tartu average around -7°C (19°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Tartu often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Tartu gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Tartu usually gets less rain in January than Balaton Lake. Tartu gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tartu or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

Both Balaton Lake and Tartu are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Tartu this time of year.

It's quite cold in Tartu in the spring. Tartu is much colder than Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Tartu averages around 5°C (41°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Tartu usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Tartu gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Tartu usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Tartu gets 33 mm (1.3 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 Tartu