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

Should you visit Turku or Balaton Lake?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku or Balaton Lake, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Turku or Balaton Lake?

Turku

Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, The Best Adventure 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 Turku and Balaton Lake, we can see that Turku 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 Turku would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Turku 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 Turku Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Turku or Balaton Lake?

Turku has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Turku 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 Turku 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 Turku or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Turku is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Turku 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 Turku. In the summer, Turku often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Turku usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Turku or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

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

In October, Turku is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 6°C (43°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Turku usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Turku usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Turku or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Balaton Lake. It's quite cold in Turku in the winter. Turku is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Turku averages around -6°C (20°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Turku often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Turku usually gets more rain in January than Balaton Lake. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Turku or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Turku. In the spring, Turku is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Turku in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Turku usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Turku usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 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 Turku