Which place is cheaper, Dresden or Turku?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Turku or Dresden?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku or Dresden, 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 Dresden?
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.
Dresden
As towering baroque architecture and verdant woodlands surround your vision, this cityscape works almost as a time capsule of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, untouched by the burdens of modernity. With a melange of cultures and histories, Dresden, Germany stands before you. The capital of the eastern German state of Saxony, Dresden is globally known for its celebrated art museums and classic architecture of its reconstructed Old Town. From the baroque church Frauenkirche to the Versailles-inspired Zwinger palace, the aesthetic value of this Germany city is simply immeasurable. Located on the gorgeous Elbe River, Dresden receives about ten million tourists a year, most of them from Germany. Nevertheless, despite the traditional German culture its most historic buildings exude, Dresden is still touched by the present-day generation with its abundance of restaurants, clubs, shops, and theaters. Whether you wish to gaze at the Raphael's "Sistine Madonna" or simply go for a quick shopping run, Dresden obliges its guests most satisfactorily.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, The Best Adventure Tours to Finland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTurku €136Dresden €135
The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €136, while the average daily cost in Dresden is €135. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Turku and Dresden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTurku €76Dresden €61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTurku €152Dresden €122
Compare Hotels in Turku and Dresden
Looking for a hotel in Turku or Dresden? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Turku Hotel Prices and Dresden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Turku €44Dresden €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku
Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $73
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $73
- One-Way Helicopter Transfer to Helsinki Airport (HEL): $2,112
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dresden
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dresden:
- Private Transfer from Dresden to Prague with 2 hours for sightseeing: $158
- One-Way Transfer from Dresden Airport (DRS) to Dresden: $146
- Airport transfer from/to DRESDEN (DRS) - First Class: $136
- Private Transfer from Dresden City to Leipzig City: $83
- Airport transfer from/to DRESDEN (DRS) - Business Van: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Dresden?
Prices for flights to both Dresden and Turku 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayTurku €32Dresden €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dresden
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dresden.
- Evening River Cruise with Dinner: $51
- Winterlights Evening River Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Dinner-Show "INDUSTRIELLE REVOLUTION": $117
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Turku €22Dresden €9.56
Tours and Activities in Turku
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $131
- Turku Archipelago: Sea Kayaking Day Tour: $133
- Archipelago tour with Soling sailboat: $310
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $523
- Turku Enchanting Romantic Walking Tour: $659
- Turku Christmas Delights Walking Tour: $766
Tours and Activities in Dresden
Here are a few actual costs in Dresden for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hour GDR Walking Tour in Dresden: $44
- 2 Hour Historical Walking Tour in Dresden: $44
- 2 day ticket Grand City Tour Hop on Hop off 22 stops: $24
- 3H Private Walking Tour: Dresden city centre and Old Masters Painting Gallery: $300
- Astonishing Dresden - Guided Walking Tour: $427
- Bad Schandau Scooter Tour in Saxon, Switzerland: $52
- Best of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip from Dresden - Hiking Tour: $171
- Best of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip from Dresden- Fantasy Tour: $171
- Best of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip from Dresden- Winter Tour: $171
- Bicycle tour of Dresden: $32
- Big Sightseeing Tour in Dresden with Liveguide: $21
- Big city tour hop on hop off 22 stops: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTurku €12Dresden €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Dresden
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dresden:
- Dresden Bike Tour with Wine Tasting: $53
- Radeberger Brewery Tour in German: $57
- Private Pub Crawl Tour: $401
When comparing the travel costs between Turku and Dresden, we can see that Turku 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Turku Expensive? and Is Dresden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Turku or Dresden?
Dresden has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku and Dresden, 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 Dresden?
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 Dresden in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Turku as well as Dresden. Additionally, most visitors come to Dresden for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Turku is cooler than Dresden. Typically, the summer temperatures in Turku in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Dresden averages at about 20°C (68°F).
Turku usually gets more rain in July than Dresden. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTurku 16°C (61°F)Dresden 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Turku or Dresden in the Autumn?
Both Dresden and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Dresden because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In October, Turku is generally much colder than Dresden. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 6°C (43°F), and Dresden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In October, Turku usually receives more rain than Dresden. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTurku 6°C (43°F)Dresden 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Turku or Dresden in the Winter?
Both Dresden and Turku during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Dresden this time of year.
It's quite cold in Dresden in the winter. The weather in Turku can be very cold. Turku is much colder than Dresden in the winter. The daily temperature in Turku averages around -6°C (20°F) in January, and Dresden fluctuates around 1°C (33°F).
Turku usually gets more rain in January than Dresden. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTurku -6°C (20°F)Dresden 1°C (33°F)
Should I visit Turku or Dresden in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Dresden. Also, many travelers come to Dresden for the activities around the city.
It's quite cold in Turku in the spring. In the spring, Turku is much colder than Dresden. Typically, the spring temperatures in Turku in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Dresden averages at about 10°C (50°F).
In April, Turku usually receives less rain than Dresden. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTurku 3°C (37°F)Dresden 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Dresden and Turku
| Turku | Dresden | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (20°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (58°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (51°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (25°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.