Which place is cheaper, Interlaken or Turku?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Turku or Interlaken?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku or Interlaken, 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 Interlaken?
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.
Interlaken
Interlaken is a small city that is located in the Bernese Highlands Region of central Switzerland. It sits pleasantly between two Alpine Lakes, Brienzersee and Thunersee. This scenic setting and its easy accessibility make it a popular base camp for travel into the Bernese Oberland Alps. It has become a top tourist destination in Switzerland and it is also a hub for outdoor sports enthusiasts with plenty of hiking, skiing, paragliding, and other activities in the region.. Interlaken is a great hoping off point to explore many of the nearby mountains, lakes, and valleys, too. It offers easy transportation to most major Swiss cities by train or car.
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 Geneva, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTurku €136Interlaken €217
The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €136, while the average daily cost in Interlaken is €217. 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 Interlaken in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTurku €76Interlaken €125
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTurku €152Interlaken €250
Compare Hotels in Turku and Interlaken
Looking for a hotel in Turku or Interlaken? 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 Interlaken Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Turku €44Interlaken €12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku
Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One-Way Helicopter Transfer to Helsinki Airport (HEL): $2,112
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $73
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $73
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Interlaken
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Interlaken are as follows:
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Cable Cars (for 2)€62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Interlaken
Also for Interlaken, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Group transfer Zurich Airport - Interlaken: $1,312
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Lucerne: $284
- Private Transfer from Interlaken to Zurich: $240
- Transfer from/to Hotel - Airport: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Interlaken?
Prices for flights to both Interlaken 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 €32Interlaken €60
Typical Food Prices in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Tea at Interlaken€31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fondue Cooking Class and Cheese Workshop in Switzerland: $143
- Cheese and Chocolate Full-Day Food Tour: $733
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Turku €22Interlaken €97
Tours and Activities in Turku
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.
- Archipelago tour with Soling sailboat: $310
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $131
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $523
- Turku Archipelago: Sea Kayaking Day Tour: $133
- Turku Christmas Delights Walking Tour: $766
- Turku Enchanting Romantic Walking Tour: $659
Tours and Activities in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Hidden gems e-bike tour with picnic at Lake Brienz : $212
- Iseltwald, Aare Gorge and Lake Brienz Experience in Switzerland: $290
- 007 Elegance: Private Tour to Schilthorn from Interlaken: $480
- A Day at Lake Brienz and Lauterbrunnen Tour from Zurich: $1,260
- Alpine Heights Jungfraujoch Small Group Tour from Interlaken: $529
- Alpine Majesty: Bern to Jungfraujoch Exclusive Private Tour: $835
- Bern: Grindelwald First & Bachalpsee Hiking Private Tour: $709
- Bike Tour of the Interlaken Valley: Rivers, Lakes & Forests: $111
- Bollywood Tour Gstaad - Express Tour: $90
- Canyoning Experience Grimsel from Interlaken : $200
- From Grimsel Gorge Canyoning Tour: $196
- From Gruyères, Cheese Factory & Cailler Tour: $290
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTurku €12Interlaken €16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Interlaken, we can see that Interlaken is more expensive. And not only is Turku much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Turku would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Turku 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 Interlaken would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Interlaken than you might in Turku.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Turku Expensive? and Is Interlaken Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Turku or Interlaken?
Turku has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of Turku and Interlaken, 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 Interlaken?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Turku or Interlaken in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Interlaken. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Interlaken because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Turku is generally cooler than Interlaken. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 16°C (61°F), and Interlaken fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Interlaken this time of the year. In Turku, it's very sunny this time of the year. Turku usually receives more sunshine than Interlaken during summer. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Turku usually receives less rain than Interlaken. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTurku 16°C (61°F)Interlaken 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Turku or Interlaken in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Turku as well as Interlaken. Additionally, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Interlaken this time of year.
Turku is much colder than Interlaken in the autumn. The daily temperature in Turku averages around 6°C (43°F) in October, and Interlaken fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In the autumn, Turku often gets less sunshine than Interlaken. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 120 hours of full sun.
Turku usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Interlaken. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTurku 6°C (43°F)Interlaken 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Turku or Interlaken in the Winter?
Both Interlaken and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Interlaken for the skiing and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Interlaken. It's quite cold in Turku in the winter. In the winter, Turku is much colder than Interlaken. Typically, the winter temperatures in Turku in January average around -6°C (20°F), and Interlaken averages at about 3°C (37°F).
Turku usually receives less sunshine than Interlaken during winter. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Turku usually receives less rain than Interlaken. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTurku -6°C (20°F)Interlaken 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Turku or Interlaken in the Spring?
Both Interlaken and Turku during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Interlaken in the spring for the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Turku. In April, Turku is generally much colder than Interlaken. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 3°C (37°F), and Interlaken fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the spring, Turku often gets more sunshine than Interlaken. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 150 hours of full sun.
Turku usually gets less rain in April than Interlaken. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTurku 3°C (37°F)Interlaken 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Interlaken and Turku
| Turku | Interlaken | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (20°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (58°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (51°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (25°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.