A Travel Price Comparison for Finland Turku vs. Savonlinna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Turku or Savonlinna?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku or Savonlinna, 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 Savonlinna?

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.

Savonlinna

Savonlinna is a town and a municipality of 35,504 inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region. The Finnish name of the town means "Castle of Savonia" and the Swedish name means "New Castle". The city was founded in 1639, based on Olavinlinna castle. Savonlinna is a historical borderland where the cultures and traditions of East and West meet. As the oldest town in Eastern Finland, Savonlinna is famous for its world class opera festival in the medieval castle surrounded by blue waters of Lake Saimaa. With its 100 year old steamships and unparalleled selection of experiences and activities, Savonlinna is a the real gem of Lakeland Finland.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Helsinki.


Which place is cheaper, Savonlinna or Turku?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €136, while the average daily cost in Savonlinna is €104. 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 Savonlinna in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Turku 76
    Savonlinna 53
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Turku 152
    Savonlinna 106
Compare Hotels in Turku and Savonlinna

Looking for a hotel in Turku or Savonlinna? 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.

Hotels in Turku


Hotels in Savonlinna


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 Savonlinna Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Turku 44
    Savonlinna 39

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: $74
  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $74
  • One-Way Helicopter Transfer to Helsinki Airport (HEL): $2,145

Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Savonlinna?

Prices for flights to both Savonlinna 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Turku 32
    Savonlinna 27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Turku 22
    Savonlinna 20

Tours and Activities in Turku

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.

  • Turku Archipelago: Sea Kayaking Day Tour: $119
  • Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $132
  • Archipelago tour with Soling sailboat: $315
  • Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $531
  • Turku Enchanting Romantic Walking Tour: $669
  • Turku Christmas Delights Walking Tour: $777

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Turku 12
    Savonlinna 9.27


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Savonlinna, we can see that Turku is more expensive. And not only is Savonlinna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Savonlinna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Savonlinna 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 Savonlinna.

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


Which is Bigger, Turku or Savonlinna?

Turku has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Savonlinna. When comparing the sizes of Turku and Savonlinna, 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 Savonlinna?

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 Savonlinna in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Turku is around the same temperature as Savonlinna. Typically, the summer temperatures in Turku in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Savonlinna averages at about 17°C (62°F).

In Savonlinna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Turku. In the summer, Turku often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Savonlinna. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Savonlinna receives 259 hours of full sun.

Turku usually gets more rain in July than Savonlinna. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Turku 16°C (61°F) 
    Savonlinna 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Turku or Savonlinna in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Savonlinna.

The weather in Savonlinna can be very cold. In October, Turku is generally a little warmer than Savonlinna. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 6°C (43°F), and Savonlinna fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Turku usually receives more sunshine than Savonlinna during autumn. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Savonlinna receives 72 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Turku usually receives more rain than Savonlinna. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Turku 6°C (43°F) 
    Savonlinna 4°C (40°F)

Should I visit Turku or Savonlinna in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Turku as well as Savonlinna.

It's quite cold in Savonlinna in the winter. The weather in Turku can be very cold. Turku is much warmer than Savonlinna in the winter. The daily temperature in Turku averages around -6°C (20°F) in January, and Savonlinna fluctuates around -11°C (13°F).

In the winter, Turku often gets more sunshine than Savonlinna. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Savonlinna receives 34 hours of full sun.

Turku usually gets more rain in January than Savonlinna. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Turku -6°C (20°F) 
    Savonlinna -11°C (13°F)

Should I visit Turku or Savonlinna in the Spring?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Savonlinna. It's quite cold in Turku in the spring. In the spring, Turku is a little warmer than Savonlinna. Typically, the spring temperatures in Turku in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Savonlinna averages at about 2°C (36°F).

Turku usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Savonlinna during spring. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Savonlinna receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Turku usually receives more rain than Savonlinna. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Turku 3°C (37°F) 
    Savonlinna 2°C (36°F)

Typical Weather for Savonlinna and Turku

Turku Savonlinna
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -6°C (20°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) -11°C (13°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) -9°C (15°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Mar -3°C (27°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) -4°C (24°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 3°C (37°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 2°C (36°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
May 9°C (49°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 9°C (48°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)
Jun 14°C (58°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 14°C (57°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jul 16°C (61°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 17°C (62°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Aug 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.2 in) 15°C (59°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Sep 10°C (51°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 10°C (49°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Oct 6°C (43°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 4°C (40°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Nov 1°C (33°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) -1°C (30°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Dec -4°C (25°F) 57 mm (2.3 in) -7°C (20°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)