Which place is cheaper, Turku or Vilnius?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vilnius or Turku?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Vilnius and Turku. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Vilnius or Turku?
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital and largest city in the country of Lithuania. It has a population of more than 500,000 residents and is located in the valley between the Neris River and the Vilnia River in the southeastern part of the country. Visitors come to the city for its beautiful Old Town, impressive architecture, and fascinating culture. In 2009 it was named the European Capital of Culture along with the city of Linz, in Austria.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Lithuania, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, and The Best Adventure Tours to Finland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVilnius €94Turku €136
The average daily cost (per person) in Vilnius is €94, while the average daily cost in Turku is €136. 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 Vilnius and Turku in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVilnius €42Turku €76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVilnius €84Turku €152
Compare Hotels in Vilnius and Turku
Looking for a hotel in Vilnius or Turku? 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: Vilnius Hotel Prices and Turku Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vilnius €8.30Turku €44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vilnius
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vilnius:
- Riga / Tallinn / Vilnius. Transfer Between Baltic States: $637
- From Druskininkai & Grutas Park Tour with Transfer: $511
- Private Transfer: Vilnius to Klaipeda or Klaipeda to Vilnius via Trakai Castle: $239
- Jewish Heritage Sites Private Tour with Transfer: $213
- Transfer from Kaunas Airport to Vilnius: $213
- Private Transfer from Vilnius Airport to Lithuania: $141
- Vilnius Private 1-Way Airport Transfer: $53
- Vilnius Airport Transfer: $51
- Vilnius Airport (VNO): Bus Transfer to/from Gdansk: $51
- Arrival Transfer from Vilnius VNO Airport to Vilnius by Minivan: $45
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Warsaw: $35
- Private Vilnius Airport Arrival Transfer: $27
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): $2,102
Is it cheaper to fly into Vilnius or Turku?
Prices for flights to both Turku and Vilnius 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 dayVilnius €40Turku €32
Typical Food Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of dining costs in Vilnius are as follows:
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Dinner for Two€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vilnius
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vilnius.
- Private National Dinner with Folk Show: $60
- Dinner in local family: $74
- Cooking Class in Vilnius : $84
- Flavors of Vilnius - Private Walking Food Tour: $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vilnius €9.72Turku €22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Vilnius are as follows:
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Walking Tour€5.79
Tours and Activities in Vilnius
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vilnius are as follows:
- "Ghostly Tales of Vilnius" Walking Tour: $169
- (Post) Soviet Vilnius Private Walking Tour: $106
- 1-Day Pilgrim Tour from Vilnius: $383
- Admission Ticket at Vilnius Auto Museum: $22
- Automuseum Entry Ticket: $21
- Automuseum Entry Ticket: $21
- Bike Tour of Vilnius Highlights "Iconic Landmarks & Hidden Gems": $31
- Day tour out of Paneriai holocaust park,Trakai castle, medieval Kernave: $206
- Discover Highlights of Vilnius City in Private Tour : $246
- Discover Vilnius Tour: $266
- Dzukija National Park and Grutas Park: Full-Day Tour: $213
- Explore Old Town and Uzupis Guided Walking Tour: $76
Tours and Activities in Turku
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $130
- Turku Archipelago: Sea Kayaking Day Tour: $132
- Archipelago tour with Soling sailboat: $309
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $520
- Turku Enchanting Romantic Walking Tour: $656
- Turku Christmas Delights Walking Tour: $762
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVilnius €6.38Turku €12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Vilnius
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Vilnius from other travelers:
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Beer€4.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Vilnius
Also in Vilnius, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Beer degustation at Bear & Boar Brewery Taproom: $43
- Vilnius Private Pub & Bar Crawl Tour & Hidden Gems: $46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vilnius and Turku, we can see that Turku is more expensive. And not only is Vilnius much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vilnius would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vilnius 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 Vilnius.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vilnius Expensive? and Is Turku Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vilnius or Turku?
Vilnius has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Vilnius and Turku, 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 Vilnius or Turku?
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 Vilnius or Turku in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Vilnius as well as Turku. Many visitors come to Vilnius in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
Vilnius is a little warmer than Turku in the summer. The daily temperature in Vilnius averages around 18°C (65°F) in July, and Turku fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Turku. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vilnius this time of the year. In the summer, Vilnius often gets less sunshine than Turku. Vilnius gets 219 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Turku receives 262 hours of full sun.
Vilnius usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Turku. Vilnius gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Turku receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVilnius 18°C (65°F)Turku 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Turku in the Autumn?
Both Turku and Vilnius are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Vilnius for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Vilnius is a little warmer than Turku. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vilnius in October average around 8°C (46°F), and Turku averages at about 6°C (43°F).
Vilnius usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Turku during autumn. Vilnius gets 94 hours of sunny skies, while Turku receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Vilnius usually receives less rain than Turku. Vilnius gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Turku receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVilnius 8°C (46°F)Turku 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Turku in the Winter?
Both Turku and Vilnius during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Vilnius because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Turku in the winter. The weather in Vilnius can be very cold. In January, Vilnius is generally a little warmer than Turku. Daily temperatures in Vilnius average around -5°C (23°F), and Turku fluctuates around -6°C (20°F).
In the winter, Vilnius often gets less sunshine than Turku. Vilnius gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Turku receives 39 hours of full sun.
Vilnius usually gets less rain in January than Turku. Vilnius gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Turku receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVilnius -5°C (23°F)Turku -6°C (20°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Turku in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Vilnius and Turku. The natural beauty are the main draw to Vilnius this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Turku. Vilnius is much warmer than Turku in the spring. The daily temperature in Vilnius averages around 7°C (45°F) in April, and Turku fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
Vilnius usually receives less sunshine than Turku during spring. Vilnius gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Turku receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Vilnius usually receives more rain than Turku. Vilnius gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Turku receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVilnius 7°C (45°F)Turku 3°C (37°F)
Typical Weather for Turku and Vilnius
| Vilnius | Turku | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | -6°C (20°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (26°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (33°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (65°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (56°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (29°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 57 mm (2.3 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.