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

Should you visit Zermatt or Balaton Lake?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Zermatt and Balaton Lake can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Zermatt or Balaton Lake?

Zermatt

Located at the foot of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a Swiss village best known for its skiing, climbing, and hiking opportunities. It has become a popular mountain resort town due to its location and also features a number of boutique shops, hotels, and restaurants that cater to the vacationers who come to enjoy the many winter activities of the Alps.

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 The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, 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 Zermatt and Balaton Lake, we can see that Zermatt 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 Zermatt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zermatt 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 Zermatt Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Zermatt or Balaton Lake?

Zermatt has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Zermatt 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 Zermatt or Balaton Lake?

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 Zermatt or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

Both Balaton Lake and Zermatt are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Zermatt because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Zermatt is generally around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Zermatt average around 23°C (73°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It's quite sunny in Balaton Lake. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zermatt. Zermatt usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during summer. Zermatt gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Zermatt. In July, Zermatt usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Zermatt gets 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Zermatt or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Zermatt during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Zermatt this time of year.

Zermatt is a little warmer than Balaton Lake in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zermatt averages around 15°C (58°F) in October, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Zermatt often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Zermatt gets 152 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Zermatt. Zermatt usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Zermatt gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Zermatt or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Zermatt and Balaton Lake. Many travelers come to Zermatt for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Balaton Lake can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Zermatt. In the winter, Zermatt is much warmer than Balaton Lake. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zermatt in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 0°C (32°F).

Zermatt usually receives more sunshine than Balaton Lake during winter. Zermatt gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Zermatt usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Zermatt gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Zermatt or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Zermatt as well as Balaton Lake. Many visitors come to Zermatt in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Zermatt is generally around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Zermatt average around 13°C (55°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Zermatt often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake. Zermatt gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun.

Zermatt receives a lot of rain in the spring. Zermatt usually gets more rain in April than Balaton Lake. Zermatt gets 152 mm (6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Zermatt